ecological cheap compact washing machine

[charlieaarons]

6 gal plastic dry dog feed bucket with threaded top sealed with O-ring
Put dirty clothes in, 1/2 cup laundry powder
Cover with warm water
attach to loops screwed into floor with ratchet strap
drive half the day.
rinse
cover with fresh water
rinse again 2nd half of day, driving
put on solar powered dryer (clothes line)

Charlie

 

[matt s]

Perfect!

 

[Victorian]

I think that is what Unicat sold as "The Motion Activated Washer" :ylsmoke:

 

[getout]

I read a little blip in Backpacker Mag tonight where someone suggested using a zip-lock with two quarts of water, drop in the clothes with some biodegradable soap, squish around a bit, remove and rinse. I thought it was a pretty good idea. Won't wash nearly the load size as your idea though. More of an emergency underwear cleaner I guess.

 

[larryt]

Works great! I remember this from Travels With Charley...

 

[RHINO]

ive also seen igloo water jugs used,,,,, i myself have used a plastic concrete mixer meant to be rolled on the ground to mix concrete,,, worked great, but i still just wash in a creek by hand.

 

[kjp1969]

Works great! I remember this from Travels With Charley...

If I remember correctly, in the book he suspended it from a bungee cord.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

New Twist!

Hey....!

Could you make homemade Ice Cream for the trail if you filled the container with Ice/and dry ice?

No hand cranking required!......:sombrero::victory::ylsmoke:

The only downside is....you might need a fridge/freeze for the end of the trail at camp. Or eat it very quickly!

But that would be a blast with your earthen cooked, Dutch Oven apple cobbler!....:chef:

So many bouncy trails.......So....many possibilities!!!

Just a fun thought.




.

 

[chet]

they make an ice cream maker exactly like your thinking

http://icecreamrevolution.com/index.html

I looked at one of those plastic concrete mixing barrels at homedepot and thought it would make a good clothes washer as well. seals tight too!

 

[Jean-Seb]

Cool ! I've also seen people using 5 gallon Gatorade coolers. Anything sealed is good.

 

[Fergie]

...worked great, but i still just wash in a creek by hand.

Sexy

 

[Stumpalump]

My Grandfather would be a hundred if alive but would take gold coins and put them in a small leather pouch along with few small stones. He would tie it to his horse and ride. After weeks the coins would be worn and he would replace them with fresh coins. In time he had a sack of gold dust and coins worth face value. He called it intrest.

 

[dustboy]

I like this idea, nothing worse than hanging out at a laundromat on your vacation.

Those who go on oceanic-type expeditions will put dirty clothes in a mesh bag and drag it behind the boat all day. Then rinse off the salt water and sun dry! I'm told it works very well.

 

[Lynn]

Somewhere (I think on this site) someone mentioned using a dry bag.

Same idea, but collapsible for storage.

With my wife and I doing water aerobics 3-4 times a week, and two daughters in swim lessons, I’ve been using a Fresh Step kitty litter bucket to ‘de-chlorinate’ our swim suits and water shoes on the way home from the gym.

It doesn’t have an o-ring, but seals well.

 

[roadkill]

i've seen in a catalog some time back a sphere that you put your clothes in (rather small so only a few items at a time) and soap and water then you crank it(to spin it) for a minute or so and your clothes are clean ready to be rinsed.

i found it
http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-furnishings/tiny-washing-machine/