Design competition ..... The dirty laundry thread

R

Ravi

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Jun 2013
Messages
780
Location
NorthEast England ... Greece (Kalamata)
Visit site
People have dishwashers on board but the thing that I really hate is hand washing clothes on board, (as evidenced by my appearance and the space I get in public places).

I have this cunning plan to automate the clothes washing process this year. Since a superyacht is not an option, I am looking at something more Heath-Robinson. So, the design spec is ...

- To be used on a boat
- Must wash dirt out of clothes reasonably efficiently. (Doh)
- Easy to use.
- Compact.
- Requires no manual labour.
- No motors.
- Just washing. The sun and wind can do the drying.

Before I launch my design on the world (and buy a superyacht with a washing machine with the proceeds), I thought it might be fun to see if anyone has done this already or wants to play.
 
Ravi said:
People have dishwashers on board but the thing that I really hate is hand washing clothes on board, (as evidenced by my appearance and the space I get in public places).

I have this cunning plan to automate the clothes washing process this year. Since a superyacht is not an option, I am looking at something more Heath-Robinson. So, the design spec is ...

- To be used on a boat

- Must wash dirt out of clothes reasonably efficiently. (Doh)
- Easy to use.
- Compact.
- Requires no manual labour.
- No motors.
- Just washing. The sun and wind can do the drying.

Before I launch my design on the world (and buy a superyacht with a washing machine with the proceeds), I thought it might be fun to see if anyone has done this already or wants to play.
Click to expand...

When you've achieved that goal, I'd suggest a perpetual motion machine as your next one.
I do know of someone we used to put all their sheets, overwinter, into their rubber dinghy and leave the to soak with a little detergent. Claimed they came out soft and green!
 
I like marina launderettes

David2452 said:
Dolly tub and dolly peg, sadly it doesn't meet the no manual labour spec, but may do if it was coupled to some pulleys and something that moves naturally.
Click to expand...

I enjoy using them

I like the books in there

I love talking to people I meet

and bringing a pile of warm uberdry clothes back onto the boat is a wonderful thing

D
 
When our kids were very young and we used to go on camping, later campervan, holidays in the south of Ireland and western France, the most useful item we brought with us was a hand-operated washing machine. It was simply a cylinder, like an old hand-churn , about a foot in diameter and about 18 inches long, with a screw-on lid, fluted vertically down the sides , mounted on gimbals and had a handle with which to tumble it. It wouldn't fit your "no manual labour" condition, but was quite efficient for washing a few small garments at a time, provided you put your back into it. I have no idea where it came from or whether they are still made.
Now that I think about it, it may still be in the deeper recess of our attic. If it is, I'll try to get a photo on here.
 
As Charles implied, your quest for both "no manual labour" and "no motors" is likely to be futile. Unless you go for some improbable source of motion like a donkey walking in a circle, or a windmill.

There was a thread about laundry on the liveaboard forum not too long ago. Many used conventional washing machines on board (either marine-specific or small domestic ones) but some people described their various manual techniques.

Pete
 
Spirit of Glenans said:
a hand-operated washing machine.
Click to expand...

Wow. Looks great. Seeing the picture that some else posted, I think I should give up my heath robinson ideas.

For what it's worth my idea, here is my plan....

(To be used at anchor during lunch stops.)

Pop the clothes, soap powder and fresh water into a black (solar power!) bucket in a clear plastic bag (green house effect). Hopefully, this would give a bit of warmish water
The bucket will be suspended from a block on the inner forestay.
The line from the block would run to the errrr... sophisticated wave power generating system ... a weighted buoy hanging over the bow roller.
The theory is that when the buoy rises and falls, the bucket will do likewise, swirling the cloths around and washing them.

Will it work?

Some options are .... a bungee to attach the bucket ..... hanging the bucket on an asymmetric lever so if the buoy rises / falls slightly the movement of the bucket is multiplied.
 
That Wonderwash does look like a useful bit of kit. I'll probably end up getting one when I get fed up with my home made contraption sending my garments to the seabed!

Of course, the really interesting thing would be to take the Wonderwash or this one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ventus-Powe...3STUOS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kh_3#productDescription) and to power it using the tide / wave action.

But, I am resolved to have some fun experimenting with the home made contraption, first.
 
Ravi said:
That Wonderwash does look like a useful bit of kit. I'll probably end up getting one when I get fed up with my home made contraption sending my garments to the seabed!

Of course, the really interesting thing would be to take the Wonderwash or this one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ventus-Powe...3STUOS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kh_3#productDescription) and to power it using the tide / wave action.

But, I am resolved to have some fun experimenting with the home made contraption, first.
Click to expand...

One Amazon review says..........
I did not buy this machine on Amazon (naughty, I know) but I tried it for the first time this weekend and found it more trouble than it was worth. The idea is good but ...

The basket for clothes really is very small (4 litres) and it is recommended that you make it no more than 4/5 full so it only holds about two pairs of knickers and that's it!

The surround which holds the water is 13 litres and so I am unsure that it saves any water at all - especially when you consider the rinsing involved - if you are only washing a couple of pairs of knickers or similar small items. You can use the water several times to do a pile of washing but this makes the process a very long one.

I think it is less hassle (and more economical) to wash items by hand and then hang them up to dry. If you want a hand spinner to make items 'dryer' you would be better off using a large (4 litre of more) salad spinner - seriously!

The machine is bulky and far more troublesome than washing by hand.
 
Scotty_Tradewind said:
The basket for clothes really is very small (4 litres) ... so it only holds about two pairs of knickers and that's it! ...
Click to expand...
That's some big knickers!

I normally use one of those flexible buckets, like this: http://amzn.to/1jmd5vR

When I'm on my own, I just bung a few clothes in, then add more over the next couple of days, giving it a scrunch each time. The washing part is now done, easy. The hard work is in the wringing and rinses. This is why I think a way to remove the water is more important than a way to agitate the wash.

I'm sure I'm not alone in having a modified hygiene level on the boat. At home I wouldn't dream of wearing something I had worn before (apart from jumpers and trousers of course). On the boat everything gets worn for "a day" (up to 16 hours), so I can wear an evening shirt three or four times.
 
Rowing powered washing

I have been pondering how to keep fit on long voyages, and being a keen rower have thought of adapting a Concept rowing machine to charge the batteries. But your competition gives me another idea: use a water friction machine and wash clothes! Shouldn't prove too hard to turn this
WaterRower-Natural-Rowing-Machine-300x188.jpg
into a washing machine!

PS: I mean the machine, not the girl...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top