From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: Tips for Washing Laundry by Hand

09 September 2006

Edna Mode – at 19:46

Sorry if this has been done to death. I searched on the term “laundry” and got 111 hits back. Don’t have time to review 111 threads for this, so am posting in the event that it will help others.

I don’t really want to spend $50 on a wonder washer, so was searching for info on washboards. Ran across a cool link to some guy’s site with lots of good ideas for ways to wash laundry by hand.

You can read his ideas here: http://tinyurl.com/n47xp

The only question I have about his tips is the use of Fels-Naptha. My son has exczema, and I’m wondering if this stuff is too harsh for sensitive skin. Anyone know?

Poppy – at 20:03

Fels-Naptha soap is a skin irritant. I have exczema also so I looked it up. For more information on it check this website. http://tinyurl.com/g28yx

silversage – at 20:14

I first got Fels-Naptha soap for some homebrewed yard and garden recipe (Gerry Baker- Master Gardener guy from PBS) My mother mentioned that they used to sliver it and use it to wash clothes. I use it for stains. It’s very harsh on the hands and I would suppose if not rinsed out well enough would be harsh on the skin. If we’re washing by hand we probably won’t rinse as good as a washing machine. I did pick up a new bar just the other day so I wouldn’t run out. Never tried it for hand washing, next time I have a dirty job maybe I’ll give it a try. (see link at Poppy – at 20:03 )

silversage – at 20:21

Edna Mode – at 19:46

Did you ever see Gary Near Death Valley’s prep pics. He has a 5 gal bucket with a hole in the lid for a plunger handle to fit through for washing clothes. Looked cheep and easy.

worrywart – at 20:25

I wash clothes by hand in a 5 gallon bucket. make the water as hot as you can stand it ( as long as you know the colors don’t bleed) and add a bit of detergent. Then take the clothing and push it up and down-50 times for average soiled clothes, 100 for dirty . that creates the same agitating movement your machine machine would do for you.- change water and do it again. I got the idea from the Encyclopedia of Country Living, and it works pretty well. - It can take most of the day just to heat the water up and do wash that way-so if you think that you will be bored during a pandemic-think again:-) To conserve water , you could reuse the rinse water to mob the floor etc, and then use it to flush the toilet. When water is scarce, you have to make it stretch.

Mosaic – at 20:26

One step that is not mentioned on that site is allowing soiled clothes to soak at least an hour in the wash water before doing the washing.

If you want warm or hot water, and the taps arent working, do the washing on a sunny day, and earlier in the day, cover your wash water in a flat, low, dark container with a piece of glass to heat up. The bottom of a turkey roaster is perfect for this. If taps are running, you can curl a dark hose up in the sun for most efficient exposure, and simply use that warmed water. Sometimes in summer, that can be very hot.

Jane – at 20:58

I’ve read that water is the best solvent, and soaking the clothes in plain water for a long time, ie overnight or a whole day, takes out most of the dirt, so you need little soap/detergent. But I haven’t tried it myself. I bought 2 large plastic tubs with flat bottoms, so I can stomp on the clothes with my feet if my arms get too tired with the plunger.

imajeepster – at 21:18

Just today I bought one of those industrial mop buckets on wheels with a large hand wringer (at Wal-Mart for $32). I previously bought a new plunger and 5 gal buckets. Wringing out the water does a number on your hands so this will be very handy if needed.

LauraBat 21:31

I’m thinking along the lines of imajeeper - use DenisC’s plunger/bucket for washing and a wringer to squeeze the water out. with no electricity to dry it will make it much easier if the clothes are not sopping wet. Ever try to wring a pair of jeans by hand?

imajeepster – at 21:37

I’m thinking if we’re staying in the house then we’ll wear those pj bottoms most of the time (unless it’s cold)…easier to wash. My local Christmas Tree Shop had them for under $5 and they also had fleece pants which might be a good idea if it does get cold. Fleece washes and dries nicely. Not looking forward to laundry by hand.

heddiecalifornia – at 21:39

Just some info on washing — detergents/bleach can leave clothing with the wrong PH which can irritate skin. You can add a quarter cup of vinegar to the rinse water and it will bring the clothing back to a more acid level which is much kinder to skin, help rinse out detergent, and makes it smell better after drying. Also softens if you have really hard water. Important if you are doing diapers/underclothing for babies.

Also, the shock of moving the PH of the water from base to acid may have extra impact on any remaining microbes not killed by the detergent, hot water, and so forth.

If you are using real soap (like the kind you make at home, or old fashioned ‘milled’ soap, and not the stuff you buy that actually has detergent in it and you have hard water you may have to put the wash pot over a fire and boil it, and then rinse it in boiling water as well. If you have hard water the soap leaves a greasy scum that grey’s clothing. Adding soda (bicarbinate or washing) to it will help, but is hard on the clothing and breaks it down.

I spent some time on my great uncle’s farm when I was small and helped my aunt with the wash. He worked the ranch with real horses (no tractor). She did the wash with a wash board and big galvanized tub and big kettles with hot water, heated on a wood burning stove. We would wring out the clothing by hand outside on the lawn.

She would put some things in the night before to soak, and then wash them out the next day. Wringing is really hard on the hands; if you can get a mangle (two rollers with a crank) it really helps.

It is really hard to get perspiration stains and odors out — you may consider using ‘dress sheilds’ or underarm guards with your better clothing.

Cold water washing will leave germs, soap, odor,and residues in the clothing; make it hot as you can stand. Aunt Rose had a couple of big spoon type sticks for stirring and beating the clothes to save her hands.

Starching and ironing helps keep the cloth from absorbing stains and dirt — starch fills up the pores of the threads and makes dirt easier to wash out. Ironing helps polish and harden the surface.

I wonder if they still have Mrs. Stewart’s bluing for the rinse water to keep whites from looking yellow or grey?

Oh my, that was a long time ago!

Edna Mode – at 21:46

Poppy – at 20:03 Thanks for the link.

silversage – at 20:21 I did see Gary’s pix, but I don’t recall that particular item. As I was putting in my millionth load of laundry this week (soccer started for both kids!), I was thinking to myself a butter churn-type device would do the trick. Coincidentally, the info on the page I linked to described such a device. I am going to give it a “whirl.”

worrywart – at 20:25 Oh, no siree. No illusions here about lying around eating bon bons during pandemic. I expect our lifestyle to be much like a prolonged camping experience. Lots of labor to achieve the same results we might get in a fraction of the time at home with our convenience devices. And you’re ideas about water conservation are much in line with those I’ve already considered. Good thinking!

Jane – at 20:58 If you haven’t read the link I originally posted, check it out. The dry bag idea spares you the plunging, which appeals to me. And, it could be a great way to work off some frustration or make a game of laundry with family members. I will, as in all things, probably go with multiple set ups. The five gal w/plunger, the mop bucket with ringer (slick!), and the dry bag (since we already have one or two that we use when kayaking).

Poppy – at 21:52

imajeepster – at 21:18 I love the mop bucket with the wringer idea! It may not be large enough for jeans but it would sure save the hands a lot of work on the smaller stuff.

heddiecalifornia – at 21:39 I have not used bluing in years! But I used to use it all the time. You just have to be careful not to get it on the clothes, put it in the water first then add the clothing. Another way to get clothes whiter is to use (brain fart) I think it is Borax water softener. The softer water helps get the clothes cleaner.

Here in East Texas the water is naturally soft so we don’t even need as much soap as in California. It’s also harder to get the excess soap out so I double rinse even with hypoallergenic soap.

Edna Mode – at 21:52

heddiecalifornia – at 21:39 It is really hard to get perspiration stains and odors out — you may consider using ‘dress sheilds’ or underarm guards with your better clothing.

My better clothing?! You crack me up! I’m getting us all two pairs of Thermasilk long underwear, and that’s it for us Clampets! We won’t be attending any black tie events once we start our SIP, I can assure you of that. ;)

Seriously though, I am going to keep the clothing options to a minimum. My son will be a breeze. I swear he was a nudist in another life. My clothes-hog daughter will be more of a challenge. We all really love our pajamas, though, so I figure that’ll be an easy sell! Shorts and t-shirts will be no problem to wash. Winter wear will definitely be more of a drag. Thanks for all your tips!

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 22:09

You know, ZipLock makes these really large storage bags now that are waterproof that would probably work like the GI bag he’s talking about in the above link — they’re big enough to get 2 queen size bed pillows in one so you could get at least 3–4 pr of jeans in them!

Edna Mode – at 22:14

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 22:09 True, except I’m not sure how much bashing they would withstand. You can get the wet/dry bags for under $15 at places like EMS or Cabala’s. My personal favorite place to get all manner of camping and outdoor gear is Campmor.com. Best prices I’ve found anywhere, and I’ve been ordering from them for many, many years (since before, gasp!, e-commerce).

heddiecalifornia – at 22:23

Edna — Oh, my, the way you phrased it is so funny! I didn’t realize ---- but anyhow My aunt’s regular cotton dresses had worn thin under the arms and were very faded; couldn’t take the soda/soap scrub treatment needed. I was thinking “better clothing” being anything finer than a heavy canvas, cotton twill, or blue work shirt heavy, not necessarily silk or batiste formals and tea gowns —

But anyhow, I can see where using an apron of come kind will help with the laundry, too —

I’m thinking leather for winter — or even just naugahyde — a quick wipe down, and you’re good to stay!

silversage – at 22:35

heddiecalifornia – at 21:39

Yes they still make Mrs Stewart’s bluing! I have a bottle in my laundry room! And I agree with using the apron. All that cooking from scratch, I’ll be wearing my apron and so will the kids, maybe even when they eat. :-)

Mosaic – at 22:39

If this is a real catastrophe, I’m not going to worry too much about getting the clothes white, just clean. I like the idea of the plastic bags, but if a pandemic is of very long duration, I am not sure I want to use that many plastic bags on washing clothes, even if you can use them several times. Perhaps when one has a small hole, you could put it inside another with a hole, and together they might last long enough to finish the wash.

I already hang the laundry to line-dry, but I’m going to miss the washing machine. Sigh….

We live where there is limited rain and fresh water. Water will be used several times. Water from washing veggies will then be used for laundry. Rinse water from laundry will be used in the garden or for flushing, etc.

10 September 2006

Gary Near Death Valley – at 00:40

silversage – at 20:21 Yes the 5 gallon bucket is cheap and easy and works great. Anyway that is what the little lady tells me,,,,but I do help hang the clothes out on the clothesline I put up on the covered back porch.

blackbird – at 01:15

So this wet/dry bag thing — can anyone provide a pointer to where I can get one (preferably on-line)? I’m also interested in sources for a wash bucket with wringer.

We had an outdoor clothes dryer (metal pole that goes in the ground and umbrella-type metal ribs with rope/cable lines to attache clothes to, still have the parts, and will be setting it up).

I agree with EM, lining up several ways to get the laundry done is the way to go.

Jane – at 20:58: Lots of good ideas. I really like the idea of large flat bottomed tubs so your feet can assist with stomping laundry once your hands/arms give out. Thx also for the tip on soaking first. Anything to take some of the work out is a good thing!

EnoughAlreadyat 01:26

On that movie, Far Away (or somethng like that… with Cruise & Kidman), they washed the clothes on a rub board inserted in a big pan-thing using a bar of soap. All I remember is Kidman telling her mother how to do it… so many times this way and that way. Dip, rub, dip, rub. Maybe I should watch that movie again. Anyhow, that is my plan… then utilize the mop bucket for the “rinse cycle.” And… using the hose for heating the water… or the sun some way or another to heat water.

I also have a whole lot of laundry daily. All the talk on this site about those kiddie pools… I thought seriously about putting the laundry in one of those and let the g’kids “aggitate” the heck out of it as their “chore.” (call it swimming with the laundry.) Probably wouldn’t be a good idea in winter during a flu pandemic, though. But, if the weather was nice…

blackbird – at 01:39

Think I found a link, at Campmor, here

http://tinyurl.com/l2c4k

They have 32 liter and 54 liter all purpose dry bags. That sound right?

Thanks in advance for helping me figure this out. :-)

jplanner – at 04:03

hi all, nice conversation. I have bucket and plunger to do wash, clothes line for over the bathtub, on the poarch, and wooden rack also for drying (I live in an apartment). I have found wringers to be very expensive…so what I will do if must do own laundry (which is more likely for me than some, as if I SIP at all I am without a washer/dryer!-will NOT being going to the laundomat then as I usually do!) when sipping is have easy to wash and dry inner layers to change and wash more frequently. I bought wicking underwear (made for hiking and travel) that dry especially quickly, overnite. I will wear wicking long underwear (someone mentioned silk above, mine are polypro) that I can wash. I will be indoors in a small apartment so I doubt if i will get so dirty (tho I’d rather be in a place, sipping, with land or at least a yard, or woods to gather in…etc etc that is not the case). I don’t think my outer clothes will get that dirty.

SInce I dont’ have a washer right now, quite frankly, I don’t wash outer layers in winter as often as most people. You will be surprised that you can stay pretty clean/fresh smelling (!) if you change inner layers daily but wear outer layers more than once. Even a tshirt under a sweater helps, washing that T shirt and drying it is so much easier than washing the sweater!

I second the idea someone mentioned about fleece garments. THey dry REALLY QUICKLY. Excellent outer layer for Sipping. I have thought of my clothes I will wear…no 100% cotton jeans or sweatshirts for me. I am thinking about drying clothes in the winter, possibly indoors, or if it is raining or snowing…which is likely at least some of the time I will SIP. I am not sure I want laundry flapping outside announcing my presents and my preps to everyone anyway!

Lastly, I love Campmor also, I got the wicking underwear there and LOTS of other preps-camping and emergency stuff, cheap large warm sleep bag and tent for SIP inside apartement etc. Laundry wise, FYI, what I got from them is something called a SUN SHOWER…it is a black thick plastic bag with hose and valve. Like ten dollars. Got it to heat water in the sun on my poarch. Shower, save fuel heating water for cooking, dishes. AND LAUNDRY….just like the “hose in the sun’ idea. But this holds I think 5G. They come in dif sizes.

FrenchieGirlat 04:42

When my son was born I did not have a washing machine, and his little bottom was irritated with the plastic diapers, so I had to use cotton flannels, which had to be washed by hand, and I had to change him very often so as to limit the soiling of the bed. And of course, wash the sheets/blankets often.

This is how I coped. I don’t know if this is the best way to do it, but that was my method. First scrape off the poo as much as you can. Then put the flannels in a bucket of cold water with chlorine (chlorine works best at low temperatures). Soak the whole night. In the morning, empty the soiled water and wring the flannels (put gloves on your hands if your skin is sensitive). Then take the flannels one by one and lay them on a board across your sink. Take a soap bar and rub soap on all the spots. Fold once and put more soap. Fold twice and put more soap, do until your flannel is nicely folded in a package about 6–8 layers thick (depends on the size of the flannel). Put the folded flannels back in the bucket. Put some washing powder on top. Pour boiling water on the lot. If it is really badly soiled, then boil in a huge pan (if I recall right, I think I boiled the flannels for about 20 minutes, stirring with a wooden handle). Then let sit until you can bear the water temperature with your hands. Pull out the flannels back on to the board, rub them one against another, insisting on whatever remaining spots. Once you’ve done all the flannels, empty the washing water. Then rinse as best you can to get rid of all the soap. Wring. Hang to almost dry in the sunshine if possible. Iron, fold, put away. To be done every single day.

Now, if you have no electricity nor gas to heat the water, I’d suggest a second soak for a few hours with chlorine, and the flannels may not be perfect white, but at least there wouldn’t be any germs left.

For sheets, especially large ones, same procedure, but I used to put them in the bath tub and spend some time standing in the tub stirring them with my feet. Sheets would not have that much stains - though this would depend whether you are washing sheets that were in the bed of a sick person who might have vomited or passed matters onto the sheets. When my son was older and we still did not have a washing machine, I used to put him in the bath with the sheets and toys, he loved it and it made my job easier!

My advice would be to do a wash every day, whether you have babies or not, because it’s a pain in the a--- having to do big loads of washing that way.

For clothes, same procedure as above, but some textiles will not bear chlorine or boiling. So it might be an idea to have a few clothes (pajamas, night dresses, pants, socks) in cotton for the pandemic and wear them if someone is sick in your family. For underarm and collar stains, rub much soap on these parts, scrub and add more soap, etc. For the really resistant stains, I used scouring powder in addition to the soap. You can use the soiled waters to flush the loo after everyone has been there, late morning.

I could not find blueing powder in France/Switzerland, but this spring I did buy a kilo in Dakar’s underground market and brought it back…

Beatrice Elizabeth in uk – at 05:15

My mother and grandmother used to wash in the above draining board way and my grandmother had a hand crank mangle or wringer you sometimes see on e bay they had one on big brother in the garden i wonder if they are still made they must be somewhere and that is it for me problem will be solved

FrenchieGirlat 05:23

Beatrice Elizabeth in uk – at 05:15 - Ah yes the wringer! I used my pastry wooden roll, rolling it on top of the clothes on the board to take out a maximum of water. I’d forgotten that. Lol. These were the times! I laugh now, but it wasn’t so funny then!

Beatrice Elizabeth in uk – at 05:32

Do you mean rolling pin yes a good second

Beatrice Elizabeth in uk – at 05:48

And a soft laundry scrubbing brush for the drain board those i have seen

FrenchieGirlat 05:55

Yeah! But I didn’t use one. Occasionally the nail brush (but it damages some clothes).

crfullmoon – at 11:41

In the US, Lehman’s has 4 pages of laundry stuff http://tinyurl.com/rcffm if anyone is having trouble finding anything.

EnoughAlreadyat 12:05

Okay, I looked up how to make laundry detergent on the net.

Chop or flake soap (any soap will do, not just laundry soap bar)

Put this into a saucepan with some hot water, heat but not boil. Stir as needed to disolve soap. Remove from heat. (You can also just add to heated water and let sit overnight. Not cooking.)

Add disolved soap to 3 gallons in a large container.

Set aside until cools and turns into gelantinous mass.

You use 1/2 to 1 C per load depending on water softness/hardness.

Add 1 cup washing soda (not baking soda) Mix well. Cool.

Add to

EnoughAlreadyat 12:08

well… I hit something before finishing the above.

Add the washing soda to cooled soap mixture, then add to 3 gallons of water, etc.

EnoughAlreadyat 12:15

How to remove stains:

White vinegar removes odors. About 1 cup added to wash. “Sprinkle” or rub vinegar into armpits of garmet to remove stains.

Baking soda paste removes sweat stains. Apply to stain and let sit about 20 minutes.

Dish detergent soak- soak area , let sit about 1 hour, then wash as usual. (ring around collar, etc.) Shampoo can also be used, apply with toothbrush and scrub into stained area on garmet.

Hydrogen peroxide- removes blood stains well… test if you don’t want it to bleach out an area.

EnoughAlreadyat 12:24

And… I have been trying to figure out how to “build” an old fashioned table top kind of wringer with a crank handle. The mop bucket is good, but sure would be nice to have something biger with more umph… at an economical price.

blackbird – at 15:37

To size the dry bag referenced in the link from Edna’s first post, we took a set of flannel sheets (top, bottom + pillowcases) and placed them in a clean 5 gallon bucket. Not big enough. So will go with one 8-gallon size to be able to wash a set of sheets or other items in one large load. And probably another, smaller bag as a backup and for smaller loads.

Also a small size bag for BOB, plus Dr Bronner’s 18-in-1 ALL-ONE soap that you can use for everything: washing self, brushing teeth, ashing clothes, etc.

Thanks for all of the good ideas here, will be priniting this whole thread out for reference.

pfwag – at 19:12

Get a Wonder Clean or Power Wash aka Wash ‘N Dry Clean Machine. “Wash or dry clean 5 lbs. of laundry without electricity!” “The principle of operation is based on the physics laws of pressure and heat. The hot water heats the air inside the container. The heated air ‘tries’ to expand but is prevented so by the hermetically sealed container. When the expansion of the air is prevented, the result is that the pressure is built up inside the container. This pressure causes the soap and the water to penetrate forcefully through the garment and the stains are released. Turning the container cause the previously released stain to be removed from the garment.”

If you use dry detergent with low suds, you get a better wash. Most of the suds in soap is for visual appeal. This is why hand dishsoap generates lots of suds and dishwasher soap generate almost none. Too much sudsing interferes with the cleansing action of the small machines. Some preparedness experts recommend Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda which contains sodium carbonate. It gets clothes practically spotless! It is a basic substance, and the more basic, the better the cleansing action. It acts as a solvent for grease and softens hard water. Used with soaps, it increases the soap’s effectiveness. It also works very well in cold water, saving precious fuel!

Rapid Washer. “No more rubbing and scrubbing of clothes. The Rapid Washer is a plunger for clothes. Just raise and lower like a plunger. The special tin plate head sends water through the clothes without overstressing even the finest fabrics. Better than a Wash Board or hand scrubbing. Works in all size wash tubs or basins. 28″ long.”

Google the names for sources.

Eduk8or – at 19:23

Here’s site I found about a year ago.. it’s a pdf file and it’s from a mom who cruises year-round with her family of four on a ship. Some of it applies, some doesn’t… take what you can for good info.

http://tinyurl.com/gruge thecruisinglife.com

lady biker – at 20:21

I for one am stocking lots and lots of liquid detergent and dawn dish soap, LOLOL. I have stomped more laundry in the bathtub than I care to remember but looks like I might be doing it again. I have a clothes line outside plus one hung in the garage the whole length so I can hang clothes and no one can see them although I do live in the country. I have a wash board too and I’m getting one of those buckets with a wringer on it , that will help alot. I think sometimes we are in a time warp and going back to the 1800s . some of my favorite books are the Little House on the prairie books, I wore out three sets of them, and now here we go again. I am really looking for a Treadle sewing machine, that would be a BIG BONUS. I do lots of hand quilting and sewing but a machine would just be the icing on the cake

11 September 2006

EnoughAlreadyat 00:42

Everybody but me has stomped clothes clean in the bathtub!

blackbird – at 01:27

I haven’t either, enough. Was wondering over dinner how you kept from slipping and falling in the tub, with all those soapy clothes. Maybe it’s a young person’s sport :)

Bluebonnet – at 10:39

Blackbird - it’s not! You don’t want to use too much soap - otherwise you have too much difficulty rinsing it clean. It’s kind of like baking bread - just enough yeast to make it rise - but not too much.

Yes, bluing is still sold. I bought some this summer from Kroger’s to use in a science experiment for my grandsons.

I have an old fashioned rub board to use. I also have my grandmother’s prized cast iron kettles that my great-grandmother used. Don’t forget clothes pins as well.

When I was younger, I remember wash day. It was a day long affair. This is one of the reason’s that Monday in NO is red beans and rice day. Most folks washed clothes on Monday, so you needed something to cook that did not require much attention, hence the beans. My great-grandmother and grandmother make soap (lye) to use. The most I remember is lots of steaming hot water, the smell of lye soap and bluing and, oh yes, mud and lots of it! The only clothes I remember being soaked were usually bloody clothes and greasy clothes - i.e., motor oil, etc.

I think one of the reasons most clothes in my part of the country were not set to soak is because of flies and the dampness here. Mildewed clothes are NOT FUN! They stink and it is incredibly difficult to get out of the clothes. This was always a worry on rainy, damp wash days.

You also have to remember that “back in the day” most clothes were 100% cotton, not the blends that we have now. Also, most folks didn’t change their clothes as often as we do today. It was nothing for them to wear the same clothes for 3–4 days. Mountains of laundry as we know it did not exist. Sheets were changed occasionally - not once or twice a week.

For those of you who haven’t experienced the “joy” of hand wringing clothes- you should try it. Jeans are the pits and sheets aren’t much better! Here in Texas we usually have wet and cold winters. Hanging laundry with ice and snow is no fun either. Chilblains, anyone?

Once the laundry was dry - time to iron with a sad iron. This iron is heated on a wood stove and used to press clothes. First you sprinkle the clothes with water, stuff them in a bag and put them in the refrigerator overnight. Then you heat up the iron, take the damp clothes out one-by-one and iron them. Ironing is also a day long chore.

Ooops - forgot the starch step. You boil the starch and then add it to the rinse water of whatever clothing you intend to starch. As mention above, starch fills the pores and makes it more difficult for grease and stains to set it.

Let’s keep our finger’s crossed that we don’t have to go back to this EVER!!!!!

Edna Mode – at 11:39

Blackbird, Those bags at Campmor certainly look like they’d work. However, I for one ain’t paying those prices! Not sure what the dimensions of the bags at Campmor are, but here’s a link to a clear (see-through) dry bag that measure approx. 1′ x 2′. Not huge, but when filled with laundry and water, it’s going to be heavy. For $11, plus S&H, it’s good enough for my purposes.

I suspect the Campmor bags are huge in comparison, thus the price, since Campmor is usually very underpriced vs. other stores that sell that type of gear.

This one is sold by REI’s outlet: http://tinyurl.com/m24ya

Edna Mode – at 11:43

Here is a link to some dry bags in different sizes from LL Bean. And as always, folks, I have no connection whatsoever to the places I link to.

http://tinyurl.com/sywzo

These LL Bean bags may not be the same quality as the Campmor bags. Campmor carries extreme equipment for people who pursue sports in extreme conditions. I’m sure the LL Bean bags would hold up just fine for our laundry workout!

OKbirdwatcherat 11:50

Enough Already at 12:24 -

Lehmans has just the wringer apparatus for I think about $70 (this from memory). I looked at them awhile back on their web site. Not cheap, but I can’t figure out any other way to effectively wring out sheets, blankets, jeans, bath towels, etc.

Jane – at 12:09

I found an old wringer at a charity thrift shop. It looks as if it had been painted white, for decorative purposed maybe? Twenty bucks was a good price, if it works.

The laundry will take ages to dry, if the only heat we have is for one room. I guess there wouldn’t be any problem humidifying the air. <g> Wringing out sheets and jeans will have to be a team effort, I think.

LauraBat 14:36

Don’t forget to stock-pile some Shout or other stain remover. Pre-treat stains then let them sit for awhile before washing. Makes a big difference and will reduce the need to wash something more than once.

EnoughAlreadyat 20:34

OKbirdwatcher – at 11:50

Thanks! I will look there tonight.

Jane- I am jealous! I have looked all over for one, in and out of thrift stores. If it doesn’t work, maybe you could figure out how to make it work. Good luck!

Mari – at 21:32

I have a number of painted metal closet organizers with mesh tops that stand about 12–15 in high (they stack on the top closet shelf). If I did laundry in the tub, I could sling a dripping pair of jeans on one of those and let it drain until the weight was manageable to tote it outside and hang it up.

12 September 2006

Mother of Five – at 00:06

When we go camping, we use the handcrank washing machine you can buy at www.beprepared.com We use liquid laundry soap, Wisk is one of the best at keeping clothes white and bright. But, believe it or not, Woolite is actually the best! It works great on really dirty bluejeans :) We would never have clean clothing if I had to make my own soap and beat my laundry, etc. etc. You all are very brave, devoted individuals to handle that kind of stuff—I feel kinda wimpy now :)

EnoughAlreadyat 00:15

We would never have clean clothing if I had to make my own soap and beat my laundry, etc. etc.

ROFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!

blackbird – at 01:26

LauraB – at 14:36 Don’t forget to stock-pile some Shout or other stain remover.

I use a product called Zout that takes out stains Shout does not. And I’m a stain magnet (modestly proclaimed). :-) If there’s something spillable around, it will land on me.

Edna, thanks for your reply. I thought you might already have some dry bags on hand, since you knew what they were and where they were available. They’re news to me. The way I sized the one I need was by using a 5 gal bucket as a proxy. I put in my largest cleaning item, flannel sheets and pillow cases. 5 gal is too small, so I’m getting an 8 gallon (actually 32 liter) dry bag. That will cut down on the number of loads of washing and rinsing required. And a heavy-duty bag is fine with me because having one break as I’m rolling it around would be not fun.

Bluebonnet – at 10:39. Thanks, but I’m still not convinced I want to do dancing in my tub with clothes and soap (even a small amount). I do like the idea of lessening the manual effort, just not willing to risk the potential fall. Luckily there are other alternatives, which I’m pursuing.

jplanner – at 03:36

mother of five…my first thought is…she’s a mother of five, how can she Possibly be wimpy?! :) I doubt you really are… :)

Edna Mode – at 07:27

blackbird – at 01:26 I do have a couple, but they are small enough to fit in the hatches of our kayaks. I agree, heavy duty is the way to go.

Kim – at 08:14

blackbird, where do you get Zout? I don’t recall seeing it on the shelves.

slainte – at 16:24

I got a yellow dry bag at Wallmart; for my son to take his stuff to camp. It’s about 14″x22″ with the top folded over and looks like it should last a really long time. It would also be good for a bug out bag if you wanted to keep your stuff dry.

blackbird – at 17:01

Kim – at 08:14.

where do you get Zout? I don’t recall seeing it on the shelves.

I first found it at someone’s house in Florida, probably from Publix grocery store, and then had to look around to find it elsewhere. Think I finally found some at Bi-Mart. Also recall seeing a recommendation — maybe here — that shampoo works well at removing stains. Makes sennse because it’s designed to remove grease from hair. :-)

I’m auditioning one of the wonder clean / wonder wash machines at my house. So far, am not impressed with the quality of the construction. The handle comes disassembled and falls off easily. Have not tried washing anything yet. The unit may go back. There is a stanless steel model by another maker, at 10x the price, that looks pretty good but I’m not willing to invest that much.

Bought it from Lehman’s. They have a GREAT Non-electric catalog that I read through last night. Lots of great products and interesting reading. Some Amish-made items. I am not affiliated with them or any other BF-type suppliers.

EnoughAlreadyat 18:26

Automotive supply places have those heavy duty wringers… found googling. Even the thought of being thrown back into this stoneage laundry stuff is wigging me out. I have a cold right now and can barely get laundry done in my automatic washer and dryer. This is gonna suck.

Frenchie’s idea of sticking the kids in the bathtub and letting them have at it is winning out hands-over-fists for me. just… blaaaaaah.

Mari – at 18:40

EnoughAlready – at 18:26 - If we’re doing laundry by hand, unfortunately it will be with cold water. Unless it’s really hot in the house, the kids aren’t going to cooperate in the tub.

blackbird – at 21:07

EnoughAlready – at 18:26. Auomotive supply??? What did you search for in google?

EnoughAlreadyat 22:05

blackbird- Hand wringers. They use them for towels and chamois. Found it accidently.

Mari – sigh. You are right.

Michigan Mom – at 22:41

For laundry soap I have been using; 1/2c washing soda 1/2c borax 1/2c castile liquid soap mix with 2 gal hot water This mixture works very well we have been using it for almost a year now in hot warm and cold water. When you firt start using this mix add 1/2c white vinegar to rise out any other soap residue left from tide etc. Sorry i forgot to say use 1/3 to 1/2c pre load. Guess i’m up past my bedtime.

13 September 2006

Bluebonnet – at 09:58

blackbird - here ya on “doin the dance.” That I think is the point - doing laundry by hand is HARD WORK. If the worst case scenario plays out - ALL of us will be doing more physical labor than most of us have done in our lives.

By that I mean:

And all of this work will be done whether you are sick or well. Really makes you appreciate you women forbearers, doesn’t it?

Mari – at 10:11

Bluebonnet – at 09:58 - Also a reminder why working outside the home wasn’t an option for most women until relatively recently. There was too much work to be done INSIDE the home!

I’d also add manual gardening tasks to your list.

blackbird – at 11:10

Bluebonnet – at 09:58. Sigh. I know and agree. Trouble is, I just flat out can’t do that because of some physical problems so am looking to simplify things were I can. It will be hard for all.

15 September 2006

Jane – at 10:48

To expand on the apron idea, perhaps an apron for each person to wear while eating (calling it a bib might have negative connotations) would keep clothes clean longer. Also wearing a bandana or silk square tied around the neck keeps shirts cleaner at the collar; wearing one with a t-shirt would extend the wearing time between washings. Depending on the type of work, people could wear gaiters on their legs or sleeve covers ( wrist to elbow with elastic at both ends). Also a rag stuck in a back pocket would keep me from wiping sandy gardening hands on my pants’ seat. Anything that puts off washing large heavy items sounds good to me.

FrenchieGirlat 11:00

Mari – at 18:40 - EnoughAlready – at 18:26 - If we’re doing laundry by hand, unfortunately it will be with cold water. Unless it’s really hot in the house, the kids aren’t going to cooperate in the tub.

You may not have electricity to run your washing machine, but you may have butane/propane gas to run your cooker - as I have - in which case you could still have hot water.

A 13kg butane/propane gas bottle will last about 3 months, cooking 3 times a day for two people. Probably somewhat less time if you often use it to warm water for laundry, washing, etc.

Cygnet – at 11:16

Re: hot water — just get a metal wash tub (most feed stores will have them) and set a fire around it for hot water. Use any scrap wood — and it doesn’t take all that much. When the water’s hot enough, rake the coals away.

When I’m butchering poultry, I can get water BOILING this way in a few minutes, with a handful of scrap 2X4s.

The wash tub’s also handy for catching rainwater runoff from the roof.

Mari – at 11:20

Cygnet – at 11:16 - I was able to get one of those tubs via freecycle. I’ve painted mine black with heat resistant paint and will be conducting an experiment to see how much water I can distill on a sunny New Mexico day by filling the tub with sopping wet dark towels with a canning jar in the middle, and covering the tub with plastic with a rock in the middle over the canning jar. Before that I used it to collect rainwater - it must have held 25 gal or more.

Edna Mode – at 11:36

Cygnet – at 11:16 Re: hot water — just get a metal wash tub (most feed stores will have them) and set a fire around it for hot water. Use any scrap wood — and it doesn’t take all that much. When the water’s hot enough, rake the coals away.

And don’t just rake the coals away. Use them to cook breakfast/lunch/dinner in a Dutch oven. Waste not, want not.

Alternately, if you have a fire going to cook or heat with (and in my opinion, if cold climate preppers have a fire for one, they absolutely should use it for the other simulataneously to conserve on fuel and energy needed to start/maintain the fire), put stones or bricks in the fire and then, when good and hot, put them in your tub of water to heat it. If you have bleach in the water, it doesn’t need to be scalding hot to sanitize things.

FrenchieGirlat 11:43

Edna Mode – at 11:36 - If you have bleach in the water, it doesn’t need to be scalding hot to sanitize things.

From a chemist, so it’s probably true: bleach works better in cold water.

FrenchieGirlat 11:48

With respect to making a fire to heat water, it’s all well if you have a garden and access to some wood, but not if you live in an apartment. And even if you have a garden, 13 kg gas butane/propane bottles are cheap and convenient. They take less room than cubic meters of wood. As for gathering wood in the dead of winter… supposing it’s easy to find, you’re likely to meet others who have not stocked anything and be at risk for flu. Propane is easy to store, it does not freeze (butane does). So I’d do a fire only if I run out of gas. With 4 or 5 bottles, you can hold out about a year for two people if you do your washing too. Longer if it’s just cooking. And you’d not attract attention warming your wash water in the garden, ‘coz you’d be warming your water in your kitchen.

Mari – at 12:22

FrenchieGirl – at 11:43 - See EPA water treatment instructions. Since they say to add MORE bleach if the water is extremely cold, I’d say that bleach is less effective in cold water.

FrenchieGirlat 13:52

Thank you Mari, then that chemist was wrong… It goes to show one should always check several sources…

Kim – at 15:13

Chlorine will work to disinfect cold water, it just takes longer to do so. MORE bleach won’t make a difference in the germ-killing powers; it just needs a longer contact time with the germs, the colder the water is. I don’t know how long it takes for bleach to whiten clothes put in cold water, but I would suspect that it will take a longer soaking time than it would with hot water.

Mari – at 15:22

Kim – at 15:13 - If you want to stick with 30 min contact time, then more bleach would be needed for very cold water than for cool water. You’re correct that another approach would be to use a longer contact time.

16 September 2006

Jefiner – at 09:42

I purchased one of those Magic Clean machines off ebay—I will do a trial run of tshirts etc. this am and report results.

Wolf – at 10:21

Although I read all of the science-related threads first, I’ve gotta tellya, these practicle threads are just fantastic. I’ve ordered Dr. Bronner’s by the gallon (always loved that soap!) Will wash self, teeth, pets, clothes with a little help from these threads! Thanks, all!

Medical Maven – at 10:30

Wolf at 10:21-I agree. Ain’t the hive mind great? By the way I can testify to the efficacy of Woolite when on extended trips. And a little bit goes a long way.

Cleanliness standards will need to revert to what was prevalent in the late 19th century. And I really don’t think that is a bad thing. Many things in today’s world are done just because they can be done with little effort, a lot of senseless to and fro.

Jefiner – at 12:50

update

the Magic Clean machine works. The handle and frame are cheesy, but the actual vessel itself is water tight. My trial load of underwear and tshirts came out looking clean and smelling fresh. I am going to upgrade the frame and put on a metal handle. I also need to get a wringer. It probably wouldn’t hurt to let the clothes soak for a few minutes before beginning to spin the unit.

Bird Guano – at 12:53

silversage – at 20:21

Edna Mode – at 19:46

Did you ever see Gary Near Death Valley’s prep pics. He has a 5 gal bucket with a hole in the lid for a plunger handle to fit through for washing clothes. Looked cheep and easy.


I have to second this method.

I’ve been using it on camping trips for YEARS.

Just make sure the plunger is NEW…. LOL

And only use a LITTLE soap, or you will never get it out of the clothes.

Wolf – at 14:20

Medical Maven @ 10:30: Was in a tactical unit 30 years ago. In the woods for weeks on end. You get used to a lot of stuff - a lot of what we put ourselves through now is, indeed, unnecessary.

OKbirdwatcherat 16:30

Medical Maven at 10:30 -

“Many things in today’s world are done just because they can be done with little effort, a lot of senseless to and fro.”

Amen.

I think we’re all gonna have to wrap our minds around that adjustment of cleanliness standards if power and water go.

WVtreehangerat 20:18
Hillbilly Bill – at 20:24

Come on WVtreehager, speak up!

WVtreehangerat 20:26

Well, I’ll try to post again. I heat my water for the Wonder Wash type washer using a solar shower but would simply heat it on a kerosene stove during the winter. Wringing is the pits but I’ve found you get adequate results by placing the wet clothing in a mesh camp/laundry bag and whirl it round and round outside—gets out some pent up frustration and you can control where the water goes to a degree. For just one or two items, a trick I use for my Ex-officio boxers (great item) is to wash and hand-wring ‘em, roll them up in a towel, then stand on the rolled up towel to transfer moisture from the clothing to the towel. Neat idea about using Woolite. I’ve used Dr. Bronners soap but am always looking for alternatives.

Kath-rn – at 22:31

I wonder if a portable, turning composter(never used,of course) like the link below would work for laundry? I have no idea if it would be water tight.

Check link: https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher

17 September 2006

KimTat 00:28

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/product-reviews.php

Has anyone used one of these and does it work well?

Mari – at 10:13

Has anyone tried washing clothes with dishwasher detergent (the kind that you use in a machine)? You’d think that it would do a good job at getting out body oils, at least.

OKbirdwatcherat 10:36

On several different threads I’ve seen mentioned the Miracle Washer, Magic Clean machine and the WonderWasher. Are they all the same thing, just different brand names of the same concept and do they all sell for about the same???

blackbird – at 11:33

Jefiner – at 12:50. Regarding Clean Machine (I have a Wonder Washer, believe they are the same thing):

I am going to upgrade the frame and put on a metal handle.

I’d be interested to hear about your upgrade, where to get parts and how that goes. The handle on mine is also not great, but the problem is it falls off of the part where it connects to the body of the machine. I could crazy glue it on, I suppose. Any ideas?

Jefiner – at 11:53

blackbird – at 11:33

DH is going to build me a frame using pvc pipe. Your handle should connect to the shaft of the unit and there should be a cotter pin that slides through the handle and shaft to keep it from falling off. Still cheesy. I am going to look at handles at Lowes today and see if I can’t work something different.

Edna Mode – at 13:10

Mari, Composters have air vents in them to allow the compost to breath, ergo, not water tight.

I’ve never used a wonder washer, but it looks like it would work. I did get my dry bag from REI, and it is plenty sturdy.

Also, I won an auction on eBay for a vintage hand wringer the other night. Those things are sturdy. Not too many of them up for auction, but if you keep your eyes open, you might get lucky. You could probably find them in antique shops, too.

blackbird – at 13:17

Lehman’s best hand wringer is on backorder …

blackbird – at 13:19

Jefiner – at 11:53

Hmm, didn’t see a pin on mine. Maybe that’s why the handle is falling off. It’s on my to-do list today to try it out, see if it works for me.

blackbird – at 16:25

Thumbs down on ‘wonder washer’ model. Just did my trial load and the handle came off in my hand every two or three turns. Other than that, it worked fine. :-)

There is no pin, the only way I can see to stick it on better is crazy glue.

I used plastic dishwashing tubs to rinse, with Dr Bronner’s peppermint soap - no mint smell and I’m done. It took about 3x the amount of water to rinse as to wash. Next time I might try the plunger for rinsing, especialy cottons that hang on to the scent of the soap.

This is causing complete rethinking of my clothing plan during BFP: silk inner layer, fleece and other easy washables out. Those ‘sport’ towels for every day (save fluffy cotton ones for comfort items). Maybe get washable sleeping bag liners instead of sheets — have to look into the options. I don’t much like synthetics but as long as the inner layer can be a natural fiber, maybe it’ll work. Cotton as luxury item, because of the weight and washing hassle — yikes.

EnoughAlreadyat 22:59

Survival unlimited & wisemen trading both have wringers and washing stuff… similar to Lehman’s.

About the bucket/plunger bucket washer’s: I read someplace online that you could put laundry in them, let them set in the sun to “warm” up the water.

I have too many people and too much laundry for the bucket method, although I will probably utilize this for small loads. (sheesh… can’t believe I am even having to think like this!)

 FrenchieGirl – at 11:00 

Thanks, that gave me an idea! I can use my husband’s fish cooker to boil water for washing. I took your advice and went to thrift stores for light weight clothing. So far, I purchased several nylon with lightweight flannel lined pants and jackets for several of us. (That has got to beat the snot outta washing jeans & courderoy.)

blaaaaah… I am gonna hate laundry even more than I already do. I’m not sure I can do this. Seriously. It’s got me in a dizzy. I’m less worried about the flu than this. just… dang.

blackbird – at 23:51

EnoughAlready – at 22:59.

Thanks for the info on alternate sources for wringers & stuff.

What’s your plan for large loads?

(I found myself wondering which is worse, doing some laundy every day, or devoting a whole day to doing everything. I know historically the vote was for doing it on Mondays — ‘blue monday’)

18 September 2006

EnoughAlreadyat 00:35

blackbird – at 23:51

Honestly, I just don’t know. This has me in a tailspin. I know it sounds silly, but I’ve been trying to think of something along the line of a wine press. Like “Lucy” tromped in. We have such a large family!

If there is a 6mo to 1 year phase of this… & resources (like water and electricity) become issues… well, just--- dang. I know this is worst case scenario. But it is what I have to think about NOW. Some ideas I’ve rolled over include IF I could get to the beach (if that 12 mile restrictive travel isn’t enforced) I thought I could put clothes in mesh bags on ropes and let the waves “agitate” the laundry. I’ve even thought about hitting enough garage sales and thrift shops to buy enough clothes to wear & “burn”!

I do at least 3 loads a day now, as does one of my daughters. I know we’d have to cut back on clothes. BUT… what if there was vomitting and diarrhea? And if people got sick, I’d think washing would be an important part of cleaning/sanitation/hygiene. So, I’ve thought about just hanging stuff like sheets on the line and spraying/soaking them with a bleach water solution. If water is scarce, how much can I afford to wash? Maybe the clothesline would be a sort of “dry cleaners.” I just dunno.

Blue monday… ugggh. Face it, that would be when I went to the laundromat with tons of clothes (i.e., after a hurricane or vomitting spree, etc)… except there won’t be a laundromat (in the worse case scenario.) I can’t even get a grip on having to do this. I told my husband, I CAN’T do this! He reassured me we’d think of something. (burning clothes sounds best to me)

mj – at 22:15

While shopping at Sam’s tonite, I stopped to look at the big coolers. And the slightly smaller coolers on wheels. And thought - Laundry! I’m worried about the big stuff - like Enough Already said, the bed clothes, sheets, blankets, full of — let’s not go there yet. I have the 5 gal bucket, and even considered a large garbage container for the larger loads. But the coolers have a drain in them. No picking up and dumping more than I can lift. What do you think? I was thinking if we could get them at a yard sale, thrift store type place.

blackbird – at 23:08

EnoughAlready – at 00:35

If everything happens at once, all bets are off. Having a groundwork in prepping the parts you can control will help, or at least it helps me. For sanity’s sake, I’ve divided my prepping into categories

while there’s power and water, but quarrantine or sip then …

if power is intermittent then …

if water is intermittent or non-potable then …

if there’s illness in the house, then …

That way, it’s possible to build up your preps and plans in these areas and gain some peace of mind. I find that I keep learning more — more possible problems and more possible solutions — as time goes on.

My planning assumptions include: we remain at home and are not disturbed. BFP will come in waves, with times of less s in the f (the degree to be determined). These things may not come true, but it helps me keep a grip while making progress with addressing the things I think are most likely to occur. If water isn’t available, just staying alive will become the issue at hand.

I agree that laundry is a bear, especially in large quantities. I like your idea of having extra items for emergencies, plus not planning on laundering as often (washing inner layers but re-using outer layers), swiching to easy wash / easy dry items such as camping towels, all will help.

Plastic mattress protectors - they are probably too uncomfortable to lie on, directly. Burning sounds good :)

After reading your post, I’m thinking of getting a portable generator for truly emergency situations and not using it unless absolutely needed. Don’t know if that’s feasible. More research.

19 September 2006

Edna Mode – at 10:19

Not sure how many of you are fans of the PBS series that dumps modern families into historically correct living circumstances. There was Colonial House, 1900 House, one set during WWII, etc. This talk of large loads made me recall what I saw in Victorian House re: laundry (and boy did it blow for those women!), but here goes…

Houses back then had huge cauldrons built into the middle of brick supporting structures that raised the cauldron off the ground and permitted a fire to be built below it to heat the water. The clothese would go in with detergent and get stirred with a long stick, removed, rinsed in separate tub, wrung, and hung. For those who are far enough off the beaten track and wouldn’t draw attention…

How about something like a galvanized garbage can or animal watering tub raised up on cinder blocks with fire below? You could use a broom or mop handle to do the stirring (which is an understatement; it took a good back and lots of muscle).

The problem with this scenario is the amount of water it would take, plus the weight of the large items being transferred.

silversage – at 10:40

mj – at 22:15

That is an excellent idea, the cooler with a drain plug!! Most are on clearance right now. I have an old one I just couldn’t part with. Now I know why I kept it. The plus is if you actually used hot water it would stay warm longer. I may have to try that out. If you had it on a raised surface you could drain the old water into buckets for flushing. Think I’ll go dig mine out.

Jane – at 10:54

I’m thinking of getting some rubber sheeting (with flannel on top surfaces) to protect the mattress. It’s probably a bit more comfortable than plastic tablecloths. The plastic sheeting could be a first layer, then rubber sheeting, then sheet, then disposable puppy pads or Chuks (sp.?). Top layers of bedding are another issue. I have some fleece blankets and fleece fabric that wouldn’t (I hope) be terribly heavy when wet. Maybe towels on top layer, near the patient’s head. Or other fabric, anything smaller than an entire blanket!

21 September 2006

Lorelle – at 09:39

These are such great ideas! I’m trying to figure how I’m gonna remember them when I need to. Propping a cooler up on something to drain into a bucket. Hmmm. It could be an ongoing process in one corner of the house, leaving the bathroom free for regular use.

Fleece blankets, towels around the head area, sounds good. Sheets and blankets are especially hard to wash when there are solid bits tangled in them. So, protect them with something. Makes sense.

I also like the idea of burning them. (No joke!) We’re lucky to have such an abundance of cheap second hand clothes where we live. Sometimes I pick an old t-shirt no one will miss to clean up a mess and throw out. I feel like I’ve been cursed with laundry when I know I have more important things to do with my time. If clothes were harder to get, we would be careful not to get them dirty and wouldn’t wash them so often. Aprons and fleece long johns sound like a good idea too. Thanks everyone.

silversage – at 10:21

Lorelle – at 09:39

Make a folder! That’s the only way I’ll remember all this stuff. I already printed off the signs of cold vs flu ( failed the test) and a bunch of stuff on Vitamin D today.

There is a thread on a prep folder but I can’t seem to locate it right this second.

EastTNat 10:36

I am using Gary Near Death Valley idea of bucket (6 gallon in my case) and plunger. Instead of the regular lid however, I am going to use a Gamma Seal lid. The regular lid has a tendency to break when removing and can be difficult getting it off. By using the Gamma Lid I will have a tight seal, but by unscrewing the lid I can add water and clothes easier. I believe this will make the task some what easier, maybe not more enjoyable, but easier.

That is my idea, still have to bore the hole for the plunger, will try to do that this weekend.

28 September 2006

DemFromCT - close thread – at 21:49
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