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Laundry?

2

2 dogs and a Yurt

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Alright, I can't find anyone addressing what I see as a big issue! How do you do your laundry? Is everyone running to the laundromat? I am looking at moving into a yurt in upper Michigan and it will be cold and snowy most of the year. I'm trying to decide if I do laundry by hand or hook up a wash machine. What are you all doing?
 
Many times folks use a stacking washer and dryer in order to minimize the floor space needed. They can be installed into a 'closet' in the bathroom area of a yurt to consolidate plumbing and keep it out of site. If your yurt is elevated or on a hillside you may be able to enclose space under the platform for a small 'laundry room' or have a small site-built structure adjacent to the yurt for laundry.
 
Good to know. I considered both the stacked washer and dryer or a wash house (put in a sauna) but I am curious what people who are trying to minimize electricity use have as an option. I am nervous about switching to a wringer washer....
 
I put that wonderwash on my Amazon wishlist lol. I have to get that for camp!
 
There's a thread on Simple Washing Machines.

Standard washing machines are fairly bulky, plus require a certain water pressure and usually hot water. If you're going small & simple, you won't really have those (especially the combo hot-water-pressure). At least warm water is important for getting soap/scum out of hand-washed clothes, especially with hard water (ask me how I know...).

Of late I've been going to the laundromat for the washing part, but I like to line dry. With not too many clothes, you can hang them up inside the yurt to dry (assuming adequate ventilation to prevent condensation & mold). If you have an outside line setup clothes will dry during the winter, just pick a non-rainy/snowy day or two (or have the line in a covered shelter). Air flow/wind will dry them. But have a hot mug for your hands to hold ready afterward hanging up and make sure your clothes aren't water saturated beforehand.
 
I would think that warming the water in the sun before you do wash would be one way of warmer the water without using any extra energy.
 
Washing machines and modern detergent are one of lifes great pleasures, and also one of the reasons our clothes are so clean. Not a chance I'd choose to wash clothes in a stream, or tub, or other, if a laundromat was anywhere nearby. Even when I was living out of my mountain tent 39 years ago, I hit the laundromat every few days. I've always worked in a filthy environment, and lemme tell yuh, putting on clean clothes is really nice.
 
Bob, I completely agree that clean clothes are amazing. I personally am a little germ-phobic about laundromats :)

Hierony, I agree with the standard washers being bulky. I currently have a small size front load set that I can't imagine trying to pack into a yurt... at the same time, I've not lived long term without a washer. So I love to hear some input from others who are wearing clean clothes while off grid ;). Thanks for linking the other thread. I didn't find it when looking but I am new to the concept of forums so I will probably make plenty of newbie mistakes!
 
Even with a good washing machine, clothes can come out not so clean if you don't do it right. You also have to know how to maintain them. You can't leave the door closed, especially with front loaders--they need to air out. If you have a dog, cleaning out hair often is important.

I use the front loaders when I go to the laundromat, and I give them a good sniff until I find one that doesn't stink. Then I check around the door seal for gunk. Some laundromats maintain their machines better than others.

I think clothes are often over washed. People often declare their clothes dirty after one day of wear, then declare them clean after putting them through the wash. There certainly are skin cells, general dust, and maybe a small amount of salt from sweat after a day or two, season depending--which can easily be flushed out with a light wash in a bucket (right soap, temp, water softener, good rinse or two). Then there's grease spots, food spills, dirty knees--these areas need a good scrubbing (glass washboard?) with soap to actually get fully clean. I've not met a washing machine that can realistically get bad spots out in one run.

I'm not doing handwashing right now, but I would like to. A good spin dryer I think is essential for it though--way smaller than most any washing machines, uses just a little electricity, and gets your clothes well wrung without wearing them.
 
I agree 100% with Hierony (on all his points.) With a little care, clothes don't have to be washed so often.

I took one of the wooden, 2x4, vertical supports (not used in front of the windows when the yurt was put up) and drilled angled holes in them, then put assorted length dowel pieces in and slid it up against another vertical support - over by the wood stove for an easy drying rack. I hang my boots there in the winter - upside down on dowels - and any wet stuff. But also anything I've been wearing - as opposed to tossing it crumpled in the hamper.

Also periodically hanging clothes outside in the sun and fresh air, revives them. A lot does depend on how much you sweat and get dirty though.

Spot cleaning, airing out, even a quick rinse, all helps extend laundry day.

Then I go to a good laundromat. Ones with someone working there watching things and keeping the machines clean is a good sign. Mine even has wifi, so I catch up on downloading podcasts.

I also check the machines by smell and touch - before choosing it. And bring things home wet to hang outside.

There are lots of decent off the grid laundry systems, but getting most of the water rung out is key. However you do it. Hand ringing gets old and is difficult for many.

Like most of yurt life - you make it up as you go. Learn from others, but figure out what works best for you. :)
 
Thanks for all the great info! Good to hear what others are doing. I love Wintergreens idea with the pegs. Will have to try that. We are planning on moving into a yurt where we don't have any family near by to fall back on in case something goes wrong. So the the trial and error learning could be disastrous!
But, what is life without some adventure?!
 
Humanity was basically pretty filthy until recent times, just from getting by every day. Thank God for the invention of detergent and washing machine. Being a carpenter all my life makes me like clean clothes. They may be worn but I like them clean, at the start of the day.

As for laundromats, yes some folks wash nasties in there. I used to look in the washer before loading up. Most folks that don't have their own place or access to Mom and Dads laundry room, use laundromats to launder their clothes, not rugs etc. There's no difference then at home, based on my experience.

All that aside, laundry in a yurt is a real nice modern convenience. If I was a single guy living in a smaller trad yurt, I'd be hitting up the laundromat at least once a week if not twice.
 
This is something I'm also in the process of gearing up for. I've finally settled on using a 5 gallon bucket with a "Rapid Laundry Washer" and using an industrial sized salad spinner to wring and rinse. Bronner's soap is biodegradable and works great on laundry. (that's what I use now at the laundry mat).
 
I ended up purchasing an old fashioned wringer, a metal laundry plunger and a glass washboard as well as two sad irons from Lehman's. They will hopefully arrive the beginning of next week. It will be an adventure but I am in for the long haul! My washer and dryer are leaving today!
One thing I've noticed, it doesn't seem like a 5 gallon bucket allows for enough water movement. Just my opinion. I will use laundry tubs (big galvanized metal squares) because they seem to allow full agitation.
Bronner's is good stuff and I currently use it for all sorts of things. I plan to go back to making my own detergent. I may not last as I will have plenty to do without having to make the soap too!
 
A five gallon bucket is way too small for laundry. A standard laundry tub in a tract house (ours for example) is about twenty gallons, the perfect size for hand washing laundry. Set your galvy tub on a solid 2x redwood framed platform so you aren't bending over, and have at it. Too big a tub and you might be heating more water than you really need. 'Slosh action' in a twenty gallon tub is great. I think that size is ideal.
 
Walmart and a few other places have started to carry bar soap for laundry (Zote's, Naptha, and one or two others). Grate finely & put in water or rub against stains. Washing Soda is also often added. Both are cheap & last a long time & fairly natural.
 
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