Off Grid HOW We DO Laundry WITHOUT Electricity: Living More With Less | An Off-Grid Vlog

HOW WE DO LAUNDRY LIVING WITH NO ELECTRICITY and a large family. DAY 4 OF THE 30 DAY CHALLENGE
#offgrid #homesteading #offgridliving

[@susanvanduyn2847]

We live in the suburbs, and when our washing machine breaks down we soak our clothes overnight in the bath. Then rinse and wring by hand. My grandmother still washed with a hand wringer when I was a little girl. I loved feeding the clothes through while she turned the handle. It is more convenient having a washer and dryer, but not impossible to live without them. :)

[@sadiejackson774]

I have an emergency set up like that, but I use three (or four) 5-gallon buckets. With one you drill many holes all around the sides and the bottom. This bucket sits inside your wash bucket. After you are finished washing, you lift up or tilt up the bucket with the holes, and it drains the dirty water out. It’s less wringing to do. Then you go to the rinse bucket, and if you like you can have another hole-drilled bucket for that one also. I used this one summer and it worked well. I did sit the buckets in an old rubbermaid type tote while doing laundry, to catch any over flow water.

[@meredithheath5272]

Sadie: Great ideas!!

[@atari_hmb]

Glad I found this channel, good tips for those who rely on new age technology too much and forget the essentials. The essentials is how we got to where we are now.

[@thefarnorthhomestead3332]

We are on very limited water supply. When I have to do it by hand I use the mop wringer off an industrial sized yellow bucket like they use at restaurants to wring.

[@rhondastarbuck7728]

More with less! Great motto to live by. I like doing laundry and have done it by hand, with an old-fashioned electric washer with wringer, and also a modern washer. Even today, I mostly line dry and always have my drying rack up. The rack gets put in the back room when company comes. I invested in a homesteader drying rack several years ago and it has more than paid for itself over the years. I agree that you become more "intimate" with your clothes when you wash by hand. So enjoying your 30 day challenge. You are an inspiration to many! Blessings!

[@marykaymorley8551]

With power outages, etc., these things are good to know!!!! Thank you for all your innovative ideas.

[@wendydavis101]

I used this when I lived in an apartment. I cared for my bedridden brother and have 2 children. I had to wash sheets everyday. It uses about a gallon of water one tablespoon of soap to wash. It gets the clothes cleaner then a regular wash machine. Because it’s powered by hand spinning it you could go do laundry by the creek. I live in a modern house and had two water slab leaks so I go another one. I love it and use it occasionally when I want to get things really clean. It’s also great for hand washing items. Just thought I would share in case you didn’t know about this product. You are an inspiration to lots of us. God bless.

[@LittleCountryCabin]

Become intimate with each piece of wash. Love it! Great video! Thank you for sharing🤗

[@glendaharlan]

I used to spend a lot of time on the road vending at shows. I lived in a travel trailer. I hand washed 90% of my clothes like you do. Laundry mats not only cost a lot but it was also time consuming. Loving this series!

[@Chickenfoothomestead]

I use a wringer washer in our household and I love it. Great video.

[@kimberlydelagarza8899]

Saw this idea the other day. Get a big barrel put some water and soap in it and and roll it around. You can even rig something up to have a donkey or horse roll it around.

[@Hope-un5wv]

Take one empty wooden beer barrel cut it in half horizontally. Fill one with hot soapy water, one with cold. Use a wash dolly. Wring gently before rinsing. Put through a mangle with a bucket below to catch the laundry. Peg out on the line. Bring in and Iron. Every Monday is wash day. Clothes can be steeped in the bath water from the Sunday night bath. Thats how My GGrandmother used to wash clothes before electricity. NB. Buttons need to be placed on the inside of a garment to help prevent breakage when they go through the mangle, unless they are rubber buttons.

[@ncfarmchick]

Living More with Less is one book I refer to over and over again. Such inspiration there! Thanks for sharing more of your inspiration with us. :)

[@reneeschweiger9921]

Dawn Harris who is the author of this book? Thank You!

[@MsHomesteader]

Lea, I wash our laundry every week with an old Maytag wringer washer, but did our laundry by hand in a stainless steel meat processing type pan with a hand washer( old) and used a hand wringer in a double tub laundry sink(galvanized) to rinse everything twice. The last rinse tub I added a 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar to help with softening( it takes out residual soap) The whites I washed first and I always add baking soda due to our hard water here, it helps get the whites cleaner. Wish we were closer there was a homemade washer( like the James style) at an auction and it sold for $20 this last summer. I almost bid on it but have two wringer washers( one is gas operated, the other electric, which is what we use weekly.) I line dry year round, unless very frigid, then use wooden drying racks that Mike made me around the wood stove. My Mom was always mortified and said we looked like hillbillies doing it this way,( I just giggle) but I have no dryer, haven't for 20 yrs. I have a pretreat solution I make for hard stains and it works well, just squeeze some on the spot(s) and rub in, let set for an hour or so and then wash. I'd share pictures of our set up if I could. I've posted any times on our old blog about it. Hugs from MT :)

[@colly1952]

I live in thé North of Québec, Canada, and our mothers, grand mothers, etc used to hang this clothes outside even in our cold winters. Once the clothes were thouroughly frozen they would bring them in and hang them on wooden drying racks. The cold and some wind, dit most of the job of drying because they didn't have To be on the racks very ĺong. I think they had To wear gloves To hang them.

[@nan9358]

Great invention or re-invention for washing clothes simply, and your mention of shaking out the wrinkles reminded me of a time I had to do more with less. Thank you for sharing your ideas. I find your suggestions comforting at a time when affordability is a main focus for so many people today.

[@nylapsalms4678]

I love your videos and your way of living God bless you and your family

[@9252LIFE]

This is great! My wife and kids are gonna love this!!

[@tainahollo8567]

What a brilliant way to do laundry - I have to copy it!!!

[@ArtisanAcre]

Thanks for joining us!

[@HomsteadingThePioneerWay]

I do this way in the winter, but i have wash tubs and rub boards with wringer for outside also a ringer washer but don't use it anymore because i don't have a generater, i have an old bath tub for bedding and large items, i have several videos on washing cloths

[@dinarusso3320]

I totally understand what you're saying is you all want to appreciate doing chores, etc, but if you consider a portable washing machine, it will save you time and work to enjoy life and spend time with your family. Just a suggestion

[@gloriakipfer3144]

Very inspiring!! Thank you !!

[@dianeb7420]

Your doing excellent Leah!💕

[@loriking5857]

Leah, enjoy your videos, thank you for sharing. My husband and I are empty nesters and are in our 60's. We live in southern Michigan. His mom and dad had passed a couple of years ago. His mom has a working electric wringer washer with the rollers with it, it only needs a hose. It is yours FREE if you are ever down this way, we would love to see someone using as his mother used it every Monday which was laundry day. Let us know ok?

[@ArtisanAcre]

Oh Lori what a beautiful thing to be willing to do! Thank you so much! We would gladly take you up on your offer, however I truly do not know when we will get down that way next. So lets leave it like this if it is okay with you, we will gladly give that washer a good home when we come down that way BUT if in the mean time you come across someone else who needs it, then bless them with it...does that work for you? Thank you again Lori, that is so thoughtful of you! What part of southern Michigan do you live in? We were between Coldwater and Colon.

[@loriking5857]

@@ArtisanAcre Hi Leah, we live in Hillsdale Michigan, near Frontier, Ransom township. Washer is at farm in Adrian Michigan. No one lives at farm, it sits on back porch where my mother in law kept it till Monday rolled around for laundry day. Just give us a heads up if you are ever in the area. Thanks for responding, take care. Your welcome also😊

[@misstori1437]

I take a cylindrical laundry basket with holes on the side down to the bottom (Walmart $12 ) And a large black rubber ware bin. Put the clothes in the basket and after filling the tub with water dunk the basket and then for about a minute do your best spin cycle impression you can lift and dip and drain them and then when you get them out drained ring them and hang em up to dry.

[@petrazimmermann529]

Perfekt!... And you Looks for same color... Not Black and whit and so... Your washmashin is more effizient than much others

[@leonadubois249]

I've used buckets and toilet plungers to wash clothes with before getting a gas powered wringer...the lid is a great idea I ended up washing floors at the same time..lol

[@user-ti8bj3mp8l]

Just saw a video this morning where a man used a 30 gallon white plastic barrel to make the expensive one Lehman’s has.

[@joelwatkins4377]

My Wife and I bought an Amish Farm a couple years ago. Now we are selling our mortgaged home and moving to the farm to be mortgage free. We did run electric and water, but we are trying to be more off the grid...so trying NOT to use unless we have to. We have solar power to help along with propane. However, outdoor shower and composting toilet, wood stove etc will be used. Been looking for alternatives to “Lehman’s” washer also. This looks like a great idea! Just need to make something for all the jeans and pants I dirty up! Lol Thanks for sharing!

[@shirleymurphy1958]

Still like my old wringer washer best . along with my wash tubs.

[@susanathiessen3566]

Thank you for sharing the first time I watch your channel I just bought a wash bard and made a lot of laundry soap.

[@off-gridwiththeappelbergs5233]

We used washboard / 25 gal rubber maid totes

[@marthaadams8326]

I am half way there. I bought a small washer, spinner and it does a great job, small loads and can't do any rugs or anything like that, saves a lot of money. Still have the big washer/dryer for weekly wash. At my age, I could not do what you are doing.

[@kellybarrett1561]

If people had to hand wash their clothes their level of cleanliness work drastically change lol..loving this video series and it is day 4

[@lorajohnson1325]

You got that right I have seen lazy at it's core

[@hollys1027]

I live off grid in a 300 Sq ft dry cabin that we rent.. we have to use a genny for electricity but it's not strong enough for large appliances. We have to bring in water using 5 gallon water jugs. Omg it's been amazing at times. We heat things up on our woodstove . Which we do have to go into town to do laundry and take showers cause we don't have a shower here. Not big enough or room for anything. We have 3 kids and two large cats, a Maine coon mix (23 pounds) and a lynx mix kitten that is 20 weeks and already the size of our Maine coon cat. So it's been a challenge..oh we live in anchor point ak totally off grid where there is no road name and had to build a road ..

[@ArtisanAcre]

Sounds familiar! Living this way isn't for the faint of heart is it? Can I ask what state you live in? Thanks for watching!

[@meredithheath5272]

Agreed!!! I was looking into this idea of hand washing, and saw Lehman's washing machine. I live in an apartment, and the coin operated laundry price/ wash and then to dry, just went way up!) I was flabbergasted at that price - as you say - ~ $1000!!! At first, as I was looking at the Lehman's, I thought it might be ~ $500 - $600; but $1000 is too much! I'll buy a bucket and attach one of those wringers to the bucket! (Although, even the wringers, themselves, are quite expensive, at ~ $200!) But, thanks for your videos!!

[@connierigsbee7318]

I priced the Lehman’s machine last week… I was astonished!

[@meredithheath5272]

@@connierigsbee7318 I know, right!!!??? Where do they justify that damn much!!! Perhaps, they have created that design for hand washers, and registered a design patent, and they have the monopoly of the design???!

[@stacytate7185]

Love this

[@amourtoujours779]

Thank you for this!

[@ArtisanAcre]

My pleasure!

[@reneedolefinley6654]

With lifi coming I'm finding. ways to use anything to have light... without electricity.

[@carlahabeck4051]

Just came accross your channel. I have one suggestiob: you should have the light from your window in front of you. Video is very dark.

[@grammied3103]

Thank You 😊

[@dinarusso3320]

I go to the laundromat and it's just me in my apartment and it's pretty expensive but I pay for the convenience. I can imagine a large family is pricey, maybe for the blankets and stuff like that. Maybe you can try a spinner for hand washed laundry or a second hand portable washing machine to save money.

[@jimr.5580]

Thank you!

[@ArtisanAcre]

Your welcome!

[@bonniemitchell215]

I was wishing for this last night and almost ask you to do one, :)

[@dlewis895]

JUST USE A TOILET PLUNGER WITH HOLES POKED INTO IT CLEANS. REALLY WELL

[@donnaduquettehomesteadinga5512]

We have a family of 4 grandchildren. I have 2 of those ole fashion plungers for washer..I should set them up with their own buckets..maybe they wouldn't waste so many clothes if they actually have to wash them that way

[@ArtisanAcre]

Oh my yes! Simmie loves to "plunge" the laundry!

[@patriciarussell7487]

I miss doing my clothes at home.Laundramats are expensive and time.But no well fix yet.

[@kylec166]

Hey looks like it works

[@Andy-fr6nj]

You mentioned items that aren't really suitable for this method (jeans etc.). How would you wash these?

[@bessiemann7468]

Wash day would be hard.She needs a three prong stick to do the wash also a hand roller to squeeze the water out

[@eyes2see438]

How did you make your plunger? It looks like a metal square attached to a wooden handle.

[@popatop75]

thank you nice video, just a guess if you had just ONLY one wash tub full how long would it take? agitate time, rince time, dump that water fill rince . ring hang .20 minutes 30? just wondering thanks merry christmas be safe

[@ArtisanAcre]

The actual physical work could be as little as 15 (depending on the soil of the clothing) or up to 30. Also have to allow for heating water up and in our case, hauling.

[@JaneLake-sl9xl]

Why can't you put jeans in one at time

[@blinkspacestudio8892]

its scary how much damn water we use JUST to wash our clothes. No one would even imagine how much water it takes to wash then rinse out a few items of clothing.

[@ArtisanAcre]

It is true. That is why I think there is such waste with everything in our country from water to food to relationships. No one is connected to the product directly so they have no idea what it takes to produce or how much it takes to use. Makes you a lot more appreciative and less wasteful when you got skin in the game.

[@deeshillcountrycottage9044]

Hi Leah just curious of what systems do you have in place on living off grid so you and Ron can age in place or do you plan on going on grid as you age?? Love your videos.,your sister in Christ ~Dee

[@lindawilson8434]

Yes I think this is s good question Leah I see how your days are extremely full Thank you for these videos

[@TheOldNorwegian]

Don't ja have a big smooth rock down by the creek? Eh? The Old Norwegian >

[@ArtisanAcre]

wore it out lol

[@linabradfield3922]

I always enjoy laundry videos. Couldn't you use your old wringer wash machine and just do the agitating yourself. I guess you would still have to find away to wring them out. God bless. Enjoy your videos.

[@cindyhamlin5556]

Could you a regular plunger

[@ArtisanAcre]

Yes, the only thing you would want to be careful of since most plungers are a softer rubber so you would want to watch the temp of your water or it might become too pliable, you would probably also want to drill holes in it randomly to allow water through it. Also they do sell metal style plungers at places like Lehman's that are designed for this.

[@robertd6925]

5:50 yeah what is with that?! How the hell do women keep from scalding their hands in the dish water?!

[@cindyhamlin5556]

Do you make your own soap and dish soap and hand soap

[@ArtisanAcre]

We have in the past but we currently do not.

[@cindyhamlin5556]

I really love your videos. I would love to see more about your off grid living, because I live selfsuffient myself . You are so yourself I just love and your family. God bless you

[@ArtisanAcre]

@@cindyhamlin5556 you are so sweet! Thank you Cindy, we truly appreciate you! God bless!

[@psalm3496]

Jesus loves u all were in the last days, pls turn back to Jesus he died for you:) so u can live if u turn to him♥️ he has purpose 4u. Ty 4 posting thisbyw!!

[@user-cn3ub3wq5t]

You are really beautiful