Anyone hand wash their clothes?

[dragonlaurel]

We did for the longest time. Our washer died (unfixable) so we had the choice of using the laundrymat or doing it by hand. Being cheap, by-hand won out.
If you have kids, kid's feet get the clothes about as clean as your hands would.

Just put them in the tub with soapy water & let the kids squash them over & over with their feet. My kids loved "dancing" on the clothes. Then we'd pile them up at the back of the tub & the kids would step on them to squish the soapy water out. Shower head to rinse, then out to the line to dry.
Now we have a new (to us) washing machine and I am so very glad for it. Hand washing will for sure make you grateful if you ever do get a machine.

I used the same method plenty of times. You don't have to be a kid, to just have a little fun. I liked hanging them on the line still soapy and securing them well then used the garden hose to rinse them. It watered the side yard at the same time.

 

[FarmerJamie]

There's been a couple of times, I've had to wash clothes by hand because the wife said "you're not putting those clothes in MY washer". Those instances usually involved camping, rain, mud, and fun!

I think if the kids had to help wash things by hand, they'd be a little more cognizant of the effort it takes to keep the clothes clean.

 

[savingdogs]

My hands hurt whenever I try to wring clothes out by hand. I do wash by hand sometimes, but never enjoy it. Perhaps if you had just the right sink and wash up area it could be do-able, but I would probably splurge and go to the laundromat and have a lot of changes of clothes.

 

[Kala]

I already have a washer. Just experimenting with different ways to do things. I'll try just about anything once or twice.

You just have to do a case by case basis. By no means do I expect everyone to try this or go "this far" into things. Just thought I'd see what others experiences had been. So thanks everyone for all of your comments and experiences! And please by all means keep em' coming if ya have em'!

 

[Kala]

We did for the longest time. Our washer died (unfixable) so we had the choice of using the laundrymat or doing it by hand. Being cheap, by-hand won out.
If you have kids, kid's feet get the clothes about as clean as your hands would.Just put them in the tub with soapy water & let the kids squash them over & over with their feet. My kids loved "dancing" on the clothes. Then we'd pile them up at the back of the tub & the kids would step on them to squish the soapy water out. Shower head to rinse, then out to the line to dry.
Now we have a new (to us) washing machine and I am so very glad for it. Hand washing will for sure make you grateful if you ever do get a machine.

Hmmmm...sounds good. Now where to find the kids...I'm sure I could get some on loan from somewhere! Do I hear any offers?

 

[FarmerJamie]

Kala, I think you hit the nail on the head, basically, it's "your mileage may vary".

I raise my own meat chickens, but I pay someone to process them. Not because I can't, it's because we only do one or two large batches per year, and I don't have the time to do it all myself. Would I feel more self-sufficient if I did, absolutely! Could I, if I had to, yeppers. It's a trade-off I have the luxury to make right now.

I remember my mom's first washing machine - she still had to run the clothes through a ringer to get the water out of the clothes before hanging them on the line to dry....and unless we got the jeans filthy, we would wear one pair all week.

Yes, let's continue the conversation and idea exchange!

 

[Kala]

Kala, I think you hit the nail on the head, basically, it's "your mileage may vary".

I raise my own meat chickens, but I pay someone to process them. Not because I can't, it's because we only do one or two large batches per year, and I don't have the time to do it all myself. Would I feel more self-sufficient if I did, absolutely! Could I, if I had to, yeppers. It's a trade-off I have the luxury to make right now.

I remember my mom's first washing machine - she still had to run the clothes through a ringer to get the water out of the clothes before hanging them on the line to dry....and unless we got the jeans filthy, we would wear one pair all week.

Yes, let's continue the conversation and idea exchange!

 

[Denim Deb]

Jamie, unless they get extremely dirty or wet (like mine did yesterday), I still wear 1 pair of jeans all week. All I'm doing is working in them around animals, so why put on a clean pair everyday when I KNOW I'm just going to get them dirty.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Yep, me too.

 

[Country Momma]

I too visited the washboard factory in logan. My husband and I got married at Hocking Hills' Ash Cave. Anyway, have used my washboard for smaller articles of clothing (diapers, kids' clothes), nothing big. I should have got a larger washboard. Right now for me it is about saving money on electricty and not using my machine. Dont have the money for a new high efficiency one either. I also just ordered a hand washer (looked like a toilet plunger) from Emergency Essentials catalog. Havent tried it, going to wait until it stops all this crazy raining, and then wash some clothes outside by by line.