My idea to wash clothesis to put clothes, soap and water in a 5-gallon bucket, use a screw-on lid, put it the back of the trailer where it really bounces (with bucket secure) and let the road agitate the wash.When I drive, it is to another state, so time on my side.Dump, add rinse water and repeat. May need another rinse at a water source.I searched, but no post yet.I am on the road a lot, and will drive before I run out of clothes, so I either do this or a laundromat, sometimes hard to find, and not always on schedule…I only have 25 gallon fresh tank, so do not want to use any of it for clothes. Stops at gas stations or rest stops usually have enough for a bucket.

So 1-2 shirts at a time1 pair of pants at a time3 pairs of underwear at a time4 pairs of socks at a timeCouple weeks should have enough clean clothes to change out of the dirty ones5 gallon bucket ....not a lot of capacity Hand washing tools....link2 hours at Laundry Mat and enough clothes for 2 weeks of wearing

ajriding wrote:My idea to wash clothesis to put clothes, soap and water in a 5-gallon bucket, use a screw-on lid, put it the back of the trailer where it really bounces (with bucket secure) and let the road agitate the wash.When I drive, it is to another state, so time on my side.Dump, add rinse water and repeat. May need another rinse at a water source.I searched, but no post yet.I am on the road a lot, and will drive before I run out of clothes, so I either do this or a laundromat, sometimes hard to find, and not always on schedule…I only have 25 gallon fresh tank, so do not want to use any of it for clothes. Stops at gas stations or rest stops usually have enough for a bucket.Ah yes, John Steinbeck "Travels With Charlie". I remember that book, thanks for bringing up the memories. :)

Half hour at a laundry mat and you can have them all clean with a lot less hassle...make it an hour and they can even be dry.I've seen people do similar things on cruising boats but that is typically because they are in remote areas with no laundry mats.

I agree with Old-Biscuit, a 5 gallon bucket doesn't have much capacity at all. Put too many clothes in it and you won't get any agitation. I would think a 5 gallon bucket will hold 1 days worth of clothes for an average size man.There are plenty of portable washing machines, that use electric or man power, that will probably do a better job.-Michael

This might work better.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_lKF9g7-60&t=14s

Mobile, bounce-powered bucket washer | Good Sam Community

Lakeland_Bob
Explorer
Mar 04, 2019
Wife and I prefer the Laundromat method as well. Only we like to drop it off and pick it up latter all clean and folded.
packnrat
Explorer
Mar 04, 2019
i still live in a fixed house, but the bucket sounds good for those needs, but i do agree if close, stop in to a laundry mat with four or five roles of quarters. (buy the soap at wally wourld).
and keep a eye on your things, as sometimes they just get up and walk away.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Mar 04, 2019
wannavolunteerFT wrote:
My son's Boy Scout troop did the five gallon bucket with the plunger when they camped at the National Jamboree. They were there for about two weeks and most did not have 14 Scout uniform shirts, so they washed. Had about 10-12 buckets to share between 40 boys

Cool !!! they learned to make do with what they had available to them. I wish more young people could learn that.
wannavolunteerF
Explorer
Mar 02, 2019
My son's Boy Scout troop did the five gallon bucket with the plunger when they camped at the National Jamboree. They were there for about two weeks and most did not have 14 Scout uniform shirts, so they washed. Had about 10-12 buckets to share between 40 boys
mobeewan
Explorer
Feb 28, 2019
A friend told me about the bucket method. He did it when he vacationed in the 4 corners region. An ex army ranger friend of his used to do it when he vacationed in Mexico with his Jeep. The ex ranger said it didn't take long to do laundry driving on the bad roads where he went camping.

If you need more capacity, you might try an 8 or 15 gallon open head plastic drum with either a screw on top or removable top with clamp ring.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Feb 28, 2019
Old-Biscuit wrote:
So 1-2 shirts at a time
1 pair of pants at a time
3 pairs of underwear at a time
4 pairs of socks at a time

I am just a weekend camper. The clothes above is enough for me to go 3-4 days when camping.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Feb 28, 2019
I've also seen videos where you take the 5 gallon bucket , drill a hole in the lid the right size for a bathroom plunger handle to go through, after putting your clothes in the bucket and the handle of the plunger through the lid, put the lid back on and plunge up and down for a while. Do the same thing to rinse, wring the closes out by hand and hang them up to dry.

I've considered this one but, I am just a weekend camper and have never needed to do it yet.
RayJayco
Explorer
Feb 27, 2019
*waiting on the salad jokes to commence!* LOL

I saw a show, it seems like it was a 'boat' made out of plastic bottles and the guy made a trough, with a lid and hung it like a hammock on front and the wave actions did the laundry for him.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Feb 27, 2019
They make a couple of products not far removed from what you describe.

one is a Ball. with a crank on the side of the stand. you put in cloths. soap. water and crank a while.. Then rinse out and crank some more.. Then hand wing and air dry.

Another one as I recall you are supposed to "kick around" Almost exactly your plan only designed to be kicked around.

I've not tried 'em but for small "emergency" loads have often considered.
ajriding
Explorer II
Feb 26, 2019
People are sharing how a laundromat works…. priceless.

Forum Discussion

Mobile, bounce-powered bucket washer

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Photo Bucket...

Bucket Trip also

T-Mobile Gripes

Bucket list?

Verizon or T-Mobile