New type washing machine perfect for boats

duncan99210 said:
Seen the price? Over £400! SWMBO can carry on using a bucket at those prices.
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The problem, aboard, is not the washing but the squeezing out and having sufficient water to use for washing.

Now if you're going to be in a marina or tied up to a quay, you might as well take to the self-service laundrette. Though few and far between, currently, in the islands they're becoming more widespread.
 
There used to be a small manually operated washing machine, it was about 14 inches round, like a big medicine ball, you unscrewed the top, poured the clothes and hot water in it, then turned a handle a few times, it built pressure up inside.
It was quite good for a small wash.
 
We have one of those, it's called a Wonder Wash:

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/product/The-Wonderwash

Incredibly frugal, incredibly effective, very little effort to use it. Served a family of four for 6 months except for the occasional big bedding wash which we did at a marina.

Also recommend Sailor Soap if you can get it outside the US, our family loved it:

http://www.sailorsoap.com/products.html

Hair and body soap, all natural and biodegradable, lathers in salt water so you can shower using the cockpit spray and not use your fresh water.
 
On the subject of washing machines on boats, has anyone tried laundry balls? There are various incarnations but they all look something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laundry_ball

They were recommended to my far, far better half about a year ago...2000 washes per ball, no detergents, no suds, and only £16 (or thereabouts) via Amazon. Apparently they work by some magical interaction of charged particles, or possibly by the divine intervention of the Tooth Fairy. Snake oil, obviously. Total cobblers.

Then we saw them in a Chinese shop in Turkey for 3.5TL (a quid). I bought two: one green, one pink.

And they really, really do work. Don't take my word for it: ask the missus. Clothes come out cleaner and smell cleaner (a remarkable feat after I've spent an afternoon in the bilge). And no suds, which is a rather attractive property in a country where a single soapy sphere can cost you several million dollars and a decade in solitary confinement.

I still think it's a load of bollox but for £1 you really ought to try one. Assuming you've got a lawnmower to put it in, of course.
 
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