Boating washing machine

[tigr]

Now this looks interesting, a washing machine that must be made for the boating community. They are a bit daft with their quotes of wash loads etc but the idea could be handy.
https://www.facebook.com/LADbible/videos/2794895393890966/

 

[Poignard]

All very well, I dare say, but it's just more stuff cluttering up the boat.

The simplest way to wash clothes at sea is to put them in a bucket of soapy water and leave them for a day. The movement of the boat agitates the water and cleans the clothes. Then rinse a couple of times in seawater before a final rinse in fresh.

 

[Trundlebug]

It may look OK but standing around pedalling for 10 minutes will turn out to be a major PITA given the number of wash loads required on any kind of decent trip.

Much more suitable is the portable twin tub machine like this:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3686050.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156|cid:189949525|agid:18091974325|tid:aud-180466976725la-114765116965|crid:77627773765|nw:g|rnd:7039911499958080295|dvc:c|adp:1o3&gclid=CPDTuZeBpc4CFWEq0wodbOkD-w

Sold in a range of sizes through various sellers, ebay, amazon, argos etc.

All you'd need is an inverter - only about 200w motor I think. You could use it whilst motoring along no problem. Alternatively when on mains hook up.

Haven't checked the price of the pedally thing, but for whatever difference there is I'd have an electric motor doing the hard / tedious work for me any day of the week.

 

[Strolls]

Conventional washing machines use up to 127 litres per wash

In comparison to this, Drumi uses 11.8 litres of water.

Well, that's total bollocks.

Water usage of washing machines and dishwashers dropped dramatically after the EU introduced efficiency ratings. In fact one of them (can't remember which) had to be revised within only a couple of years, because manufacturers were all achieving AAA ratings.

11 - 15 litres is common today.

• http://www.waterwise.org.uk/pages/indoors.html#5
• http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creat...ng-products/water-efficient-washing-machines/

 

[johnalison]

All very well, I dare say, but it's just more stuff cluttering up the boat.

The simplest way to wash clothes at sea is to put them in a bucket of soapy water and leave them for a day. The movement of the boat agitates the water and cleans the clothes. Then rinse a couple of times in seawater before a final rinse in fresh.

I bow to your greater experience in these matters, but I would have thought that a pre-rinse with seawater before washing would be more effective, especially if biological staining has occurred. One of our children had a bad "accident" due to a tummy upset once, and a soak in seawater left his clothing almost clean.

 

[Poignard]

I bow to your greater experience in these matters, but I would have thought that a pre-rinse with seawater before washing would be more effective, especially if biological staining has occurred. One of our children had a bad "accident" due to a tummy upset once, and a soak in seawater left his clothing almost clean.

I bow to your even greater experience! I have not yet reached the age where I might have "accidents" but if/when I do, I'll remember your tip (assuming memory still functions).

 

[[3889]]

All very well, I dare say, but it's just more stuff cluttering up the boat.

The simplest way to wash clothes at sea is to put them in a bucket of soapy water and leave them for a day.

Or better still, a dry bag to avoid spills.

 

[Ric]

All very well, I dare say, but it's just more stuff cluttering up the boat.

The simplest way to wash clothes at sea is to put them in a bucket of soapy water and leave them for a day. The movement of the boat agitates the water and cleans the clothes. Then rinse a couple of times in seawater before a final rinse in fresh.

Better than a bucket is a large waterproof storage drum (available from any camping shop). Fill it with laundry and then fill it right to the top with hottest possible water and then screw down the lid. The slight increase in water pressure makes a big difference to shifting grime (this is how those wonder-wash machines work). Clothes come out really very clean - cleaner than out of a conventional home washing machine in fact.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I'm amazed at those figures. Our machine, which is a modern one, part fills the drum several times which must be a gallon (5l) each.

Well, that's total bollocks.

Water usage of washing machines and dishwashers dropped dramatically after the EU introduced efficiency ratings. In fact one of them (can't remember which) had to be revised within only a couple of years, because manufacturers were all achieving AAA ratings.

11 - 15 litres is common today.

• http://www.waterwise.org.uk/pages/indoors.html#5
• http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creat...ng-products/water-efficient-washing-machines/

 

[jdc]

The ~11 litres is per kilo of dry clothes. Machines take 5 - 8 kg of dry clothes.

 

[rob2]

My (now rather ancient ) domestic washing machine claims to take 6kg of dry clothes. I weighed out 6kg of clothes - nearly emptied my wardrobe! - and no way could you cram that lot into two loads and then they'd be too tightly packed to get cleaned. A really good sailing club should ideally offer a mini laundrette in the wet room.

Rob.