How do you do your laundry when in far from society places?

[100acrehuphalump]

I decided to make my own washing machine for traveling in order to save money. I used a clean 5 gallon bucket and cut a 1" diameter hole in the lid for the plunger handle. At first I was gonna use a new toilet plunger but, today I stopped in this store http://carolinareadiness.com/ in Waynesville NC and they were selling this new/ old design washer plunger for $20. The originals that our great grandparents used were made out of copper. This one is plastic but seems durable. It comes with a decently long handle and the top of the cone is threaded so you could use a standard male threaded mop or broom handle if you want something a little taller. You could always tell your friends that you are making butter because it resembles a butter churn. I believe it to be American Made and is called " The Breathing Mobile Washer "Just wanted to share my idea. Thanks!

 

[ober27]

Thanks for sharing. I've been considering the plunger/bucket system myself. Have you used yours yet?

 

[100acrehuphalump]

No I just picked it up today. It will definitely work better than the toilet plunger though which has no holes to help slosh the water inside.

 

[ober27]

I thought about drilling holes in the plunger to allow water to pass through. I wasn't aware of anything specially designed for bucket washing. Let us know how it works.

 

[haven]

The bucket technique works well so long as you don't try to wash too many items at once. If the bucket has a tight fitting lid, you can wash clothes as you drive!

 

[1leglance]

Back in the early days of Expedition Portal & Overland Journal there was a great write up Graham Jackson (currently of Overland Expo fame) about his Defender 110 trek across Africa.
He and the wonder Connie did their laundry using a standard orange water cooler jug on the roof rack if I remember correctly.
It went something like..
in am load clothes, water & soap, screw on lid, strap upright to roof rack and drive on horrible corrugated roads..
During lunch stop empty soapy, dirty water & refill with clean water...restrap to roof rack and drive on more horrible roads.
at camp in evening empty out rinse water, wring clothes and hang in setting sun...take down when dry.

I always wanted to try that but most of my stuff it high tech quick dry so an evening hand wash & hang and good to go...
Also in Latin America laundry service is super cheap so easy to take a rest day and get it all done by professionals for very little money.

 

[modernbeat]

...load clothes, water & soap, screw on lid, strap upright to roof rack and drive on horrible corrugated roads..
During lunch stop empty soapy, dirty water & refill with clean water...restrap to roof rack and drive on more horrible roads.
at camp in evening empty out rinse water, wring clothes and hang in setting sun...take down when dry...

That is exactly what John Steinbeck described doing in his book Travels With Charley.

 

[LocoCoyote]

That is how I do it......put it all in a sealable bucket (water, soap, clothes) and fix it to the back of the truck. Drive drive drive; rinse and repeat if needed!

 

[dlh62c]

I'm kinda fond of the Hillbilly Clothes Washer design myself.

 

[Lynn]

In a previous thread on this same topic, I suggested using the 'bucket while driving' method with a drybag rather than a bucket. Seems it would function just as well, but be more packable when not in use.

I haven't needed to try either method, though.