Portable clothes washer?

Save your money. DW loves this Small Mini Portable Compact Washer Washing Machine:


NOT! :B

RobSpook, we have that portable washer in our travel trailer as well as the Laundry Alternative Spin Dryer.

Both the Panda and the Spin Dryer worked very well for us recently during a 3 month trip. The Spin Dryer doesn't get the clothes completely dry (not intended to) but spins virtually all water from them. I dried the clothes by hanging them in the shower and placing a box fan in there with the door closed. This method worked surprisingly well.

What about a washboard? It served the purpose well for years and still might be in certain areas.

I've seen some threads where RVers have used this machine or one like it and were happy with results knowing that it wouldn't be as good as a full sized washer.

I'm surprised your 5th wheel doesn't have hookups. Most manufacturers provide the hook ups as part of the unit build.

You didn't indicate what type of camping you plan to do. Most RV Parks and Campgrounds with RV sites have laundry facilitites. We find the laundry facilities are usually kept clean and have used them from time to time.

We do have a washer and dryer (stackable) in our 5th wheel and find them to be very convenient.

For boondocking we use a 25 gallon plastic trashcan in our shower. We put two layers of black plastic bags in it. Put the clothes in it and then fill it 1/4 full of hot water and add a small amount of laundry soap. Tie the trash bags in a knot and then put the lid on the trashcan. As we tow the 5th wheel down the road the clothes get sloshed around and when we reach our next destination we rinse out the clothes and hang them up to dry. Works great in a pinch.

I have a manual clothes washer. been married to her for over 50 years.
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:
I have a manual clothes washer. been married to her for over 50 years.
bumpy

And like my DW she does not read these posts! :B

Bumpyroad wrote:
I have a manual clothes washer. been married to her for over 50 years.
bumpy

At home I use our magic clothes basket. I just throw dirty clothes in the basket and the next day they're clean, folded, and put away.

Everybody needs one of these magic baskets!

Yes, I have the magic clothes basket also, and my DW does not read these forums... hopefully!

She is the one that found that small washer and was thinking about it for the RV. We are going to be full timers starting around Jan 22-28. We have two boys (6 and 9) and will be staying at many military famcamps and an occasional state park... but you never know. We homeschool and I'll be doing college work the whole time, travelling to new places every three-six weeks.

We'll use free washers/dryers where found, but would like to offset the machine costs at campgrounds IF some of you have positive experiences with this unit. We'll be living on my E-7 (20 yrs) retirement, Post-911 GI Bill, and possibly a VA disability if I get over 50% (possible but I'll be pessimistic until proven wrong.) SO money will we tight, hence my serious question about that this little unit.

We will be in the trailer a lot doing homeschool/college work so doing many small loads consistently wouldn't be a problem.

I don't know about the washer, but while we were fulltiming, I built a clothesline out of pvc pipe and clothesline. It hung on the ladder and would hold a load. I did not glue all the pieces together so it came apart for storage and fit into a bag I made out of a pillowcase. Worked well for years and no-one ever objected to it.

As a solo full timer, I use a lot of laundromats. I'm usually in and out within an hour and 45 mins. Occasionally, I use the ford-o-mat; ie., my version of Steinbeck's method described in his book, Travels With Charley. But, that's not something I'd want to do on a consistent and persistent basis for just one person, much less 4 folks.:)