When
you have been on the road travelling
for some time or away camping for a few weeks it comes time
when you have to do laundry, sheets and towels. A
number of caravan tourist parks have washing machines and
dryers you can use for a fee but you may like to do your own
washing and hang it on a line. Laundromats are another
option to do your clothes washing and drying but it can be
expensive.
There is the do-it-yourself
‘hand wash’ of dirty clothes where you can simply use some
washing powder, water and a bucket. Others place their
clothes with water and suds in a sealed container on the
draw bar or ‘A’ frame of the caravan or trailer and let the
motion of the road slosh the clothes whilst others use
various clothes washing devices that are available.
When choosing washing powder or a laundry liquid look for
one that is environmentally friendly. For example, Planet
Ark and Aware laundry washing powders are, phosphate free,
readily biodegradable and available from Coles, Woolworths
and Safeway stores.
Now
let’s look at some portable laundry or clothes washing
devices available.
What are the best ways to wash clothes when
camping?
Manual Portable Clothes Washing Devices
Magic
Wash
Portable Washing Machine
– this compact portable hand operated washing
machine which washes up to a 2.5 kg load is
ideal for boating and camping. The Magic Wash
machine measures 400 x 450 x 380 mm and is made
of plastic except for a metal insert in the
winder handle and the screw in the pressure seal
lid. It cannot be used to wring or dry the
clothes.
Wonder
Wash
Portable Laundry Machine
– except for the stainless steel lid this
laundry device is made out of plastic so there
is nothing to rust. The dimensions are 305 x
305 x 405 mm (12” long, 12” wide and 16” high).
You operate the device by turning the handle for
2-3 minutes per load.
Handi-Wash
Portable Washing Machine
The Handi-Wash comes in two models that is one as a
complete unit of a purpose built bucket with a lid
and combination cap/pourer and the other is the
Handi-Wash agitator and handle. The manufacturer
states ‘There
are 42 strategically placed holes in the agitator.
As you pump and twist the handle, the clothes start
to tumble and spin. The holes in the agitator force
oxygen through the washing cycle working in
conjunction with your laundry detergent to speed up
the wash cycle and drive out stains’.
Hand operated portable washing machines will
generally come with instructions for one turn every
second or one turn every 90 seconds recommended for
cottons. Although the manual washing machines are
simple to operate some users have reported these to
be a tiresome way of doing the washing.
Portable clothes washing devices are available from
camping and caravan accessory stores, on-line
camping stores and eBay.
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Wonder
Wash
Portable Laundry Machine
