A wringer washer was all we had when I was a kid and .....NO broken buttons. It's great to see this young mom taking care of her family-- also good to see her family helping her :-)
My mother boiled clothes on the stove and then when they cooled they were rung out by hand and hung to dry. the bigger items were a two-person wring out job.
We had a wringer type washer until 1963! As a little girl, I always wanted to help Mom. Many a time my arm went through that wringer! Ouch! Good thing Mom was always there to release the the emergency release. I still miss my mom.
My husband has a niece and her husband that has this type of washer. We use it we we visit them. I love how some the younger generation are understanding what's old and outdated isn't really old and outdated. She's Navajo but lives on the Acoma reservation and was brought up to make do with what ya got.
Absolutely loved your laundry set up. Remind ed me of my own youth on laundry day. We were lucky to have a well pump that had to be carried by buckets into the house, placed on the wood cook stove as all the baby clothes & 5 dozen diapers each wash day needed extra attention & care. We usually had 2-3 little kids in diapers. The other plus you have is electricity if you needed. We had no power so all chores were completed by hand.. & with 10 children the wringer style wash was a 3x week, usually lasting the better part of the daylight hours. & Every other day a huge batch of homemade bread had to be completed to feed 12 ppl. All the lamps had to he filled everyday... (to save time.) I was 16 yrs old before we had any modern life comforts of home...We were the original off the grid... no power or running water or indoor toilets.. bathing all the kids & ourselfs was the huge laundry tubs & sailor baths for the elder kids & parents....SO YOUR BIGGEST PLUS$$ IN TODAYS WORLD IS ELECTRICITY ON YOUR SOLAR GRID. & ON SHADY DAYS.. WHEN YOUR SOLAR IS LOWER ..YOUR DIY body POWER IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE ♥️ 👌 Enjoyed your family togetherness & fortitude... The way it should be. Great job.
Well I used a wringer washer for years with 4 kids...mind you it was electric. Got the clothes really clean too. Always used cold water except for whites and diapers. I would gladly have used your little washer. All my laundry was dried outside even in winter. Would bring in the clothes frozen stiff and throw them on a rack. Dried soft and smelled so fresh!
Those clothes lines are at nearly every house in Australia. For fun we do a drinking game called Goon of Fortune. Its where you hook a bag of wine from the inside of a wine box ( what we call a goon bag) spin it around and who ever it lands on has to have a drink from it.
If you put a large flat sheet on TOP of the quilt, it will stay clean longer. Just take the sheet off when you have company, so it will look pretty! Also, do you have a washboard for those extra dirty spots? Also, I haven't seen a Wish List link for Amazon, so we can send a Birthday, or Christmas present!
One tip/ fold the garment so the buttons are facing inside and are protected.;) Comes from years of using a wringer washer. Just an FYI Lehman's sells an awesome clothes line like that as well!
I like your Airstream. I first saw one back in the 1970's and thought that I would like to have one someday. How do you handle the wildlife? Rattle snakes, scorpions etc? Do you have any issues with them?
It's only me so I don't have a lot of clothes to do. My set-up is nowhere near as fancy (or expensive) as yours. I use a McDonald's pickle bucket (free if you ask for it at your local McDonald's) with a single article of clothing, a drop of detergent, fill it halfway with water, and then pop the lid on and shake it angrily, using my thumbs to make sure the lid doesn't pop off. Pour out the (now filthy) sudsy water and replace with fresh water. Shake angrily and drain. Voila, one article of clean clothes ready for drying.
For a taller person, would it work better to mount the washer on a platform? I think it would be hard for me to bend over to turn the cranks for so long.
Speed Queen brand washers & dryers are what you're looking for today. I've got a 40 year old Kenmore set that's only had 1 minor repair done on the washer, otherwise no problems at all. They might not be the most efficient, but they get the job done & they're not breaking my wallet every 5 years for the latest, shiny piece of crap. =p
I really like this manual machine..but I priced it and it’s not at all affordable. I have a great Speed Queen machine..as long as I have power to run it. Additionally I have a GE portable machine from Mexico. It’s an extra large… I use it outside, and cover it with a grill cover. The only thing I really need is a wringer. Again.. that machine is also dependent on electricity. I do hang all of my clothes 100% of the time. I really like this machine but the price makes it a pass for me.
I want 2 to face my fear lol at least not Electic. When I was 2 I got my right hand caught up in one and took my fingers . I’m 51 and people still stare at my hand . My hand is pretty weird looking. So I just hide it in public. But really would be cool to have a couple of them .
I remember when my great grandmother told me to go hang clothes out in the winter living in Maine, I thought she was nuts. After the clothes had froze on the line she went out and beat it with the broom handle to break the ice off the cloth. Then she brought the clothes in and they were dry. Kinda crazy what grandmother's do
I really admire how a hard working housewife you are. I'd like to give you a little piece of advice here. If you want your family clothes keep their colors longer, turn them inside-out before putting them to sun-dry, and close pants zippers once they are on the clothesline, which, by the way, is really awesome!
A thought: If you raise the washer, you could put a container underneath the washer to drain the water into immediately. Then put the drainage hose off the second container. It drains to your plants while you are on the next step. I really like this video, especially the pros and cons afterwards.
After watching you wash clothes, I went out and hugged and kissed my washing machine and told it how much I loved it! And that's how much I like watching your family life! AKA channel, thank you, ALL stay safe
I grew up with a ringer washer but it had an electric motor. We washed multiple loads with same water. The first load was white dish towels than sheets and light colored clothing, than under garments, bath towels and lastly dark clothes and jeans. And of course we also sorted by dirtiness. I still have an old ringer and will use it if cost of water and electricity keeps climbing.
I have arthritis in my right shoulder from the same mangle (the roller part). I work for a historic site and we used to do 1913 era chores with the 2nd graders. We did laundry using this mangle. The kids loved it. I'm sticking with my washer. The dryer died 2 years ago and I couldn't care less. The washer I would replace in a hot minute.
Honey I used an old ringer washer for years and loved it. If you fold the items with the buttons and zippers to the inside you will have no problem . I also washed my les dirty things first so I could use the same wash water more than once. ALSO IF YOU MAKE YOUR OWN WASHING SOAP YOU WON'T USE AS MUCH RINSE WATER. Hope this helps.
I learned from my mom to turn the t-shirts inside out before washing so when they're drying on the line, the colors won't fade as much from the sun. I'm glad my oldest son picked up this tip and uses it! I didn't realize they still made washing machines like yours. Great job, plus you get exercise built in!
Also, hanging shirts from the hem (not the shoulders) is important... if there is any sun fading it won't be noticeable at the hem, and the shoulders won't have wierd dents in them from the clothes pins. 😉 Finally, there is nothing like the smell of sun dried clothes, and the sun sanitizes them, too.
Your clothesline is an Australian invention. They are called a Hills hoist. Our weather is similar and these clothesline are fantastic for drying everything and they hold so much washing. I have never owned a clothes dryer in my life. Air drying is best for your clothes. Greetings from Donnybrook Western Australia.🇦🇺
What is the brand of your washer. Or is it home-made? A shame Hills Hoist has been taken over. The quality of the clothes line isnt the same. Greetings from South Australia.
My sisters and I washed clothes by hand and with washboard growing up my nana was gifted a washer and dryer in 86. I feel proud to still be able to wash bluejeans by hand . My grandmother would say ,"your useful and that's beautiful child" "Just beautiful. "
I remember one time trying to wash my laundry out by hand in the bathtub and I swear to you the skin was coming off the inside of my thumbs!!!! A washboard is a necessity if you're going to do it by hand!!! :)
Sheets, right when it turns to spring and you can leave the windows open at night. My grandma used to use downy, I haven't smelled that in 20 years. I could sleep like a baby.
I'm a newbie quilter, the whole idea is to see the fabric design, a cover would ruin the artwork for viewing. Besides that, an excuse to hand piece from recycled ♻️ material another newer quilt
I love this way of doing things. I live in a “normal” house with “normal” appliances and just went through the replacement of broken things and the expense is ABSURD Nevermind the hassle
This is “DOING THE LAUNDRY”!! I no longer can use that term for my dump clothes,add detergent, close door, press buttons -- transfer clothing to dryer, close door press buttons---fold or hang! YOU ARE MY HERO GIRL! 💖💖💖💖
When I started my Y2K stash in 1998 I got real lucky and found a manual wringer that bolts to a utility sink for $5 and must admit it’s the best five dollars I ever spent. Good for wringing towels and small rugs. I still have a clothesline in my basement for emergencies like a belt breaks on the washer or dryer and you have to wash and dry by hand until you have the money for repairs.
When I was a child my mother had a FANCY clothes washer which was a big tub (no lid) with an electrically powered agitator - lasted a long, long time. Had a wringer attached to one side, and we had a lot of clothes lines. Never did a button, snap or buckle take any damage. One thing we learned was to be sure the t-shirts and pants were turned inside out before hanging up to dry so the sun would not bleach the outside, visible part of the fabric.
I grew up doing laundry this way, and at 70 I've gone back to my grandmother's ways. I am so proud to have learned off grid in the 1950s and 1960s. My grandmother would use her mothers iron kettle to boil water over a fire, our whites were amazing. As a RN I learned cold water is for protein stains. As humans we are protein so cold is good, but boiled is sterilizing, good with infections. There are amazing smells GOD gives us, herbs, humans, animals, ocean and Sun.😊
My first husband came from Ky and he had me boil his white tee shirts one winter I was surprised that they seemed almost new. Probably learned this from his Mother and Grandmother.
Couple things. My mother washed with a Maytag wringer washer all the time I was growing up. Never had a problem breaking buttons. Today we still wash with cold water. Clothes hold the color longer, cuts shrinking & helps stop the stains.
Yep, mum did also. I didn't see any issue with the manner of washing. It seemed to make sense. I have the latest, flashest style of washing machine, and I wash all of my clothes except underwear and now sheets and towels in cold water.
We had a ringer washer a good deal of the time when I was a kid. But one of them had a motor on it to agitate the water And you could hook up the ringer to make it turn as well.
We've been off grid and remote for 8 years. There are 6 of us and I do not miss the scrub board and wringer at all. We finally completed a water line from the creek to our water tanks, got an old washer and dryer we run off the generator and instead of heating water in a 15 gallon pot then lugging everywhere we use a propane on demand hot water heater. Laundry still takes all day but my hands no longer bleed after. I still have my washboard, plunger and wringer but hope I never have to go back to it.
I've owned one of these for a number of years. It's surprising how many pieces of laundry makes a load in this little rascal. Cleans my husbands really dirty jeans better than any autimatic I've owned. And its great for soaking stained, yellowed whites, washing delicates. Naturally it's more work, takes a bit more time, but it saves tremendously on the water bill and electricity. Does every bit as good a job of cleaning as even a front loading automatic.
@Tiny Shiny Home. A suggestion if I may : If you add clean water to the container you wring the clothes into , you can swish them around and rinse them in there ,wring them out with water draining back into bucket or into machine . Saves double handling and gets it done even faster . And you can use rinse water for next rinse or next wash.
I’m 80 years old I washed clothes in a washing machine and rinsed them in number three washed tubs all my life I had seven children my husband and I made nine and your back gets tired but you have clean clothes and it’s nothing like clothes dried In the sun and when you need hot water for your white taken but I am the top of your stove that’s why I don’t thank you for letting me put my two cents in
I want to command you for doing this I think you’re being very smart and saving money and water and you get to water your plants and your trees thanks for giving the spirit of your life thank you
My grandmother had one similar to that, at the beginning of the 20th century. I found it in the garage as a kid, and loved to play with it. That old rusty contraption had a rotation crank to agitate the laundry on top of the lid. My granny told me that the introduction of these mechanical hand cranked washers brought such a relief to the housewifes, and I can only agree. I lived off grid for a winter in the 1980s and laundry was extremely hard work, because we had to wring and rinse all by hand. The wrangler is really a great invention, even more important than a washer. I also find that soaking laundry over night gets even the worst stains out. About clothlines: Here in Germany, inspite of the weather, clotheslines are much more common. I went to Claifornia in the 90s and was totally baffled that people with perfect dry weather waste so much time, energy and money on drying their laundry. Recently, electrical dryers start being a trend here as well. Wrong direction to go, I think.
Yeah I hang dry my clothes just like my grandma taught me. It saves electricity, time, and the clothes last longer. Some things hung on hangers eliminate the folding time too!
@@megb9700 I do hang about a third of my laundry becuz I don’t want it to shrink, the stain didn’t come out or the fabric isn’t good in the dryer But socks underwear pjs etc I want a dryer till the grids gone.
Most the time the only way people are not going to use a dryer in Cali/the US, is if they're worried about the environment and using energy conservation as a means to help, or if they are impoverished. But the majority of homeowners in the U.S. own a washer/dryer.
What a great system! I always wash everything in cold water to prevent shrinkage and wear. Really great to see the kids always pitching in and helping. Can't wait to see a video next week to see what you've been working on!
Thank you so much for making this video. We are also off grid over in the Appalachain mountains of Virginia. Ive been doing laundry in 5 gallon buckets and trash cans. It does the job fine but its not the most efficient. I squeeze some water but mostly let things drip dry on the line, just takes a little longer. Ive been looking at this lehmans washer/wringer for a while. Hearing yalls pros and cons was great in helping me decide how to move forward with our laundry set up so thank you! -Ash
A cheap upgrade is the little one that suction cups to a flat surface...it available on Amazon and that's what I had growing up off grid. With five kids we were each responsible for our own washing other than when we were really little. It's a small load but it does work well.
Future newbie to homesteading/raw land/"life-choice-questioning" living. Enjoyed the honest opinion of this product and living off the land in general. I'll be checking out more of your videos! Jane
I remember my laundry days when I first married. I had a scrub board and a tub and a wringer. I carried the wash out and hung it up. I did that for 6 months. I was so glad to get an electric wringer washer. I had that for the next 4 years. That was a huge and why it was only done once a week. So happy to have a washer and dryer now.
My husband is digging a hole for our Sunshine Clothesline this weekend. I wish we had a post hole auger like Ashley and Jonathan. That clothe line is MASSIVE, I can't begin to stress this. I just got ours this past weekend and it weighs 47 pounds. I have a Speed Queen washer/dryer, however with costs going up, I prefer when it's warm out to use my clothesline. Once you all are able to harvest rainwater, you'll be saving a lot as far as water goes. Speed Queens tend to last for decades. Mine is simplistic: push, turn, pull. It has hot/cold, warm/cold and cold/cold. I have heavy duty, perm press and delicate. I do love my Speed Queen. Mine fits a king comforter pretty easy
My washing machine eats holes in my sleeping bags and my comforters. I like the type that you have. I still have to go to the laundromat to do sleeping bags and comforters.
@@drewhillfarms believe it or not I paid $300 for my set. There was someone that wanted a washer with a "stain sensor" built into it and got rid of her primitive "push, turn, pull" set. If there is one thing I have learned in my nearly half a century of being on this earth, electronics and water DO NOT get along. Apparently, eyeballs and a cheap bar of Fels Naptha just aren't good enough to get a stain out. I practically stole my set. I do love Frau Helga (the name of my washer) and Fluffy (my dryer).
@@jessicachavez2425 ...Prior to Sam's Club cancelling this product, I was using Foca (no phosphate, uses enzymes, cheap, cleans almost everything, eco and clothing friendly). A 10kg bag ($17) would last almost 7 months with me doing 5 loads a week. Because our water is so hard where I live, I go to Sam's Club, I get 2- 15 pound bags of baking soda ($8 each) and I put it in the oven for 6-8 hours at 400 degrees. This converts the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) into washing soda (sodium carbonate) which greatly increases the ability to not only get stains out, but prevents stains from being able to deposit while washing and increases the effectiveness of the soap because it acts like a water softener as well. I use 1/2 cup per load of this. Two bags last me 8 months or so. The best spot treatment I use costs $1 for about 2-3 years worth. I use a bar of Fels Naptha ($1- WalMart) to get stains out. I also have a small bottle of Dawn dishwashing detergent (I got from the dollar store 4-5 years ago) to get oil stains/spots out. There is my secret. My husbands white shirts you would swear I use bleach on them.
Love your laundry setup and that big capacity dryer! We're off-grid solar in Maine and do have a washer which drains into the house perimeter drain which waters our comfrey patch which we use in our compost making. Phew! Plus we hang our clothes outside on the line year round which is a pulley line from our back deck to a maple tree which is high enough off the ground to be above the winter snow. 🙃❤
Great video. I stopped using a dryer about 10 years ago. I think I saw the figure that one fifth of US home energy use is used to dry clothes. Imagine all the energy the US could save if folks just hung laundry. We have long winters with below freezing most of the time so I was able to find a folding wood drying rack that holds 2 loads of laundry if needed but usually I just do one. My clothes last so much longer by skipping the dryer and no more shrunken clothes! Thanks for sharing this great environmentally friendly idea.
I totally agree with you,I don't own a dryer I use a washing line outside. In the winter I have a heated drying rack that costs 5 pence an hour to use. Stay safe and well, best wishes from the North Norfolk coast UK 🇬🇧
I remember when I was a teenager I would go out to the clothes line and break the ice off of the clothes a few time until they were pretty dry then I would bring them into the house to hang the on hanger on nails behind our wood stoves in the kitchen and the front room until they were totally dry then I would help my mother put them away, since they were already on hangers all we had to dp was hang them in the closets
I too dry on racks, don't have dryer, wind blows them over outside, trying to sort that, but in winter, I put in kitchen where the heat blows most, and tho I like thinner towels , they dry pretty fast. Difficult with a house full of people tho
I love it! My mom used to make us wash our clothes on a washing board if we left our clothes everywhere. The punishment didn’t last long because we had fun with the washing board 😅
I live in a house, on the grid, use a washer, and always use cold water. I have a dryer and still hang most clothes on a couple of racks. Love this video❣️😊
Love your set up. I’m with you on raising it a bit! The solar dryer is perfect!! We are in Yuma in a 396 square foot casita. I have a washer and dryer but the dryer doesn’t get used very much at all. I love to just let them dry solar style. ;)
I grew up with a wringer wash , only ran my hand through the wringers once. My mother had the double wringer washer and two rinse tubs. I also love clothes dried outside. Love that washer.
Even with a normal washing machine kids can do their own laundry from a young age. My daughter decided she couldn't wait for me to wash her stuff one day, so demanded to be shown how to set the machine up age 11years. Most tech children can manage two dials, temp and speed. Brilliant, and then I realised the boys could do the same, made my life so much easier, though I did still do the ironing. No one ever brought their washing home for me to do after they grew up and moved out either.
It's great when we teach them how to do things that they will need to do in the future. Mine do laundry, dishes, pet care, yard work. Maybe not every day but they sure do help out.
I have used wringer washers off and on through my life (regular electric) and always liked them. Love the fresh smell of air dried clothes. Beats dryer sheets and scent beads. Love what your family is doing.
Things sure come full circle. Back in the late 1800's, women used wooden versions of that washing machine. My Grandmother had a wringer washer, but it was an electric one. I remember seeing it in her basement when I was a little girl in the 50's. Clothes lines were the only dryer back then as well. LOL....full circle for sure. Love it.
I used my wringer until 1989 when I finally broke down & bought an automatic washer. Always started with light colors to darks. Could get 4 loads out of 1 fill. Turn buttons to the inside to avoid breaking A double utility tub works great to rinse. I'd take from washer & wring into 1st utility tub. Soak & swish then run thru wringer into 2nd tub repeat process then final wring thru and hang. Thankfully, my wringer allowed me to reposition it other then over the " washing" tub.
My grandma did the same thing and I remember helping her with the laundry..I miss my nana I remember her canning and making everything from scratch even ketchup and I loved laundry day I got to use the wash board and the big tub with ringer she would have it in the kitchen good times!
You guys are awesome!!!! I would do it myself as well!! I also only use cold water for all my clothes. I would love my kids helping out!! My kids are poops!!!! They are mostly grown !!!! I have 4. Ages 34, 22, 17 & 14. Keep rockin this property kiddos!!!! Ashley you ARE KICK ASS!!!! Sending you all Love, Peace and tons of Joy!!!! 😁
I remember watching my Grandma doing laundry in a similar unit when I was young. They had 7 kids, my Mom was the eldest. Grandpa built a small room on the back of the house for the washer. They grew all their food, kept chickens for eggs and meat and a cow for milk. They lived in town on city water, had an extra lot for the garden.
Nice. And you can turn milk into a fine cheese Ive learned on youtube with use by dated milk as long as it smells and tastes good . With buttermilk you can mske butter . I'm remembering these things my step grandparents did when they had those cows that they milked and some put into a wooden churn and butter was made. To me all this is amazing.Just like 1 watermelon or tomato can produce many more of its own kind . What a generous loving God.
I have one of those washing machines and love it. I use it as long as it’s now winter freezing temps. I mounted mine on a rolling platform and bracketed it to the rolling base. So I can move it around to put away when finished.
ILOVE this idea .Im sure those clothes smell wonderful.I remember how they smelled as a child when my mom would wash and dry sheets outside there was a certain smell that no dryer sheets or detergent can touch.They look wonderful hanging on the line
Love it, I wash all my clothes in cold water as well. I hang my clothes out on the line too.I live in Texas so I only need my dyer only certain times of the year ,I also have my dyer where I can recycle the heat back into the house during the winter .I also found when hanging my pants I crease them seam to seam in the leg they take up less room on the line and they come out nice and creased for wear .I also had a pvc line built all pipe ,you drill holes for your hangers and you can hang your shirts to dry then simply hang them up when dry .Y'all have a great set up loved your video thanks for sharing it.
Ashley, thanks for the pros and cons. This reminds me of a video Andrew Millison did. He interviewed a woman in India whose family lives in a city but uses rainwater almost exclusively. She used a laundry/washing stone to rub her clothing against. It was outdoors on a patio or balcony-fairly large like an endtable-the water drained away to water plants. Amazingly simple and handy.
My stepmom gave me her washer when she moved. It's huge and higher end and I love it. I usually haven't had a washing machine. I saved some money for replacing some things if they break. I just checked Lehman's because the last time I dreamed about this washer it cost $500. Whoa! It's double now! Then I realized a new washer like the one I have would cost the same thing. It's all perspective. When this thing breaks, I'm getting the Lehman's washer with a wringer. I already hang my wash on the line. I would love to put this in the laundry room next to the sink that's there, but I'd rather have it outside in the garden so I can greywater it out to the plants. Great video guys!
That was my thinking- the electric machine cost similar to Lehman’s. My electric started leaking. Instead of getting a tech guy, paying for his service plus any parts for $400 plus, I just went with buying the Lehman’s instead for long term sufficiency. 🧡
@@sweaterdoll I hadn’t answered yet because I wasn’t sure. I have now spent maybe a week or two with it and here is my final conclusion (it took this long to get to one.) I love the machine. I think I will be using it in conjunction with our modern electric machine. It’s not sustainable to use it alone if you have little kids and babies (not enough time to attend to them and laundry.) Any other questions? Also, just called Best Buy to schedule service for my modern electric machine. I was quoted $150 for tech to come. Not a big deal! Also, this machine takes a LOT of muscle and it’s great but I am getting tired and not being able to recover. In addition, I realize I would never be able to take a break because laundry would always need to be worked (and laundry is usually my job).
When I was a kid(60's) we used a wringer washing machine. Once my finger got caught in a belt loop and pulled my arm through to almost my shoulder before I stopped the machine. It didn't really hurt but scared the crap out of me lol.
I have one just like that. I am moving off grid this year and agree with everything you mentioned on buying one. Thanks for doing a video on using this washer.
I've had more than one European friend tell me over the years that no one in Europe washes their clothes in hot water because cold water gets more dirt out. I experimented with my laundry and found this to be true. I only wash in cold now. What a treat to stumble upon your channel. Many blessings on you and yours.
I’m in England and use warm water 30/40 degree wash. Cold water doesn’t get bacteria out. What country in Europe are they from? Europeans are very different from each other.
After a few months, smell your cold-washed laundry compared to hot-washed laundry. The stale smell in the cold-washed is the oils that the cold wash didn't remove.
@@jeanetteh.9240 I've been cold water washing for decades. My clothes don't smell. I use something called laundry detergent. The only time I have used hot water was when my babies were in diapers.
My Grandparents had a beautiful hand washer. My father (88) and I have many discussions how we wished they wouldn’t have sold their hand washer. I have fond memories of helping my grandmother with the laundry; especially placing it through the double rollers and making sure I would never get my fingers caught or anything else. Many of our neighbors that I grew up also had hand washers and it was the norm to perform laundry the way you are doing it. I do believe the system my grandparents had got my grandfather’s clothes the cleanest and he was a farmer. By the way, I am a HUGE proponent of having that hand washer upon a platform to decrease any back issues. I have permanent damage from medical negligence. Please be proactive now my friends; your body is your life. Love your passion, grace and respect for our planet. God bless✝️❤️
My husband hooked up a little petrol motor to an old side agitator and then had 2 ringers like yours attatched to a double trough to rinse we rinsed twice as we have skin allergies and always air dry. Blessings to you all from down under. Thought you are right in needing to raise your machine.
I learned some today and I appreciate it. Your whole family works hard so Ashley, you will probably have help about every washday. Plus , each of you are learning a neat chore that most people will never be able to learn. Thanks a lot for "family" videos from your family. From Central Oklahoma
What a workout! My mom and I used to use her old conventional washer on occasion (like during harvest time to catch up on large amounts of laundry) but it was electric so it did the agitating itself. Nothing beats the way those line-dried clothes smelled!
Heck yeah! I use one of those little mini portable washers for most of my small stuff and it gets much cleaner... But I admit I take it to a friend's house to spin and then use the dryer. My socks are much cleaner! I might look this up someday... Thank you for the content!! 🤗
Takes me back to my childhood many years ago. We were a family of 9. Mom always started with whites then moved on to print to darks. Washing was done and hung up in hour or so.
I remember loving hanging up the clothes. The wonderful smell of the fresh clothes was amazing. I helped my grandmother and mother wash clothes in the old wringer washing machine. It's a great memory. Everything we owned was ironed. I'm a fantastic "ironer" to this day.
@@taliandzelda5006 My mother started me ironing with my dad's handkerchiefs. He took 2 of them to work each day. He said one was for show(lapel pocket) and the other to blow(hip pocket). I tried very hard to get them absolutely perfect!
Yes underwear & handkerchiefs, etc first then socks and shirts then towels etc & cleaning cloths then pants. Blankets were hardly washed as they are AWFUL. My fam kept them btwn bedspread and top sheet and folded hem of it over the blanket(s) to keep chins off it/them. They even had a top top sheet to go over the blanket, washed semi-monthly maybe. They took the spread off the bed at night to keep it from being washed so the top top sheet kept the blanket clean on top too. This was all from hand washing n wringing. Akin to wearing an apron. Much easier to wash an apron daily changed even, than an outfit.
Speaking as someone who is now waiting 2 weeks for a new washing machine, I wish I had one of those. I used to do laundry like that in a similar machine when we went camping as a kid. I hated the ringer, smashed fingers❤️✨
This is awesome machine. I wish we have this growing up 30 years ago. We do laundry by hand even for big blankets then hang it on a clothesline then watch and wait until the clothes are dry and imagine laundry is a whole day work. So much fun. I didn’t know we call it off grid living lol. Now I realize I live off grid for 25 years lol.
Here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, most homes dry their clothes on a clothes line as opposed to a dryer to save money. Perhaps you could string a few lines or purchase a retractable cloth line and locate it under the shed eves where the freezer is, for rainy days. 😀👍💙💛
Thank u much first seeing this washing machine love how the children envolve see humans can live so simple and happy and at the same time other people killing each other for the things of the world simple makes life more easier thumbs 👍to u juys am just smiling
Good job girl!! I use buckets and a mop wringer, the kind that squeeze the mop. This looks a little easier, mine was just less expensive, but I may have to upgrade some day 😊
I had a mop wringer when I was hand washing clothes! I used a plastic storage tub for washing with a laundry plunger, and after rinsing I would wring the clothes out and hang them over the tub. It was a great little setup, but I definitely prefer my little washing machine, lol!
I fulltime in a travel trailer and finding decent laundromats is my biggest challenge! I will be getting a portable washer I can use outside. Love this episode!!
I'm brand new to your channel, & this is the first video of yours that I've seen. I'm going to check out more. :) Yes, being careful with your fingers when feeding clothes through the mangle is very important. My mom knew someone whose fingers were irreparably damaged because they got caught between the rollers. Good tip from you on how to hold you hand to up to it when you feed the clothes through. :) Clothes dried outside smell so much nicer than clothes dried in a dryer, even using fragrance stuff. I'd rather have the natural smell from drying on the line than from the fragrance boosters and various detergents. Because of where I live in rainy southwestern BC, I have to use a dryer much of the time for some of my laundry, but I do dry it outside, or at least on a clothes rack, every chance I get, whether inside or out on my deck. I have some stuff that I don't have a way to dry on a rack or outside because they're too big for my drying system, as I call it, but most of my stuff can be air dried. With a few exceptions, I wash all my laundry in cold water. My laundry's proof that you don't need hot water, or even warm water, in order to keep your clothes clean and well cared for. If I was to go off grid or was able to do laundry outside a lot more than the weather allows here, I'd love to use a machine like you have. That's a really cool thing. :) Thanks for sharing this video. :)
So laundry day on your break. Wow, 33 shirts! I liked the short appearance of Jonathan as you were loading the shirts. The kitties tail near the tub was cute too. Thanks for the lid tip and the wringer tips! "It's a wash". Hillarious! Thanks for the pros and cons too! Enjoy your break!
@@TinyShinyHome Sorry! I didn't think it was the project. I was just happy that though you're all taking a break, you still did a video on washing and drying your clothes. That was special! Thanks.
Two washers side by side! One for wash, One for rinse. My mom did seven loads with the same water! Cleanest to Grungy last. The wash water would look like chocolate milk at the end.
Yes indeed ! My momma did her laundry the same way. Momma did her colors on Mondays and my daddy's white t-shirts on Thursday. Momma had 8 of us and we carried cold water from our cistern, she had a great system. After we helped get the clothes in momma started ironing.
Ashley, I have been looking forward to your washing demonstration-the thought of it brought back some fond memories of growing up back in the 70’s. My dad was in the Air Force stationed in the Philippines, and the house we lived in (off base) had a washer with a wringer. It was electric so it agitated that way, and there was a switch to turn on the wringer, but we had to manually feed the clothes through the wringer. That was such fun for me and my sisters. It didn’t feel like a chore at all. 🙂 Also, I think your washing and drying solution is smart and well thought out, so bravo and good on you!
A wringer washer was all we had when I was a kid and .....NO broken buttons. It's great to see this young mom taking care of her family-- also good to see her family helping her :-)
My mother boiled clothes on the stove and then when they cooled they were rung out by hand and hung to dry. the bigger items were a two-person wring out job.
@Chava K, indeed. Jonathan and Ashley are doing a great job of raising hard-working, responsible children.
We had a wringer type washer until 1963! As a little girl, I always wanted to help Mom. Many a time my arm went through that wringer! Ouch! Good thing Mom was always there to release the the emergency release. I still miss my mom.
My husband has a niece and her husband that has this type of washer. We use it we we visit them. I love how some the younger generation are understanding what's old and outdated isn't really old and outdated. She's Navajo but lives on the Acoma reservation and was brought up to make do with what ya got.
Where does she get clean water? From a well?
13:07 washing your clothes in cold water is better for their materials as well, it's gentler (most "fancy" clothes are cold-wash, or dry clean)
Absolutely loved your laundry set up. Remind ed me of my own youth on laundry day. We were lucky to have a well pump that had to be carried by buckets into the house, placed on the wood cook stove as all the baby clothes & 5 dozen diapers each wash day needed extra attention & care. We usually had 2-3 little kids in diapers. The other plus you have is electricity if you needed. We had no power so all chores were completed by hand.. & with 10 children the wringer style wash was a 3x week, usually lasting the better part of the daylight hours. & Every other day a huge batch of homemade bread had to be completed to feed 12 ppl. All the lamps had to he filled everyday... (to save time.) I was 16 yrs old before we had any modern life comforts of home...We were the original off the grid... no power or running water or indoor toilets.. bathing all the kids & ourselfs was the huge laundry tubs & sailor baths for the elder kids & parents....SO YOUR BIGGEST PLUS$$ IN TODAYS WORLD IS ELECTRICITY ON YOUR SOLAR GRID. & ON SHADY DAYS.. WHEN YOUR SOLAR IS LOWER ..YOUR DIY body POWER IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE ♥️ 👌
Enjoyed your family togetherness & fortitude... The way it should be. Great job.
Well I used a wringer washer for years with 4 kids...mind you it was electric. Got the clothes really clean too. Always used cold water except for whites and diapers. I would gladly have used your little washer. All my laundry was dried outside even in winter. Would bring in the clothes frozen stiff and throw them on a rack. Dried soft and smelled so fresh!
I remember my hands frozen stiff while hanging up the family laundry outside in Montana where they freeze dried like long boards.
Still remember the smell of those frozen clothes 60 years ago up in Maine. Funny what one remembers 🥰
Those clothes lines are at nearly every house in Australia. For fun we do a drinking game called Goon of Fortune. Its where you hook a bag of wine from the inside of a wine box ( what we call a goon bag) spin it around and who ever it lands on has to have a drink from it.
This is amazing 😂
In summer I get tons of hot water from the garden hose. I have to let it run before I can water the garden.
Who needs a gym? Plus, this works in a house or apartment. Not just off grid. Much cleaner results than a $1000 washing machine. I've tried both.
If you put a large flat sheet on TOP of the quilt, it will stay clean longer. Just take the sheet off when you have company, so it will look pretty!
Also, do you have a washboard for those extra dirty spots?
Also, I haven't seen a Wish List link for Amazon, so we can send a Birthday, or Christmas present!
One tip/ fold the garment so the buttons are facing inside and are protected.;) Comes from years of using a wringer washer. Just an FYI Lehman's sells an awesome clothes line like that as well!
This was very satisfying to watch 😍
I like your Airstream. I first saw one back in the 1970's and thought that I would like to have one someday. How do you handle the wildlife? Rattle snakes, scorpions etc? Do you have any issues with them?
We just live with them. We’re in their territory. Just have to watch out:)
It's only me so I don't have a lot of clothes to do. My set-up is nowhere near as fancy (or expensive) as yours. I use a McDonald's pickle bucket (free if you ask for it at your local McDonald's) with a single article of clothing, a drop of detergent, fill it halfway with water, and then pop the lid on and shake it angrily, using my thumbs to make sure the lid doesn't pop off. Pour out the (now filthy) sudsy water and replace with fresh water. Shake angrily and drain. Voila, one article of clean clothes ready for drying.
that looks like so much fun
For a taller person, would it work better to mount the washer on a platform? I think it would be hard for me to bend over to turn the cranks for so long.
We say this at the end of the video…
Speed Queen brand washers & dryers are what you're looking for today.
I've got a 40 year old Kenmore set that's only had 1 minor repair done on the washer, otherwise no problems at all.
They might not be the most efficient, but they get the job done & they're not breaking my wallet every 5 years for the latest, shiny piece of crap. =p
Wait a minute most small front loading machines use about 3 to 5 gallons per load.
Not sure what you mean by small, but most washing machines use significantly more than that. A quick google search should give you exact numbers.
This is so awesome! Just found your channel; subscribed!
Hey thanks!
I really like this manual machine..but I priced it and it’s not at all affordable. I have a great Speed Queen machine..as long as I have power to run it. Additionally I have a GE portable machine from Mexico. It’s an extra large… I use it outside, and cover it with a grill cover. The only thing I really need is a wringer. Again.. that machine is also dependent on electricity. I do hang all of my clothes 100% of the time. I really like this machine but the price makes it a pass for me.
I want 2 to face my fear lol at least not Electic. When I was 2 I got my right hand caught up in one and took my fingers . I’m 51 and people still stare at my hand . My hand is pretty weird looking. So I just hide it in public. But really would be cool to have a couple of them .
Your discount code for the Lehman's hand washer is for 20% off?? or $20 off??
$20
I remember when my great grandmother told me to go hang clothes out in the winter living in Maine, I thought she was nuts. After the clothes had froze on the line she went out and beat it with the broom handle to break the ice off the cloth. Then she brought the clothes in and they were dry. Kinda crazy what grandmother's do
Seems like makes your jean softer.
Wow!! Go grandma, much love.
Freeze dry the clothes? 🤔
Brilliant! 😀👍
I was wondering about winter laundry!
Growing up in Maine, that's what we did.. only my Dad's shirts saw the inside of the dryer!
Ok Jonathan, make a temporary platform for the washer. Ashley's back is important 😘 lol....love u guys ❤️
Or Jonathan could just get her a stool/bench so she can sit level to the washer?
Yes, a platform sounds great.
I totally agree put that washer up on something. Safe her back.
@@drobinson7372 no i think she needs leverage and being on a stool would not give stability.
@@karav8133 : Oh, I was thinking about not having to stand up for a long time in one place, like I do to wash mountains of dishes 😏
I really admire how a hard working housewife you are. I'd like to give you a little piece of advice here. If you want your family clothes keep their colors longer, turn them inside-out before putting them to sun-dry, and close pants zippers once they are on the clothesline, which, by the way, is really awesome!
A thought: If you raise the washer, you could put a container underneath the washer to drain the water into immediately. Then put the drainage hose off the second container. It drains to your plants while you are on the next step.
I really like this video, especially the pros and cons afterwards.
Absolutely!!! 😇
After watching you wash clothes, I went out and hugged and kissed my washing machine and told it how much I loved it! And that's how much I like watching your family life! AKA channel, thank you, ALL stay safe
ME 2
I grew up with a ringer washer but it had an electric motor. We washed multiple loads with same water. The first load was white dish towels than sheets and light colored clothing, than under garments, bath towels and lastly dark clothes and jeans.
And of course we also sorted by dirtiness. I still have an old ringer and will use it if cost of water and electricity keeps climbing.
@@dp4313 ME 2,ours on the back porch
Lolol yes right
I have arthritis in my right shoulder from the same mangle (the roller part). I work for a historic site and we used to do 1913 era chores with the 2nd graders. We did laundry using this mangle. The kids loved it. I'm sticking with my washer. The dryer died 2 years ago and I couldn't care less. The washer I would replace in a hot minute.
Honey I used an old ringer washer for years and loved it. If you fold the items with the buttons and zippers to the inside you will have no problem . I also washed my les dirty things first so I could use the same wash water more than once. ALSO IF YOU MAKE YOUR OWN WASHING SOAP YOU WON'T USE AS MUCH RINSE WATER. Hope this helps.
What is your recipe please? Does it clean as well? Thanks.
@@oceangolf3076 I used Homestead Tessies recipe.
Dr Bronners is concentrated so don’t need much
It’s just VERY pricey
@@YeshuaKingMessiah Some co-ops sell it in bulk. So you can bring your jar and pump out how much you want. The price is a lot less that way.
My mom did this my life, not as hard as you might think. I would love to have an old Maytag again..
I learned from my mom to turn the t-shirts inside out before washing so when they're drying on the line, the colors won't fade as much from the sun. I'm glad my oldest son picked up this tip and uses it! I didn't realize they still made washing machines like yours. Great job, plus you get exercise built in!
Also benefits clothes that are prone to odor retention.....
Lehman's has everything you think they don't make anymore.
Also, hanging shirts from the hem (not the shoulders) is important... if there is any sun fading it won't be noticeable at the hem, and the shoulders won't have wierd dents in them from the clothes pins. 😉 Finally, there is nothing like the smell of sun dried clothes, and the sun sanitizes them, too.
This is right - especially the black clothes. I can never understand people using the clothes dryer when there is full sun to use - for free!!
I always turn clothes inside out before washing. 😊
Your clothesline is an Australian invention. They are called a Hills hoist. Our weather is similar and these clothesline are fantastic for drying everything and they hold so much washing. I have never owned a clothes dryer in my life. Air drying is best for your clothes.
Greetings from Donnybrook Western Australia.🇦🇺
Australias gift to the world and laundry time fun memories of hanging on to the line and going for a spin around.
@@carolineclark6202 the speed you could get them up to was fun.😂
@@meganbaldock9495 look out if you got caught tho,
Fun times😀
What is the brand of your washer. Or is it home-made?
A shame Hills Hoist has been taken over. The quality of the clothes line isnt the same. Greetings from South Australia.
Me too, in Israel!
My sisters and I washed clothes by hand and with washboard growing up my nana was gifted a washer and dryer in 86. I feel proud to still be able to wash bluejeans by hand . My grandmother would say ,"your useful and that's beautiful child" "Just beautiful. "
I am sure your clothes came out truly clean washing by hand , good idea.
I remember one time trying to wash my laundry out by hand in the bathtub and I swear to you the skin was coming off the inside of my thumbs!!!! A washboard is a necessity if you're going to do it by hand!!! :)
Love the smell of clothes dried in the sun!
especially sheets
Absolutely
Sheets, right when it turns to spring and you can leave the windows open at night. My grandma used to use downy, I haven't smelled that in 20 years. I could sleep like a baby.
This is called LABOR OF LOVE!
Nope! Smells like air pollution; like how kids' bodies smell after they spend a whole day outside. 🤢😵 Nope, not for me.
Look into a duvet cover for your quilt, will protect the quilt and easier to wash.
I'm a newbie quilter, the whole idea is to see the fabric design, a cover would ruin the artwork for viewing. Besides that, an excuse to hand piece from recycled ♻️ material another newer quilt
@@AnitaSouthall quilt a cover?
I love this way of doing things. I live in a “normal” house with “normal” appliances and just went through the replacement of broken things and the expense is ABSURD Nevermind the hassle
This is “DOING THE LAUNDRY”!! I no longer can use that term for my dump clothes,add detergent, close door, press buttons -- transfer clothing to dryer, close door press buttons---fold or hang! YOU ARE MY HERO GIRL! 💖💖💖💖
Ha ha.
I love your whole setup, plus the ability to water the trees with the spent water is a huge bonus!
When I started my Y2K stash in 1998 I got real lucky and found a manual wringer that bolts to a utility sink for $5 and must admit it’s the best five dollars I ever spent. Good for wringing towels and small rugs. I still have a clothesline in my basement for emergencies like a belt breaks on the washer or dryer and you have to wash and dry by hand until you have the money for repairs.
Manual wringers are now around $200 on Amazon -- that was a real find!
I think the cheapest one I saw on Amazon a few months ago was $169. I bought a industrial mop bucket for about a third of that.
When I was a child my mother had a FANCY clothes washer which was a big tub (no lid) with an electrically powered agitator - lasted a long, long time. Had a wringer attached to one side, and we had a lot of clothes lines. Never did a button, snap or buckle take any damage. One thing we learned was to be sure the t-shirts and pants were turned inside out before hanging up to dry so the sun would not bleach the outside, visible part of the fabric.
I grew up doing laundry this way, and at 70 I've gone back to my grandmother's ways. I am so proud to have learned off grid in the 1950s and 1960s. My grandmother would use her mothers iron kettle to boil water over a fire, our whites were amazing. As a RN I learned cold water is for protein stains. As humans we are protein so cold is good, but boiled is sterilizing, good with infections. There are amazing smells GOD gives us, herbs, humans, animals, ocean and Sun.😊
Interesting. I always washed my baby clothes in cold water then warm except diapers cold then hot. They were sparkling white.
My husband and I like the washer
Amen!!
My first husband came from Ky and he had me boil his white tee shirts one winter I was surprised that they seemed almost new. Probably learned this from his Mother and Grandmother.
You are so right, Ms Carolyn . All this stuff on earth is just amazingly useful beautiful and really think about it- free. I love it !
Couple things. My mother washed with a Maytag wringer washer all the time I was growing up. Never had a problem breaking buttons. Today we still wash with cold water. Clothes hold the color longer, cuts shrinking & helps stop the stains.
Me too. Brings back lots of memories watching this
Yep, mum did also. I didn't see any issue with the manner of washing. It seemed to make sense. I have the latest, flashest style of washing machine, and I wash all of my clothes except underwear and now sheets and towels in cold water.
We had a ringer washer a good deal of the time when I was a kid. But one of them had a motor on it to agitate the water And you could hook up the ringer to make it turn as well.
Sheets and towels should be washed in hot or dried in desert Temps, parasites my dear
Yup, only cold water here also, except for whites and linens.
We've been off grid and remote for 8 years. There are 6 of us and I do not miss the scrub board and wringer at all. We finally completed a water line from the creek to our water tanks, got an old washer and dryer we run off the generator and instead of heating water in a 15 gallon pot then lugging everywhere we use a propane on demand hot water heater. Laundry still takes all day but my hands no longer bleed after. I still have my washboard, plunger and wringer but hope I never have to go back to it.
I've owned one of these for a number of years. It's surprising how many pieces of laundry makes a load in this little rascal. Cleans my husbands really dirty jeans better than any autimatic I've owned.
And its great for soaking stained, yellowed whites, washing delicates.
Naturally it's more work, takes a bit more time, but it saves tremendously on the water bill and electricity. Does every bit as good a job of cleaning as even a front loading automatic.
@Tiny Shiny Home.
A suggestion if I may :
If you add clean water to the container you wring the clothes into , you can swish them around and rinse them in there ,wring them out with water draining back into bucket or into machine . Saves double handling and gets it done even faster .
And you can use rinse water for next rinse or next wash.
Great ideal!
cool idea
Oh wow Love it!
I’m 80 years old I washed clothes in a washing machine and rinsed them in number three washed tubs all my life I had seven children my husband and I made nine and your back gets tired but you have clean clothes and it’s nothing like clothes dried In the sun and when you need hot water for your white taken but I am the top of your stove that’s why I don’t thank you for letting me put my two cents in
I want to command you for doing this I think you’re being very smart and saving money and water and you get to water your plants and your trees thanks for giving the spirit of your life thank you
My grandmother had one similar to that, at the beginning of the 20th century. I found it in the garage as a kid, and loved to play with it. That old rusty contraption had a rotation crank to agitate the laundry on top of the lid. My granny told me that the introduction of these mechanical hand cranked washers brought such a relief to the housewifes, and I can only agree. I lived off grid for a winter in the 1980s and laundry was extremely hard work, because we had to wring and rinse all by hand. The wrangler is really a great invention, even more important than a washer. I also find that soaking laundry over night gets even the worst stains out. About clothlines: Here in Germany, inspite of the weather, clotheslines are much more common. I went to Claifornia in the 90s and was totally baffled that people with perfect dry weather waste so much time, energy and money on drying their laundry. Recently, electrical dryers start being a trend here as well. Wrong direction to go, I think.
Go gas at least yes
But a dryer is incredibly handy
Clothesline, even indoors if necessary. That's what I'd do.
Yeah I hang dry my clothes just like my grandma taught me. It saves electricity, time, and the clothes last longer. Some things hung on hangers eliminate the folding time too!
@@megb9700 I do hang about a third of my laundry becuz I don’t want it to shrink, the stain didn’t come out or the fabric isn’t good in the dryer
But socks underwear pjs etc I want a dryer till the grids gone.
Most the time the only way people are not going to use a dryer in Cali/the US, is if they're worried about the environment and using energy conservation as a means to help, or if they are impoverished. But the majority of homeowners in the U.S. own a washer/dryer.
I’m the youngest of 9 kids and our mom taught us early on “Laundry Lady keeps the money 💰” LoL 😂
I call laundry day,
PAY DAY❗️💰😂🤣
Love ya girl! 😘
Us too!
I love hanging my washing on a line outside, it makes me happy and the clothes smells wonderful when they are dry 😊
Watching you brought back memories of doing laundry with my mom and grandma and THE SMELL! I had a smellory( memory trigger from Watching)!!
What a great system! I always wash everything in cold water to prevent shrinkage and wear. Really great to see the kids always pitching in and helping. Can't wait to see a video next week to see what you've been working on!
Thank you so much for making this video. We are also off grid over in the Appalachain mountains of Virginia. Ive been doing laundry in 5 gallon buckets and trash cans. It does the job fine but its not the most efficient. I squeeze some water but mostly let things drip dry on the line, just takes a little longer. Ive been looking at this lehmans washer/wringer for a while. Hearing yalls pros and cons was great in helping me decide how to move forward with our laundry set up so thank you! -Ash
PS - We also live in an Airstream, our 6th year now :D
A cheap upgrade is the little one that suction cups to a flat surface...it available on Amazon and that's what I had growing up off grid. With five kids we were each responsible for our own washing other than when we were really little.
It's a small load but it does work well.
Future newbie to homesteading/raw land/"life-choice-questioning" living. Enjoyed the honest opinion of this product and living off the land in general. I'll be checking out more of your videos! Jane
good to learn from the best
Way fancier than a washboard! The wringer is a bonus, too. Love it! ❤
I remember my laundry days when I first married. I had a scrub board and a tub and a wringer. I carried the wash out and hung it up. I did that for 6 months. I was so glad to get an electric wringer washer. I had that for the next 4 years. That was a huge and why it was only done once a week. So happy to have a washer and dryer now.
My husband is digging a hole for our Sunshine Clothesline this weekend. I wish we had a post hole auger like Ashley and Jonathan. That clothe line is MASSIVE, I can't begin to stress this. I just got ours this past weekend and it weighs 47 pounds. I have a Speed Queen washer/dryer, however with costs going up, I prefer when it's warm out to use my clothesline. Once you all are able to harvest rainwater, you'll be saving a lot as far as water goes. Speed Queens tend to last for decades. Mine is simplistic: push, turn, pull. It has hot/cold, warm/cold and cold/cold. I have heavy duty, perm press and delicate. I do love my Speed Queen. Mine fits a king comforter pretty easy
My washing machine eats holes in my sleeping bags and my comforters. I like the type that you have. I still have to go to the laundromat to do sleeping bags and comforters.
@@drewhillfarms believe it or not I paid $300 for my set. There was someone that wanted a washer with a "stain sensor" built into it and got rid of her primitive "push, turn, pull" set. If there is one thing I have learned in my nearly half a century of being on this earth, electronics and water DO NOT get along. Apparently, eyeballs and a cheap bar of Fels Naptha just aren't good enough to get a stain out. I practically stole my set. I do love Frau Helga (the name of my washer) and Fluffy (my dryer).
@@amiedavis5257 what detergent do you recommend?
@@jessicachavez2425 ...Prior to Sam's Club cancelling this product, I was using Foca (no phosphate, uses enzymes, cheap, cleans almost everything, eco and clothing friendly). A 10kg bag ($17) would last almost 7 months with me doing 5 loads a week. Because our water is so hard where I live, I go to Sam's Club, I get 2- 15 pound bags of baking soda ($8 each) and I put it in the oven for 6-8 hours at 400 degrees. This converts the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) into washing soda (sodium carbonate) which greatly increases the ability to not only get stains out, but prevents stains from being able to deposit while washing and increases the effectiveness of the soap because it acts like a water softener as well. I use 1/2 cup per load of this. Two bags last me 8 months or so. The best spot treatment I use costs $1 for about 2-3 years worth. I use a bar of Fels Naptha ($1- WalMart) to get stains out. I also have a small bottle of Dawn dishwashing detergent (I got from the dollar store 4-5 years ago) to get oil stains/spots out. There is my secret. My husbands white shirts you would swear I use bleach on them.
My dad owned laundries and would only use Speed Queens developed a gravity drain for them never patened it so it was borrowed once he showed them ..
Love your laundry setup and that big capacity dryer! We're off-grid solar in Maine and do have a washer which drains into the house perimeter drain which waters our comfrey patch which we use in our compost making. Phew! Plus we hang our clothes outside on the line year round which is a pulley line from our back deck to a maple tree which is high enough off the ground to be above the winter snow. 🙃❤
Great video. I stopped using a dryer about 10 years ago. I think I saw the figure that one fifth of US home energy use is used to dry clothes. Imagine all the energy the US could save if folks just hung laundry. We have long winters with below freezing most of the time so I was able to find a folding wood drying rack that holds 2 loads of laundry if needed but usually I just do one. My clothes last so much longer by skipping the dryer and no more shrunken clothes! Thanks for sharing this great environmentally friendly idea.
I totally agree with you,I don't own a dryer I use a washing line outside. In the winter I have a heated drying rack that costs 5 pence an hour to use. Stay safe and well, best wishes from the North Norfolk coast UK 🇬🇧
I remember when I was a teenager I would go out to the clothes line and break the ice off of the clothes a few time until they were pretty dry then I would bring them into the house to hang the on hanger on nails behind our wood stoves in the kitchen and the front room until they were totally dry then I would help my mother put them away, since they were already on hangers all we had to dp was hang them in the closets
I don't use a dryer, ever. Clothes dry overnight hung up in a warm apartment. And it makes the place smell great.
Oh Beth I had forgotten about the frozen washing on the cloths line in the winter....think we must be the same age lol
I too dry on racks, don't have dryer, wind blows them over outside, trying to sort that, but in winter, I put in kitchen where the heat blows most, and tho I like thinner towels , they dry pretty fast. Difficult with a house full of people tho
We used this same washer to do our laundry for twenty years with never a problem. It’s perfect for everything.
I love it! My mom used to make us wash our clothes on a washing board if we left our clothes everywhere. The punishment didn’t last long because we had fun with the washing board 😅
I live in a house, on the grid, use a washer, and always use cold water. I have a dryer and still hang most clothes on a couple of racks. Love this video❣️😊
I remember "helping" my Grandmother on her old wringer machine. Man, I loved that thing. Thanks for the memories!
Love your set up. I’m with you on raising it a bit! The solar dryer is perfect!! We are in Yuma in a 396 square foot casita. I have a washer and dryer but the dryer doesn’t get used very much at all. I love to just let them dry solar style. ;)
I grew up with a wringer wash , only ran my hand through the wringers once. My mother had the double wringer washer and two rinse tubs. I also love clothes dried outside. Love that washer.
This reminds me of helping my grandma with laundry. This was a fun video!
Looks like a cool machine. May have to get one and make my kids do their own laundry. LOL
Even with a normal washing machine kids can do their own laundry from a young age. My daughter decided she couldn't wait for me to wash her stuff one day, so demanded to be shown how to set the machine up age 11years. Most tech children can manage two dials, temp and speed. Brilliant, and then I realised the boys could do the same, made my life so much easier, though I did still do the ironing. No one ever brought their washing home for me to do after they grew up and moved out either.
It's great when we teach them how to do things that they will need to do in the future. Mine do laundry, dishes, pet care, yard work. Maybe not every day but they sure do help out.
I have used wringer washers off and on through my life (regular electric) and always liked them. Love the fresh smell of air dried clothes. Beats dryer sheets and scent beads. Love what your family is doing.
Nothing like sheets dried on the line.
If dryer used,
I use scent free everything.
I don’t like smelling like a dryer sheet! 🤣
Natural is best.
Things sure come full circle. Back in the late 1800's, women used wooden versions of that washing machine. My Grandmother had a wringer washer, but it was an electric one. I remember seeing it in her basement when I was a little girl in the 50's. Clothes lines were the only dryer back then as well. LOL....full circle for sure. Love it.
I used my wringer until 1989 when I finally broke down & bought an automatic washer.
Always started with light colors to darks. Could get 4 loads out of 1 fill.
Turn buttons to the inside to avoid breaking
A double utility tub works great to rinse. I'd take from washer & wring into 1st utility tub. Soak & swish then run thru wringer into 2nd tub repeat process then final wring thru and hang. Thankfully, my wringer allowed me to reposition it other then over the " washing" tub.
Just keep the arms and fingers out of it
My grandma did the same thing and I remember helping her with the laundry..I miss my nana I remember her canning and making everything from scratch even ketchup and I loved laundry day I got to use the wash board and the big tub with ringer she would have it in the kitchen good times!
That explains the common two concrete laundry tubs found in older Australian homes 🏡
You could put a double hose extender on the drain, an run two hoses in two different directions!👍
I love lined dried clothes and linens!
Smell heavenly ❣️ Dryer clothes naa.
This is a real women!! When I am looking to you, is like I see my lovely grandma ...she was one the hardest working women ,I ever see in my life.💖
You guys are awesome!!!! I would do it myself as well!! I also only use cold water for all my clothes. I would love my kids helping out!! My kids are poops!!!! They are mostly grown !!!! I have 4. Ages 34, 22, 17 & 14. Keep rockin this property kiddos!!!! Ashley you ARE KICK ASS!!!! Sending you all Love, Peace and tons of Joy!!!! 😁
I remember watching my Grandma doing laundry in a similar unit when I was young. They had 7 kids, my Mom was the eldest.
Grandpa built a small room on the back of the house for the washer. They grew all their food, kept chickens for eggs and meat and a cow for milk. They lived in town on city water, had an extra lot for the garden.
😮
Nice. And you can turn milk into a fine cheese Ive learned on youtube with use by dated milk as long as it smells and tastes good . With buttermilk you can mske butter . I'm remembering these things my step grandparents did when they had those cows that they milked and some put into a wooden churn and butter was made. To me all this is amazing.Just like 1 watermelon or tomato can produce many more of its own kind . What a generous loving God.
I have one of those washing machines and love it. I use it as long as it’s now winter freezing temps. I mounted mine on a rolling platform and bracketed it to the rolling base. So I can move it around to put away when finished.
Watching someone do laundry could never be as enjoyable as this🤩
ILOVE this idea .Im sure those clothes smell wonderful.I remember how they smelled as a child when my mom would wash and dry sheets outside there was a certain smell that no dryer sheets or detergent can touch.They look wonderful hanging on the line
What a wonderful surprise! Happy the weather and opportunity aligned to accomplish this long awaited video!
Love it, I wash all my clothes in cold water as well. I hang my clothes out on the line too.I live in Texas so I only need my dyer only certain times of the year ,I also have my dyer where I can recycle the heat back into the house during the winter .I also found when hanging my pants I crease them seam to seam in the leg they take up less room on the line and they come out nice and creased for wear .I also had a pvc line built all pipe ,you drill holes for your hangers and you can hang your shirts to dry then simply hang them up when dry .Y'all have a great set up loved your video thanks for sharing it.
Ashley, thanks for the pros and cons. This reminds me of a video Andrew Millison did. He interviewed a woman in India whose family lives in a city but uses rainwater almost exclusively. She used a laundry/washing stone to rub her clothing against. It was outdoors on a patio or balcony-fairly large like an endtable-the water drained away to water plants. Amazingly simple and handy.
My stepmom gave me her washer when she moved. It's huge and higher end and I love it. I usually haven't had a washing machine. I saved some money for replacing some things if they break. I just checked Lehman's because the last time I dreamed about this washer it cost $500. Whoa! It's double now! Then I realized a new washer like the one I have would cost the same thing. It's all perspective. When this thing breaks, I'm getting the Lehman's washer with a wringer. I already hang my wash on the line. I would love to put this in the laundry room next to the sink that's there, but I'd rather have it outside in the garden so I can greywater it out to the plants. Great video guys!
That was my thinking- the electric machine cost similar to Lehman’s. My electric started leaking. Instead of getting a tech guy, paying for his service plus any parts for $400 plus, I just went with buying the Lehman’s instead for long term sufficiency. 🧡
@@Selahsummersofficial I would love to hear your experience with it!
@@sweaterdoll I hadn’t answered yet because I wasn’t sure. I have now spent maybe a week or two with it and here is my final conclusion (it took this long to get to one.) I love the machine. I think I will be using it in conjunction with our modern electric machine. It’s not sustainable to use it alone if you have little kids and babies (not enough time to attend to them and laundry.) Any other questions?
Also, just called Best Buy to schedule service for my modern electric machine. I was quoted $150 for tech to come. Not a big deal! Also, this machine takes a LOT of muscle and it’s great but I am getting tired and not being able to recover. In addition, I realize I would never be able to take a break because laundry would always need to be worked (and laundry is usually my job).
When I was a kid(60's) we used a wringer washing machine. Once my finger got caught in a belt loop and pulled my arm through to almost my shoulder before I stopped the machine. It didn't really hurt but scared the crap out of me lol.
The same thing happened to one of the girls I babysat. She was 7 and playing with it at her grandparents house about 10 years ago.
we had an Avon lady who lost her arm up to the elbow in a wringer washer
I know a lady who caught her breast in the wringer! 😳 YIKES!
@@FloridaGirl- ouch and I thought mammograms hurt
Happened to me too! Blue Arm, in a sling for a bit!
I have one just like that. I am moving off grid this year and agree with everything you mentioned on buying one. Thanks for doing a video on using this washer.
I've had more than one European friend tell me over the years that no one in Europe washes their clothes in hot water because cold water gets more dirt out. I experimented with my laundry and found this to be true. I only wash in cold now. What a treat to stumble upon your channel. Many blessings on you and yours.
I’m in England and use warm water 30/40 degree wash. Cold water doesn’t get bacteria out. What country in Europe are they from? Europeans are very different from each other.
Thats true we was all our clothes on 86° except for the towels we dry of after showering. We was them once a month on 194° and the other weeks on 86
After a few months, smell your cold-washed laundry compared to hot-washed laundry. The stale smell in the cold-washed is the oils that the cold wash didn't remove.
@@jeanetteh.9240 I've been cold water washing for decades. My clothes don't smell. I use something called laundry detergent. The only time I have used hot water was when my babies were in diapers.
My Grandparents had a beautiful hand washer. My father (88) and I have many discussions how we wished they wouldn’t have sold their hand washer. I have fond memories of helping my grandmother with the laundry; especially placing it through the double rollers and making sure I would never get my fingers caught or anything else. Many of our neighbors that I grew up also had hand washers and it was the norm to perform laundry the way you are doing it. I do believe the system my grandparents had got my grandfather’s clothes the cleanest and he was a farmer. By the way, I am a HUGE proponent of having that hand washer upon a platform to decrease any back issues. I have permanent damage from medical negligence. Please be proactive now my friends; your body is your life. Love your passion, grace and respect for our planet. God bless✝️❤️
This lady is the real world saving heroine .....low carbon footprint and not spouting off about it .....good on you girl I take my hat off to you
My husband hooked up a little petrol motor to an old side agitator and then had 2 ringers like yours attatched to a double trough to rinse we rinsed twice as we have skin allergies and always air dry. Blessings to you all from down under. Thought you are right in needing to raise your machine.
We don't need nearly as much soap as the instructions says. As well, bidy bar soap cleand better than detergent usually, not the oily stuff, but basic
I learned some today and I appreciate it. Your whole family works hard so Ashley, you will probably have help about every washday. Plus , each of you are learning a neat chore that most people will never be able to learn. Thanks a lot for "family" videos from your family. From Central Oklahoma
What a workout! My mom and I used to use her old conventional washer on occasion (like during harvest time to catch up on large amounts of laundry) but it was electric so it did the agitating itself. Nothing beats the way those line-dried clothes smelled!
Heck yeah! I use one of those little mini portable washers for most of my small stuff and it gets much cleaner... But I admit I take it to a friend's house to spin and then use the dryer. My socks are much cleaner! I might look this up someday... Thank you for the content!! 🤗
Want your own hand washer? Use code TAKE20 and save $20 Off $150 or more: tinyshinyhome.com/lehmans-20
I love it. but it wasnt on this link.
Really 😎 cool machine !!
Not fancy (like @pplebees)
It works ... 😃
It took of $20 instead of 20%
@@suewomack5528 did the same for me?
I called my order in and they applied 20% off. 🥰
Takes me back to my childhood many years ago. We were a family of 9. Mom always started with whites then moved on to print to darks. Washing was done and hung up in hour or so.
I remember loving hanging up the clothes. The wonderful smell of the fresh clothes was amazing. I helped my grandmother and mother wash clothes in the old wringer washing machine. It's a great memory. Everything we owned was ironed. I'm a fantastic "ironer" to this day.
@@taliandzelda5006 My mother started me ironing with my dad's handkerchiefs. He took 2 of them to work each day. He said one was for show(lapel pocket) and the other to blow(hip pocket). I tried very hard to get them absolutely perfect!
Yes underwear & handkerchiefs, etc first then socks and shirts then towels etc & cleaning cloths then pants.
Blankets were hardly washed as they are AWFUL. My fam kept them btwn bedspread and top sheet and folded hem of it over the blanket(s) to keep chins off it/them. They even had a top top sheet to go over the blanket, washed semi-monthly maybe. They took the spread off the bed at night to keep it from being washed so the top top sheet kept the blanket clean on top too.
This was all from hand washing n wringing. Akin to wearing an apron. Much easier to wash an apron daily changed even, than an outfit.
Speaking as someone who is now waiting 2 weeks for a new washing machine, I wish I had one of those. I used to do laundry like that in a similar machine when we went camping as a kid. I hated the ringer, smashed fingers❤️✨
This is awesome machine. I wish we have this growing up 30 years ago. We do laundry by hand even for big blankets then hang it on a clothesline then watch and wait until the clothes are dry and imagine laundry is a whole day work. So much fun. I didn’t know we call it off grid living lol. Now I realize I live off grid for 25 years lol.
Good idea to ring them out first before rinse cycle! Just like a regular cycle where it spins out the soapy water! 👍🏻
Here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, most homes dry their clothes on a clothes line as opposed to a dryer to save money.
Perhaps you could string a few lines or purchase a retractable cloth line and locate it under the shed eves where the freezer is, for rainy days.
😀👍💙💛
Well, when it rains here it’s usually sideways…lol
Thank u much first seeing this washing machine love how the children envolve see humans can live so simple and happy and at the same time other people killing each other for the things of the world simple makes life more easier thumbs 👍to u juys am just smiling
Suggestion, put everything on a scrap wood platform to save your back. Great job!😀
Wow
Good job girl!! I use buckets and a mop wringer, the kind that squeeze the mop. This looks a little easier, mine was just less expensive, but I may have to upgrade some day 😊
That is genius!!
I had a mop wringer when I was hand washing clothes! I used a plastic storage tub for washing with a laundry plunger, and after rinsing I would wring the clothes out and hang them over the tub. It was a great little setup, but I definitely prefer my little washing machine, lol!
thank for that tip, I am without a washer so I will try this.
I love wringer washers. And I love how the family helps.
Dasher washers have been around for a very long time. They work very well, we had an old wood dasher washer growing up that mom would clean rugs in.
I fulltime in a travel trailer and finding decent laundromats is my biggest challenge! I will be getting a portable washer I can use outside. Love this episode!!
I'm brand new to your channel, & this is the first video of yours that I've seen. I'm going to check out more. :)
Yes, being careful with your fingers when feeding clothes through the mangle is very important. My mom knew someone whose fingers were irreparably damaged because they got caught between the rollers. Good tip from you on how to hold you hand to up to it when you feed the clothes through. :)
Clothes dried outside smell so much nicer than clothes dried in a dryer, even using fragrance stuff. I'd rather have the natural smell from drying on the line than from the fragrance boosters and various detergents. Because of where I live in rainy southwestern BC, I have to use a dryer much of the time for some of my laundry, but I do dry it outside, or at least on a clothes rack, every chance I get, whether inside or out on my deck. I have some stuff that I don't have a way to dry on a rack or outside because they're too big for my drying system, as I call it, but most of my stuff can be air dried.
With a few exceptions, I wash all my laundry in cold water. My laundry's proof that you don't need hot water, or even warm water, in order to keep your clothes clean and well cared for.
If I was to go off grid or was able to do laundry outside a lot more than the weather allows here, I'd love to use a machine like you have. That's a really cool thing. :)
Thanks for sharing this video. :)
So laundry day on your break. Wow, 33 shirts! I liked the short appearance of Jonathan as you were loading the shirts. The kitties tail near the tub was cute too. Thanks for the lid tip and the wringer tips! "It's a wash". Hillarious! Thanks for the pros and cons too! Enjoy your break!
Oh no. This was not our break project. That is something we’re still working on…
@@TinyShinyHome Sorry! I didn't think it was the project. I was just happy that though you're all taking a break, you still did a video on washing and drying your clothes. That was special! Thanks.
Two washers side by side! One for wash, One for rinse. My mom did seven loads with the same water! Cleanest to Grungy last. The wash water would look like chocolate milk at the end.
Yes indeed ! My momma did her laundry the same way. Momma did her colors on Mondays and my daddy's white t-shirts on Thursday. Momma had 8 of us and we carried cold water from our cistern, she had a great system. After we helped get the clothes in momma started ironing.
Ashley, I have been looking forward to your washing demonstration-the thought of it brought back some fond memories of growing up back in the 70’s. My dad was in the Air Force stationed in the Philippines, and the house we lived in (off base) had a washer with a wringer. It was electric so it agitated that way, and there was a switch to turn on the wringer, but we had to manually feed the clothes through the wringer. That was such fun for me and my sisters. It didn’t feel like a chore at all. 🙂 Also, I think your washing and drying solution is smart and well thought out, so bravo and good on you!