One thing about people back in the "old days", we didn't wear something once, rip it off, throw it on the floor, and then in the washer. We wore our clothes to school or work, and if they weren't dirty (except for socks and underwear), we would hang them directly in the closet or put away until the next time we wore them. If they needed a little refreshing, we'd hang them up to steam in the bathroom or hang them on the clothesline to air. We changed into old clothes for play or working or sitting around as soon as we got home. Same thing with shoes. People were so tidy back then and took good care of their clothes and shoes. When I was growing up, the people I knew didn't take a bath or shower every day unless they really needed to; they scrubbed their dirty and dainty parts with washcloths in the sink and didn't waste water. My grandmother always used rainwater from a rain barrel to wash hair. She said it made our hair soft. It looks like the generations since mine will be learning these things all over again soon. No, we didn't suffer. Life was enjoyable back then.
THIS is also how my Grandparents did it. Baths & hair washing were WEEKLY, unless you got filthy, and spot-clean in between. Skin and hair were healthier from not slathering on toxic smothering commercial chemical concoctions and OVER cleaning. (This is a modern USA phenomena, we have been TOLD we're dirty, stinky and need to BUY something to fix it.) ADD to this - you had your WORK clothes that were rugged and very durable and allowed for easy, full range of movement (overalls, dungarees and house dresses). Aprons used to protect clothing. Unless you were VERY poor, you had SEPARATE CLOTHES for "out in public" (town, school) PLUS your Sunday Best for Church (suit for men, a nice dress for women)- hats and gloves for the ladies. Shoes polished, hair neatly combed. NO underwear showing!!! Tattoos were reserved for Sailors, Criminals, Circus Sideshow Freaks and Prostitutes. No weird piercings, facial tatts or Body Mods to look like Devils or walking Graffiti murals. Hobos of that time dressed better than many people today! We have been gradually deceived into this lifestyle we have now. It is neither natural nor life-nurturing.
I still live like this, minus the rain barrel at the moment. There’s nothing wrong with it, in fact showering every day isn’t actually good for the skin or hair. Thanks for sharing this comment with us!
I have been without a washer and with 4 little ones, when I was a young mother. I have washed a many a load of laundry in the bathtub. Using my feet to “stomp” the clothes clean. Drain the tub, rinse them the same way and then hand wring everything out. Then hang them out to dry. It was the longest 2 weeks on my life. I’m grateful for my washer and dryer even more now as I’m much older with great grandchildren. Blessed beyond measure.
I did that too, as a single mom with 2 children - the kids had great fun helping, all feet were super clean. It was GREAT for confidence, capability, and peace of mind.
During my early married years, we went without a washer for several months. We did all the laundry in the bathtub. (No dirty diapers, thank goodness.) My children were 3, 4, and 5 years old. I put the kids and the clothes in the tub with some warm water and soap and let them dance and splash around on the clothes for about 20 minutes. Then I drained out the tub and refilled it with warm water and let the kids play again. Drain the tub again and put the kids down for a nap, (which they were more than ready for) add more warm water and a little fabric softener. As they napped. I did the final rinse and wrung out the clothes by hand. After naps we went outside. The girls played in the yard and I hung out the clothes on the clothesline. On the days when the weather was bad, I hung it on wooden and metal racks in front of the woodstove. So, as you can see -- where there's a will, there's a way.
If hanging clothes outside to dry, I like to put them in the shade (such as patio or garage) because the sun bleaches out the fabric color & weakens the material. The sun is very damaging.
Grandma's recipe for washing dirty clothes. 1. Build a fire in the backyard to heat kettle of rain water. 2. Set tubs so smoke won't blow in your eyes if wind is pert. 3. Shave on whole cake soap into boiling water. 4. Sort things into 3 piles: white, colored, work britches and rags. 5. Stir flour into cold water to smooth then thin down with boiling water. 6. rub dirty spots on board. scrub hard. 7. Take white things out of kettle with a broom stick handle, then rench, blew and starch. 8. spread tea towel on grass. 9. hand tea towels on fence. 10., Pour rench water on flower bed. 11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. 12. turn tubs upside down. 13. Go put on clean dress. smooth hair with side combs. Brew a cup of tea. set and rest and rock a spell and count your blessings. Just FYI this is information I found at a local museum that actually had a display for an old fashioned outdoor laundry station.
@@Jdude0227 Some of the rinse water will do for mopping, I rinse some clothes, such as kitchen towels, twice and have no qualms about using that 2nd water to mop the utility room or kitchen floor, even my long outdoor porch. I always use a cleaner that disinfects the floor such as Lysol floor cleaner, so it is fine.
If you're very poor or don't have access to online, you can use a new plunger with several holes drilled through the rubber to allow water to pass through as an agitator, as well. I was using that in a 5-gallon bucket (small sink) when I was in a bad place financially. (The one she uses in the video is ideal as it's made for laundry, though!) You can also use 3 of the 5-gallon buckets for straining. Drill a bunch of holes in the middle one for draining and put the wet clothes in it, then use the third bucket to push down (or just sit in it to apply pressure like I did 😂). It's tough work, but it got the job done and it was better than hand wringing.
We have used the plunger method before. It worked great! I never thought of use them gallon pails for a wringer thank you! I like her idea of the mop wringer but I think the pail would do a larger quantity.
Nice, believe it or not those clothes specific plungers are actually sometimes expensive..the cheapest I can find on Amazon are 24 bucks before tax and shipping..and reviews are kinda spotty because not a lot of people need to buy them, others with metal poles will run you in the $40 range. Then there's the wringers...yeah you can buy a clothes wringer but they will run you over 150 bucks MINIMUM...sitting my fat butt of 200+ pounds on a pair of 5 gallon buckets when I have a left over seat cushion from an old computer chair is a nice idea since I think it would be easier than hand wringing...just chuck them in the middle bucket and sit on the top one a few times to get it done...good work out too.
Remember growing up, we where poor. Everyday I would say good by to my mom and go to school and she was doing wash by hand in our kitchen sink. And I would come home and everything would be hanging on the clothes line. When it was to cold to be outside she would hang them in the basement. It would take 2 days to dry. But I remember seeing her ring out the clothes but had. I did not understand at the time how hard it was for her to do it, I feel bad that she did all that for us everyday and never complain just asking that we would change our clothes all the time. I remember she would wash everything from clothes to blankets by hand! she amazing women! I had to do wash myself that way for a few times over the past few years. Depending on my life has planned. I know where I got my hard working style from my mom. Thank you mom!
I live in an apartment so clothes lines outdoors are not possible. I have put up 2 additional shower rods over the tub. This gives me ample room to hang things and the dripping goes into the tub.
Wow, this video is such a gem. Turning the death of a washing machine into a delightful education for all of us! And full of all your childhood memories 💛 thank you for sharing with us.
To conserve water in a grid down...one can use rinse water for the next load of wash. Also use natural Castell soap and only rinse once if at all. Same with dish washing. Living in a primitive setting and carrying water, we used rinse water for washing hands and pits and other bits in-between showers.
Can I ask you about castille soap? When I try to use it to wash my hair it seems as tho it completely strips the oil off. Otherwise I'd like to use it. You got any thoughts? I think someone said that previous use of shampoo is a culprit in drying the hair, but I know that Castille soap also strips my skin.
This video brought back memories. In my early years for a time I was a home health aide. One of my clients was a woman in her nineties who regaled me with tales of the weekly 'laundry days' of her youth (probably in the teens or 20's of the last century). It sounded unbelievably exhausting, as it involved boiling clothes in copper kettles. Funnily, as a youngish woman myself in the early 1980s my husband and I lived on the top floor of a 19th century rowhouse in DC, with no washer or drier, and the nearest laundromat a good 10 blocks or more away. For at least a year I washed everything (and I mean EVERYTHING!--sheets, towels, the Works!) By hand in an old claw-foot bathtub, and dried them over our staircase railing. One day one of my husband's coworkers visited and asked "Oh, are you painting?" because of the draped sheets. I remember my embarassment to this day! And I am now grateful daily for the life changing convenience--especially for women--of automatic washers and dryers. Thanks for these memories!. 💞
That mop ringer idea is wonderful! I did find an old washer wringer mechanism which can be attached between the double soapstone sink in the basement. Hope I never have to use it!
I have a Srubba laundry bag for washing a few items of personal clothing. Saves a ton of detergent and water. You could probably get a good enough cleaning by using a dry bag like those used when boating. If you were careful, leaving laundry inside a soapy water-filled, black garbage bag, first set out in the sunshine for a while to warm the water, might work. I once saw a video of people taking an outdoor bath this way, which is what gave me the idea.
Oh, my God, I am totally blind, and even though I sort of kinda got the idea of what a ringer was, you explained it in such a very clear manner I know it now makes perfect sense of how this laundry ringer works. Thank you so much for the description
I’ve dried my clothes on a clothesline for years. I just use the dryer when it rains or for special needs. I want to recommend heavy duty wooden clothespins made by Lady and the Carpenter. I originally purchased them as Kevin’s Quality Clothespins on Lehmans. These are extremely durable and I believe a replacement will be given if broken under normal use. They hold Levi’s and all blankets/bedding well. I think Lehmans still sells them but they are cheaper at Lady and the Carpenter. They have good $pecials where one is able to purchase them for a sale price. They also sell seconds. Look for Lady and the Carpenter on line.😊
I like that ringer bucket. I would hang the clothes out for an hour then place in dryer so the dryer doesn't have to work so hard. Hang them in the garage.
Thanks Pam, I have grandma’s manual Maytag washer that had an electric motor added,it still can be switched to manual and works great. Makes for good exercise.
I recommend either Fels Naptha or Zote bar soap for those stains. The Zote is great for delicates, the Fels Naptha is amazing for grimy stuff. Also, a good soaking is beneficial to some fabrics and some items.
I make a paste out of Fels Naptha bar for stains. I cut it up into little pieces and soak it over night in water in a glass vessel, then in my Vitamix it goes. I grind it up/blend until it is smooth/ thick/frothy. Let it sit for some hours in a glass vessel (to let the froth go away) and put into glass jars and keep in the frig. It takes out ANY stain. FYI Fels Naptha has lye in it so be sure to not soak the chunks overnight in any plastic vessel. Wash your blender jug really well after blending. I use a stiff brush to scoop it out and scrub the stain. One bar will cost you $2. That bar will make about 12-19 oz and last depending how often you need it. Making this is a big money saver.
Agreed for some difficult stains, but both brands contain cancer causing chemicals. Please be aware of before deciding if these soaps are the best choices.
When my washing machine broke down, I just happened to spy an electric tub spinner for Euro15 in the local charity shop. It's brilliant. A tall cylinder shape, top opening with a hose which drains into sink or bucket as its spinning, and it really spins water out of the clothes as good as a washing machine and holds quite a few items of clothing for each spin. I love it.
As a young girl we would help our grandma with laundry & she had a ringer washer just as you described. She would shave felsnaptha soap into the tub & had a stick she would lift the clothes out from the first load as it was almost boiling water. We would hang them outside (I still do that) or would hang them in the basement if the weather was bad. I love those memories of helping my grandma.
My Mom had a ringer washer most of my childhood. Next came the coin laundromat. Finely, as a retired person she had a washer and dryer at home. I remember lightning hitting one of the trees in our backyard where the clothesline was attached. Waking up in the morning, to a spider web of sorts across the yard as the lightning stripped off the plastic coating and released the plastic fibers within. 😂
You had me grinning and giggling!! My first apt in 77, I didn't have a washer, I did have an antique scrub board and a clothes line off the back porch. I did clothes in the bathtub.... sheets and jeans were the worst! I had a camping book at one time that suggested you get a bucket with a lid add your laundry, soap and water and drive around with it in your trunk....book was written in 70s. Im the nut that had to test it, it worked. I wouldn't want to be trying to lift a full bucket out of the trunk at this age! Both grandmothers and my mom had wringer washers until I was 12.
I have been using a bucket and a plunger. If you add a little boroxo and a little vinegar they come out softer and cleaner. I put the bucket in the tub so it is easy to dump out.
My grandmother had one of those washers and I used to help her. My sister stuck her hand through the ringer and had to have stitches because of it. I still remember that and then you hung them on the line.
Hi Pam and Jim, I purchased two huge wash tubs, an expensive wringer, and a metal washing plunger like the plastic one you are using. I also have the plastic one. I wanted two of them. One for the wash and one for the rinse. My husband is going to build a wooden holder for the tubs at chest height, to save my back when I use the tubs. The wringer will be in between the two tubs. He will build racks on the ends and also a place for the laundry basket. (I bought a rolling one, because I am not the spring chicken I used to be!) I thought this was enough, but when you did the second rinse in this video, I went 😮 when I saw the soap suds. Now I need to get a third tub and revise the design of the washing stand. I do not want to empty the tubs (I probably couldn’t myself) or have to call my husband. So, I will buy another wash tub to do the second wash. So, I learned something when I thought I was prepared. How about that. Thank you so much. My LG washing machine died last year after only 11 years. It is a front loader. Anyway, my son is an RV repairman and he ordered a new “Mother Board” for it, installed it and we have been fine ever since. It was only $300 vs the price of a brand new one, and the install was free!!! That is a win-win! The point though is that your old one, if it is a front-loader may have a mother board too that you could fix. Then you could keep it, sell it, or give it to one of your family members. Just a thought.
My Maytag is 20+ years old and I dread having to buy a new one. Many of my friends, and their children, have had to purchase a new washing machine and each one hates the one they bought. Many tell me that in order to get their clothes any where close to clean, they need to add two gallons of water, by hand, to their machines because of a “water saving” feature. I would be very interested to to know which make and model machine you purchased because I implicitly trust you and your research. I know after a month of use you will give us a review we can count on. Thank you so much for all you do for you viewers. I’m 72, just had open-heart surgery, have arthritis in my hands and count on you for inspiration…like those carts you recommended. Bought three of them and put them to good use before surgery so I could move heavy things (like cases of water) around afterwards. Hugs and blessings! ❤️
Oh, my last washer was like that, with the water saving feature as it was a Front Load and I did not like it one bit. Now I have a Top Load washer that fills right to the top and oh, do I ever love it! If fact the washer has a feature that is called "water plus" which adds even more water to the load. It is an LG brand if you are curious.
Wow. Never gave laundry a thought! LOL!!! Excellent information as usual. I don't know what we would do without you and your hubby. Blessings to both of you! 💕 Amazon has a Calliger clothes wringer for $159.74 you can attach to utility tub, saw horse or whatever, just like the olden days!
Thanks! Adding to list. I did get a small usb charged “agitator” that you can put in a bucket for camping which works well but I’d definitely need something bigger for home.
Oh the memories eh. I remember the last wringer washer Mum had was a Maytag. We thought it was neat cause it was t round like the old ones it was more square. I lived off grid for 14 years over ten years ago and I heated my water on the wood stove and washed everything by hand with a toilet plunger and a mineral lick bucket, it worked great but hard on the hands wringing all the laundry out. Thanks for this great video Pam. ❄️🇨🇦❄️
I thought about this challenge 4 years ago but never acted on it. With the way the world is going, I better seriously look into it. Thank you for reminding me.
After hurricane Katrina we were without power for 10 weeks. I used 2 large plastic totes and the bottom side of a plastic 2 liter soda case as my washboard. It wasn't easy but it did the job. I now have a mop bucket like yours...just need to get the dasher.
Lehman's hardware in Ohio has table top wringer. They also have a metal plunger and many more laundry items. I have a plastic plunger from somewhere else, but never thought how I would get water out of the washed items. The floor mop bucket idea is fantastic. I just gave away an almost new one 6 months ago. It was much bigger though with wheels attached. Probably get more out if floor mop wringer is on floor as you can get more downward force on it. I will be looking for a new one.
Oh! The wringer washer! While doing laundry after school one day, the jeans were too heavy to go through the wringer. The pressure release popped and hit my bottom lip! Split it wide open. Luckily my teeth were alright. Off to get put back together with steri-strips. Sad thing was the next evening was the Christmas dance at school and my 16th birthday. Still have the scar to remind me! 😅
My machine went out and I had a Wonderwash so I started using that in the tub (I also have a plunger for extreme situations) and I have a spin machine again for emergencies to spin out clothes before putting them in the dryer. I may need to get a bucket if electricity goes out and I do have Amish clothes dryer racks just in case. I don’t use as much detergent with the Wonderwash either but I make my own anyway.
I love old wringer washers!! I had one 35 years ago to save water when my well wasn't producing well......her name was Proud Mary.....Proud Mary keeps on turning.
The bath tub also makes a good basin for laundry because you can drain it and refill w rinse water. Be careful to use very little laundry detergent because it can be hard to rinse out. Also wear gloves because laundry detergent is very hard on your hands. The dedicated plunger is also a great idea. Wringing is tough and the mop bucket is a good idea.
A large salad spinner makes a good wringer. I have one from Tupperware that I have had for ages...can only do a few pieces at a time depending on size, but works well. A regular plunger with holes drilled in it to let water through works well to agitate the laundry.
I bought a new Maytag wringer washing machine in 1971.I used to hang my cloths outside I still do I bought a new Maytag auto machine last week I love it.
And I mumble to myself every time I have to walk down to the basement to do my one load or two per week . I'll think twice about complaining next laundry day. I have a greater appreciation for what our fire mothers had to do to take care of their families.
If your washer is electronic/ computer board in it. Most can be reset by going to your book on the inside of the washer's front panel. Between tub and front panel.. Found this out hard way and it saved us buying a new one. Maytag is the best from our experience. It is not easy to get to the book but that is the book the maintenance person would use to know how to reset the computer board.
Put that "wringer mop bucket" on a low, secure table with 6-10" legs and you'll find "wringing out your clothes" will be much easier on your back. Same for your "washing" set up using the plunger. Pushing down is easier on your arms and back muscles this way.
A 5 gallon commercial salad spinner works so much better. You can find them at restaurant supply centers or on line. The lowest price I found was $85. If you have arthritis, it really makes a difference. Consider putting dowels in the holes at the bottom of the bucket with rubber on the end of the dowels. It will keep your bucket from moving around. BTW, you haven’t lived unless you experienced standing your frozen jeans up against the wall to allow them to thaw out. 😂. Thanks for the great video.
My grandma used her wringer washer when I was growing up in the early 70s. She actually used it into the 80s even though she had a real washer. My mom would wash clothes out by hand in the 70s and we would hang them out on the clothes line.
My grandma taught me how to do laundry by hand. For a long time, I though she didn’t have a washer, but she did and just wanted to teach me. 😂 I still my delicates by hand. When I camp, I do laundry by hand with zone soap, a small plastic washboard and 2 collapsible buckets. Saves on having to bring a lot of clothes when camping.
I've been looking for a manual washing ringer but they are super expensive right now. Lehmann's has a great set up but it's over 1000 dollars. I have a washing plunger and a 15 gallon oblong trough for washing. Being on a well it's important for me to be able to reuse that water for toilet flushing. Works great. For "wringing" I'll put the wet clothes in a large laundry basket and place a smaller one fitted on top and stomp. The larger area of the bottom of the basket does better than feet. If you don't have room for a wringer bucket it's a good alternative. I've always had a clothesline one indoors and one outdoors. No sense paying the electric company. I have thin cheap Walmart grid down towels for easier washing if need be.
I bought a portable wringer from amazon. It is turned by hand, no electricity needed, and it can be mounted on the rim of a bucket, or on the edge of a counter or table. That's what I got to go with my plunger/agitator for off grid.
Great seeing things in action. With respect to wringing, one thing I say was using two 5 gallon buckets to do outside. One has a number of small holes in the bottom and perhaps lower on the sides. The other had no holes and a lid. Cloths in the bucket with the holes. Other bucket on top, and sit on the bucket lid. Works. If want to save the water you need to raise the buckets a bit and have a pan underneath to collect the water squeezed out. Hauling new water and using more soap may not be prudent.
I don't own a washer and I don't always want to go to the laundromat when it's 78+F or -45F, so I use a bucket and a plunger I got free at the home show and my son cut 4 quarter-size circles in it. (unmentionables get done in the bathroom sink) Most people use too much detergent, then wonder why it takes forever to rinse.
Yes, I remember helping my Gran with her laundry. My grandfather would fill up the copper outside the wash house & get the fire going under it. Later Gran would boil the sheets up in the copper. In the wash house, were two concrete tubs & a washing machine just as you described. Gran was always afraid of the mangle. Later Gran acquired a semi automatic washing machine more like todays. Once all was washed clean and wrung out, it went out onto the clothes lines that were strung between posts, pinned in place with wooden clothes pegs, and the line pushed up higher with a prop. Wow betide anyone who drove too fast past the house yard or made the cows run and raise dust on wash days!
I am interested in off grid laundry. Thank you for these ideas. ....Sometimes when it rains, it pours with multiple appliance breakdowns, but when all the repairs and replacements are done, you will be elated! I enjoy your teaching videos.
We sprinkled the sheets and pillowcases with water, rolled them and put them in the fridge overnight and ironed the next day. My grandmother started me ironing my grandad's handkerchiefs and moved me up to pillowcases. Nothing smells as good as freshly ironed sheets that were dried on the outside clothesline!
I haven't used a dryer in years and years. I either hang my clothes outside if the weather permits or downstairs in the basement where the wood burner is with a fan to circulate the warm air. I do have a regular washing machine and a manual one if the grid should go down.
My dryer just went out and was able to hang clothes out on the fence. I have a new clothes line that we haven't put out yet. If I had a choice to have my washer or dryer out of service, I'll choose my dryer! I've been without a washer before and it's awful on a farm especially during the rainy, muddy season like we've had here. Thank you for sharing this handy tip!
You could wash in the bottom part of the bucket w/wringer too! You can wring larger wet clothes in a large towel by rolling up, I did that while trsveling. Have a great week
I remember the wringer. My parents had the wringer for many years, and during the 1972 Agnes flood, my dad rigged it up so it would pump out the water on its own. I will look into the metal clothes pins. The wood ones are great, but they fall apart so easlily. There are alternative small clothes washers for dorms and small apartment, but you have to spend more money on those. I like this idea much better in a pinch. You would have to do small batches. like you did. I went two weeks once without a washer. It was under warranty, but had to wait until someone came out and fixed it. There was wash water would not pump out. I was frustated, and had to wash my underwear by hand at the time. We all have gone through this at one point or another. I went and looked at your Amazon list, and I must say Wow! There is a lot of good stuff listed. Good ideas. Itcould not get the website to come up until today.
Ty ! Have seen a foot peddle operated one, but it looks so small? But does have a spinning action. I am sure I saw ringer things too.. the old style, like you were talking about. Being very broke , many times, many loads were wasbed in the tub by hand. Not fun or easy, but it worked. Tyfs !
Great ideas. Thanks. My only concern is that while you were washing in only about 4 gallons of water, you used enough detergent for more than a full washer-load, thus making the rinsing a bit more difficult. Since Tide is your detergent of choice, you can use less and keep the sudsing down to a minimum, and therefore the rinsing as well. At least I think so.
Surprisingly, I found online advice that an 8 pound load of laundry only needs One Tablespoon of laundry detergent, to clean, and our washers and clothes are carrying too much detergent. Also found a small amount of white distilled vinegar (one fourth a cup diluted in half cup water) added to rinse cycle or in fabric softener dispenser will soften clothes and rid clothes of excess suds, especially good for bed sheets
I was born in the late 50s in the UK, we didn’t have a washing machine and just had a free standing mangle (wringer) I’m without a washing machine at the moment, so it’s back to washing by hand… and I’ve never had a dryer…. I really could do with a mangle now 😂
Yes been there with the wringer washer and 3 tubs. In the south almost everything went into the last rinse of blueing water which was a whiting agent. I still love doing laundry to this day. We had a manual wringer near the clothes line it was set so tight your clothes were almost dry. Only was used for towels, sheets, etc. No clothes. It would break the buttons or zippers. I would have to rewring your cup towels they are much to wet for the dryer. lol
One thing I've found that helps tremendously when hand washing clothes, towels, diapers, bedding, etc. is adding washing soda to the water along with your soap & simply letting things soak for 10 to 15 minutes before you start actively washing them. BTW I use bar laundry soap & a washboard for most things. It's work but the clothes really do come out so much cleaner than by machine.
God Bless You! This is an EXCELLENT idea! For emergency, I have stationary tub in our garage and I keep my laundry plunger, clothes pins and washboard there. Ringing clothes at 69 is not easy. This is great! Thank you.
OMG! I’m reminded of how I did my laundry in the Philippines back when I was young! Back then, we washed our clothes in plastic laundry tubs and used our hands to wring those clothes, for whites, we would lay them out under bright sun while soaked in soapy water for about half a day, then rinse them at least 3 times! Oh, how I would get rashes or bruises on my hands because of my sensitive skin. You know, we didn’t have rubber gloves back then. 😅 Fun times!
I luckily have my gran's wash board from when she lived in West tx prior to the 1950s... she washed clothes and everything for 6 people and herself.... they all lived in a shack with 2 rooms... one for the "kids" and the other was her and my grandfathers room. I'm so glad she saved it ❤
Smart idea! Another thing for helping with a shorter drying time in the dryer is to put a clean dry towel in with the load and it won't take as long to dry.
I started doing this method ,when times called for it, when I was in high school, back in the late 70's. Works great. I even used the bathtub when the washer broke down. I now discovered making my own laundry soap. Fantastic addition. Homemade soap is easy and works so much better. Saves me 150.00 each batch. Love it.
I make the liquid form,because the new HE washer doesn't give enough time, or water, to distribute the soap thoroughly for a proper wash. I make mine with 1 bar of naphtha, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup of washing soda...makes 5 gallons of detergent. Use 1/2 cup of this mix and add it to a cup of water in a jar, and shake it, before I put it in the washer. My HEwasher sucks, I hate it. You can't open the lid and check on the load, and it won't let you soak things , it empties the washer ,which defeats the purpose. Ugh
@@ruthm4749 thank you for the reply. I made my liquid the same way. I haven't done it in years though. I will try it again. I do not like having a front load washer... but it's still working so there's that.
Nice video Pam & Jim ! ❤️ For some of your viewers who don’t want to buy a fancy (so to speak) plunger… you could simply buy a cheapo plunger and drill (poke) holes through it … saw a video called “DIY plunger washer off grid laundry preparednesses “ 😊
You could maybe too put “wet clean-clothes” in the tub- and put a bucket-lid on top of the clothes and step on the bucket lid- and squeeze water out that way ..? 😜
My washer of 20 years died too this week. I bought a cheap portable washer from Amazon which is working out very well. I could have used your video before receiving the washer. Love your content.
Thinking about how we'd do laundry off-grid is certainly a worthwhile topic! On the amazon page for the plunger, I noticed they advertise a portable wringer, too, which could be clamped to the edge of the table. It's more expensive than the bucket wringer, but for a large family... it might be worthwhile. I had no idea these items even existed nowadays for purchase. Brilliant! I do have a small hand washboard purchased as an antique that I could use. We had a bigger one when I was a kid, too. We also had an electric washing machine with the wringer on top when I was very little, for awhile. Then we went to the laundrymat for years once it died.
I loved this video, thank you! My mom had a 2 inch scar on the inside of her harm from running the ringer as a child. Your comment brought back a lot of sweet and tender memories of her. Thank you!
I remember the days of my mom doing clothes in ringer washer and hanging on line. We also had the scary dark dirt floor cellar with the the spiders. I hope it never comes to this grid down stuff because I was getting very tired just watching you. You have great ideas which I've taken from watching many of your videos.
Get a good mop bucket like a Rubbermaid, because the cheap ones just break. It's more expensive up front but it's much less expensive than a real mangle/wringer. Heavy items, like jeans or sheets, can be wrapped around a pole outside and twisted fairly easily to wring them out. And you have to be aware of your water type. You can't use plain soap in hard water unless you also use washing soda to pull that soap out of the fibers. One suggestion: if you end up in a grid-down situation or washer-less, at least, wear clothing meant for off-grid living, for goodness' sake. Wear clothing that is easy to hand wash. Linen is great against the skin winter or summer and keeps outer layers cleaner so you don't wash outer layers as often (medieval and renaissance clothing trick) and it is more durable than even cotton which stinks in one wearing. Wool doesn't get washed like normal clothes so you won't have to deal with that at all. Hang wool out in the snowfall to "scour" it to wash it. Or hand wash gently and lay out to dry. Big wool outer layers only get washed at the end of winter and then stored away until fall. They can be freshened up during winter by just airing them out on the line. We can't expect to apply old-fashioned techniques and live with modern expectations, like wear it once and wash it. To use old-fashioned techniques, we need to use old-fashioned wisdom regarding clothing types. I've done a lot of off-grid laundry and have an old 1940s metal laundry baffle like your plastic one. It's saved my back and hands in many a laundry load. Simplify your off-grid clothing if you're going to have to do off-grid laundry week-in-and-week-out.
One thing about people back in the "old days", we didn't wear something once, rip it off, throw it on the floor, and then in the washer. We wore our clothes to school or work, and if they weren't dirty (except for socks and underwear), we would hang them directly in the closet or put away until the next time we wore them. If they needed a little refreshing, we'd hang them up to steam in the bathroom or hang them on the clothesline to air. We changed into old clothes for play or working or sitting around as soon as we got home. Same thing with shoes. People were so tidy back then and took good care of their clothes and shoes. When I was growing up, the people I knew didn't take a bath or shower every day unless they really needed to; they scrubbed their dirty and dainty parts with washcloths in the sink and didn't waste water. My grandmother always used rainwater from a rain barrel to wash hair. She said it made our hair soft. It looks like the generations since mine will be learning these things all over again soon. No, we didn't suffer. Life was enjoyable back then.
Yes! We still do this. The machines break down the fibers of the clothing.
What is the name of the plunger/ and where did you buy it from?
THIS is also how my Grandparents did it. Baths & hair washing were WEEKLY, unless you got filthy, and spot-clean in between. Skin and hair were healthier from not slathering on toxic smothering commercial chemical concoctions and OVER cleaning. (This is a modern USA phenomena, we have been TOLD we're dirty, stinky and need to BUY something to fix it.)
ADD to this - you had your WORK clothes that were rugged and very durable and allowed for easy, full range of movement (overalls, dungarees and house dresses). Aprons used to protect clothing. Unless you were VERY poor, you had SEPARATE CLOTHES for "out in public" (town, school) PLUS your Sunday Best for Church (suit for men, a nice dress for women)- hats and gloves for the ladies. Shoes polished, hair neatly combed. NO underwear showing!!! Tattoos were reserved for Sailors, Criminals, Circus Sideshow Freaks and Prostitutes. No weird piercings, facial tatts or Body Mods to look like Devils or walking Graffiti murals.
Hobos of that time dressed better than many people today!
We have been gradually deceived into this lifestyle we have now. It is neither natural nor life-nurturing.
I still live like this, minus the rain barrel at the moment. There’s nothing wrong with it, in fact showering every day isn’t actually good for the skin or hair. Thanks for sharing this comment with us!
@@stevestewart007 When I was growing up, we didn't have as many clothes and had to take care of them. Also, we wore hand me downs.
I have been without a washer and with 4 little ones, when I was a young mother. I have washed a many a load of laundry in the bathtub. Using my feet to “stomp” the clothes clean. Drain the tub, rinse them the same way and then hand wring everything out. Then hang them out to dry. It was the longest 2 weeks on my life. I’m grateful for my washer and dryer even more now as I’m much older with great grandchildren. Blessed beyond measure.
I did too, used a clean plunger.
I did that too, as a single mom with 2 children - the kids had great fun helping, all feet were super clean. It was GREAT for confidence, capability, and peace of mind.
Now that’s a great idea, use my bathtub, if ever power is out for a few days! Thanks for sharing!
I love my ol ringer Maytag it was wonderful
First thing ppl did when could afford it was get help with the laundry!!
During my early married years, we went without a washer for several months. We did all the laundry in the bathtub. (No dirty diapers, thank goodness.) My children were 3, 4, and 5 years old. I put the kids and the clothes in the tub with some warm water and soap and let them dance and splash around on the clothes for about 20 minutes. Then I drained out the tub and refilled it with warm water and let the kids play again. Drain the tub again and put the kids down for a nap, (which they were more than ready for) add more warm water and a little fabric softener. As they napped. I did the final rinse and wrung out the clothes by hand. After naps we went outside. The girls played in the yard and I hung out the clothes on the clothesline. On the days when the weather was bad, I hung it on wooden and metal racks in front of the woodstove. So, as you can see -- where there's a will, there's a way.
I have no doubt you gave those kids some good memories in some not great times.
If hanging clothes outside to dry, I like to put them in the shade (such as patio or garage) because the sun bleaches out the fabric color & weakens the material. The sun is very damaging.
Sounds like a lovely way to spend the day, and I’m sure you accomplished much in between the steps you described.
Grandma's recipe for washing dirty clothes. 1. Build a fire in the backyard to heat kettle of rain water. 2. Set tubs so smoke won't blow in your eyes if wind is pert. 3. Shave on whole cake soap into boiling water. 4. Sort things into 3 piles: white, colored, work britches and rags. 5. Stir flour into cold water to smooth then thin down with boiling water. 6. rub dirty spots on board. scrub hard. 7. Take white things out of kettle with a broom stick handle, then rench, blew and starch. 8. spread tea towel on grass. 9. hand tea towels on fence. 10., Pour rench water on flower bed. 11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. 12. turn tubs upside down. 13. Go put on clean dress. smooth hair with side combs. Brew a cup of tea. set and rest and rock a spell and count your blessings. Just FYI this is information I found at a local museum that actually had a display for an old fashioned outdoor laundry station.
Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed reading that.
Sounds familiar😏 But rench blew and starch?
@@flowerchild777 rinse, dry, iron. The lady didn't know how to spell. The note was written for a new bride in her own hand writing.
@@JeanneKinland maybe “blew” was the bluing agent they used for whites in the old days
Yes, sounds like my grandmother 👵 ❤️ 👍
If a real grid down situation ; save all gray water to flush the toilet, mop the floor, water outdoor plants.
Mopping the floor with it... is not really the greatest idea. You're trying to clean your floor, not add more dirt. But if times call for it.
@@Jdude0227 Some of the rinse water will do for mopping, I rinse some clothes, such as kitchen towels, twice and have no qualms about using that 2nd water to mop the utility room or kitchen floor, even my long outdoor porch. I always use a cleaner that disinfects the floor such as Lysol floor cleaner, so it is fine.
If you're very poor or don't have access to online, you can use a new plunger with several holes drilled through the rubber to allow water to pass through as an agitator, as well. I was using that in a 5-gallon bucket (small sink) when I was in a bad place financially. (The one she uses in the video is ideal as it's made for laundry, though!)
You can also use 3 of the 5-gallon buckets for straining. Drill a bunch of holes in the middle one for draining and put the wet clothes in it, then use the third bucket to push down (or just sit in it to apply pressure like I did 😂). It's tough work, but it got the job done and it was better than hand wringing.
We have used the plunger method before. It worked great! I never thought of use them gallon pails for a wringer thank you! I like her idea of the mop wringer but I think the pail would do a larger quantity.
Brilliant idea for squeezing out the water! Thanks for posting!
Excellent
Nice, believe it or not those clothes specific plungers are actually sometimes expensive..the cheapest I can find on Amazon are 24 bucks before tax and shipping..and reviews are kinda spotty because not a lot of people need to buy them, others with metal poles will run you in the $40 range. Then there's the wringers...yeah you can buy a clothes wringer but they will run you over 150 bucks MINIMUM...sitting my fat butt of 200+ pounds on a pair of 5 gallon buckets when I have a left over seat cushion from an old computer chair is a nice idea since I think it would be easier than hand wringing...just chuck them in the middle bucket and sit on the top one a few times to get it done...good work out too.
And makes it easy to haul thst bottom bucket to pour the waste water over the garden!
Remember growing up, we where poor. Everyday I would say good by to my mom and go to school and she was doing wash by hand in our kitchen sink. And I would come home and everything would be hanging on the clothes line. When it was to cold to be outside she would hang them in the basement. It would take 2 days to dry.
But I remember seeing her ring out the clothes but had. I did not understand at the time how hard it was for her to do it, I feel bad that she did all that for us everyday and never complain just asking that we would change our clothes all the time.
I remember she would wash everything from clothes to blankets by hand! she amazing women! I had to do wash myself that way for a few times over the past few years. Depending on my life has planned.
I know where I got my hard working style from my mom. Thank you mom!
I live in an apartment so clothes lines outdoors are not possible. I have put up 2 additional shower rods over the tub. This gives me ample room to hang things and the dripping goes into the tub.
Wow, this video is such a gem. Turning the death of a washing machine into a delightful education for all of us! And full of all your childhood memories 💛 thank you for sharing with us.
To conserve water in a grid down...one can use rinse water for the next load of wash. Also use natural Castell soap and only rinse once if at all. Same with dish washing. Living in a primitive setting and carrying water, we used rinse water for washing hands and pits and other bits in-between showers.
We used to have to carry water in buckets too; you learn to do with a lot less! We used the laundry rinse water to give the outhouse a good scrub.
Can I ask you about castille soap? When I try to use it to wash my hair it seems as tho it completely strips the oil off. Otherwise I'd like to use it. You got any thoughts?
I think someone said that previous use of shampoo is a culprit in drying the hair, but I know that Castille soap also strips my skin.
@@sweetbeep If you got 30ish bucks, Gallaghers is a real good toxin-free company that makes shampoo and conditioner.
@@sherril.562 ok thanks. I just looked it up. Does the feminine cleanser one also work for shampoo? (It says it's for all skin.)
the mop wringer idea addition...brilliant hack
This video brought back memories. In my early years for a time I was a home health aide. One of my clients was a woman in her nineties who regaled me with tales of the weekly 'laundry days' of her youth (probably in the teens or 20's of the last century). It sounded unbelievably exhausting, as it involved boiling clothes in copper kettles. Funnily, as a youngish woman myself in the early 1980s my husband and I lived on the top floor of a 19th century rowhouse in DC, with no washer or drier, and the nearest laundromat a good 10 blocks or more away. For at least a year I washed everything (and I mean EVERYTHING!--sheets, towels, the Works!) By hand in an old claw-foot bathtub, and dried them over our staircase railing. One day one of my husband's coworkers visited and asked "Oh, are you painting?" because of the draped sheets. I remember my embarassment to this day! And I am now grateful daily for the life changing convenience--especially for women--of automatic washers and dryers. Thanks for these memories!. 💞
IMPORTANT TIP: if your old washing machine conks out, find parts or someone who repairs the old ones, because the new “smart” ones are CRAP.
That mop ringer idea is wonderful! I did find an old washer wringer mechanism which can be attached between the double soapstone sink in the basement. Hope I never have to use it!
"mangle"
They have them on amazon now, too. I never knew they were available until I looked up the plunger.
I have a Srubba laundry bag for washing a few items of personal clothing. Saves a ton of detergent and water. You could probably get a good enough cleaning by using a dry bag like those used when boating. If you were careful, leaving laundry inside a soapy water-filled, black garbage bag, first set out in the sunshine for a while to warm the water, might work. I once saw a video of people taking an outdoor bath this way, which is what gave me the idea.
Great idea!
Warm the water without power!
All we got is time, once the grid goes down‼️
Oh, my God, I am totally blind, and even though I sort of kinda got the idea of what a ringer was, you explained it in such a very clear manner I know it now makes perfect sense of how this laundry ringer works. Thank you so much for the description
So glad it was helpful!
I’ve dried my clothes on a clothesline for years. I just use the dryer when it rains or for special needs. I want to recommend heavy duty wooden clothespins made by Lady and the Carpenter. I originally purchased them as Kevin’s Quality Clothespins on Lehmans. These are extremely durable and I believe a replacement will be given if broken under normal use. They hold Levi’s and all blankets/bedding well. I think Lehmans still sells them but they are cheaper at Lady and the Carpenter. They have good $pecials where one is able to purchase them for a sale price. They also sell seconds. Look for Lady and the Carpenter on line.😊
I like that ringer bucket. I would hang the clothes out for an hour then place in dryer so the dryer doesn't have to work so hard. Hang them in the garage.
Thanks Pam, I have grandma’s manual Maytag washer that had an electric motor added,it still can be switched to manual and works great. Makes for good exercise.
I have my grandmother's old hand washer. Has 2 tubs and wringer in the middle. Love that thing.
That could use up a lot of precious calories
I had a similar mop bucket and I would put a block of a 2x6 to fill up the space so it would close tighter and extract more water
I recommend either Fels Naptha or Zote bar soap for those stains. The Zote is great for delicates, the Fels Naptha is amazing for grimy stuff. Also, a good soaking is beneficial to some fabrics and some items.
I make a paste out of Fels Naptha bar for stains. I cut it up into little pieces and soak it over night in water in a glass vessel, then in my Vitamix it goes. I grind it up/blend until it is smooth/ thick/frothy. Let it sit for some hours in a glass vessel (to let the froth go away) and put into glass jars and keep in the frig. It takes out ANY stain. FYI Fels Naptha has lye in it so be sure to not soak the chunks overnight in any plastic vessel. Wash your blender jug really well after blending. I use a stiff brush to scoop it out and scrub the stain. One bar will cost you $2. That bar will make about 12-19 oz and last depending how often you need it. Making this is a big money saver.
I keep both of those on hand. I use Zote flakes for homemade powdered laundry soap and Fels Naptha for stains. ❤
@@JennyGonzalez. I’m sure this is a hoax!
I have back ups upon back ups for both of those. Loved the FN to clean my daughter’s socks when she was little
Agreed for some difficult stains, but both brands contain cancer causing chemicals. Please be aware of before deciding if these soaps are the best choices.
I remember doing laundry with a ringer washer. The thought did make me wonder about off grid laundry. I think the mop bucket is a brilliant idea 💡.
When my washing machine broke down, I just happened to spy an electric tub spinner for Euro15 in the local charity shop. It's brilliant. A tall cylinder shape, top opening with a hose which drains into sink or bucket as its spinning, and it really spins water out of the clothes as good as a washing machine and holds quite a few items of clothing for each spin. I love it.
As a young girl we would help our grandma with laundry & she had a ringer washer just as you described. She would shave felsnaptha soap into the tub & had a stick she would lift the clothes out from the first load as it was almost boiling water. We would hang them outside (I still do that) or would hang them in the basement if the weather was bad. I love those memories of helping my grandma.
My Mom had a ringer washer most of my childhood. Next came the coin laundromat. Finely, as a retired person she had a washer and dryer at home. I remember lightning hitting one of the trees in our backyard where the clothesline was attached. Waking up in the morning, to a spider web of sorts across the yard as the lightning stripped off the plastic coating and released the plastic fibers within. 😂
You had me grinning and giggling!! My first apt in 77, I didn't have a washer, I did have an antique scrub board and a clothes line off the back porch. I did clothes in the bathtub.... sheets and jeans were the worst! I had a camping book at one time that suggested you get a bucket with a lid add your laundry, soap and water and drive around with it in your trunk....book was written in 70s. Im the nut that had to test it, it worked. I wouldn't want to be trying to lift a full bucket out of the trunk at this age! Both grandmothers and my mom had wringer washers until I was 12.
I have been using a bucket and a plunger. If you add a little boroxo and a little vinegar they come out softer and cleaner. I put the bucket in the tub so it is easy to dump out.
My grandmother had one of those washers and I used to help her. My sister stuck her hand through the ringer and had to have stitches because of it. I still remember that and then you hung them on the line.
Hi Pam and Jim,
I purchased two huge wash tubs, an expensive wringer, and a metal washing plunger like the plastic one you are using. I also have the plastic one. I wanted two of them. One for the wash and one for the rinse. My husband is going to build a wooden holder for the tubs at chest height, to save my back when I use the tubs. The wringer will be in between the two tubs. He will build racks on the ends and also a place for the laundry basket. (I bought a rolling one, because I am not the spring chicken I used to be!) I thought this was enough, but when you did the second rinse in this video, I went 😮 when I saw the soap suds. Now I need to get a third tub and revise the design of the washing stand. I do not want to empty the tubs (I probably couldn’t myself) or have to call my husband. So, I will buy another wash tub to do the second wash. So, I learned something when I thought I was prepared. How about that. Thank you so much. My LG washing machine died last year after only 11 years. It is a front loader. Anyway, my son is an RV repairman and he ordered a new “Mother Board” for it, installed it and we have been fine ever since. It was only $300 vs the price of a brand new one, and the install was free!!! That is a win-win! The point though is that your old one, if it is a front-loader may have a mother board too that you could fix. Then you could keep it, sell it, or give it to one of your family members. Just a thought.
Wow, that’s a lot of soap for a small sink. Thanks for the memories of your childhood. I share many of the same. I miss those days.
You are so welcome! Jim
My mother and grandmother used the the solar dryer and washer ringer well into the 70s
My mom used to use a plunger in the bathtub for my brothers work jeans. We had a clothesline in the back yard.
My Maytag is 20+ years old and I dread having to buy a new one. Many of my friends, and their children, have had to purchase a new washing machine and each one hates the one they bought. Many tell me that in order to get their clothes any where close to clean, they need to add two gallons of water, by hand, to their machines because of a “water saving” feature.
I would be very interested to to know which make and model machine you purchased because I implicitly trust you and your research. I know after a month of use you will give us a review we can count on.
Thank you so much for all you do for you viewers. I’m 72, just had open-heart surgery, have arthritis in my hands and count on you for inspiration…like those carts you recommended. Bought three of them and put them to good use before surgery so I could move heavy things (like cases of water) around afterwards.
Hugs and blessings! ❤️
Oh, my last washer was like that, with the water saving feature as it was a Front Load and I did not like it one bit.
Now I have a Top Load washer that fills right to the top and oh, do I ever love it! If fact the washer has a feature that is called "water plus" which adds even more water to the load. It is an LG brand if you are curious.
@@cm9743 Yes! Thank you. I'll remember the mfg so when the time comes, I'll know.
Wow. Never gave laundry a thought! LOL!!! Excellent information as usual. I don't know what we would do without you and your hubby. Blessings to both of you! 💕 Amazon has a Calliger clothes wringer for $159.74 you can attach to utility tub, saw horse or whatever, just like the olden days!
yes, that's like the one I got.
@@Trid2bnrml1 Same one I bought too. The red heavy duty model.
@@sandys.1891 yes, as long as my arms have enough juice, I can even do jeans.
Thanks! Adding to list. I did get a small usb charged “agitator” that you can put in a bucket for camping which works well but I’d definitely need something bigger for home.
Oh only $160?
Get me two lol
Oh the memories eh. I remember the last wringer washer Mum had was a Maytag. We thought it was neat cause it was t round like the old ones it was more square. I lived off grid for 14 years over ten years ago and I heated my water on the wood stove and washed everything by hand with a toilet plunger and a mineral lick bucket, it worked great but hard on the hands wringing all the laundry out. Thanks for this great video Pam. ❄️🇨🇦❄️
I thought about this challenge 4 years ago but never acted on it. With the way the world is going, I better seriously look into it. Thank you for reminding me.
After hurricane Katrina we were without power for 10 weeks. I used 2 large plastic totes and the bottom side of a plastic 2 liter soda case as my washboard. It wasn't easy but it did the job. I now have a mop bucket like yours...just need to get the dasher.
Lehman's hardware in Ohio has table top wringer. They also have a metal plunger and many more laundry items.
I have a plastic plunger from somewhere else, but never thought how I would get water out of the washed items.
The floor mop bucket idea is fantastic. I just gave away an almost new one 6 months ago. It was much bigger though with wheels attached. Probably get more out if floor mop wringer is on floor as you can get more downward force on it.
I will be looking for a new one.
I ordered Lehman’s laundry soap making kit, supposed to cost seven cents per load. I already have their scented laundry soap, smells wonderful.
4:54 - I never knew about the emergency release. Thanks for that.
Oh! The wringer washer! While doing laundry after school one day, the jeans were too heavy to go through the wringer. The pressure release popped and hit my bottom lip! Split it wide open. Luckily my teeth were alright. Off to get put back together with steri-strips. Sad thing was the next evening was the Christmas dance at school and my 16th birthday. Still have the scar to remind me! 😅
I wash by hand I use a toilet plunger and mop sinner for small items .. get the water out pretty good
My machine went out and I had a Wonderwash so I started using that in the tub (I also have a plunger for extreme situations) and I have a spin machine again for emergencies to spin out clothes before putting them in the dryer. I may need to get a bucket if electricity goes out and I do have Amish clothes dryer racks just in case. I don’t use as much detergent with the Wonderwash either but I make my own anyway.
I love old wringer washers!! I had one 35 years ago to save water when my well wasn't producing well......her name was Proud Mary.....Proud Mary keeps on turning.
The bath tub also makes a good basin for laundry because you can drain it and refill w rinse water. Be careful to use very little laundry detergent because it can be hard to rinse out. Also wear gloves because laundry detergent is very hard on your hands. The dedicated plunger is also a great idea. Wringing is tough and the mop bucket is a good idea.
A large salad spinner makes a good wringer. I have one from Tupperware that I have had for ages...can only do a few pieces at a time depending on size, but works well. A regular plunger with holes drilled in it to let water through works well to agitate the laundry.
I bought a new Maytag wringer washing machine in 1971.I used to hang my cloths outside I still do I bought a new Maytag auto machine last week I love it.
And I mumble to myself every time I have to walk down to the basement to do my one load or two per week . I'll think twice about complaining next laundry day. I have a greater appreciation for what our fire mothers had to do to take care of their families.
If your washer is electronic/ computer board in it. Most can be reset by going to your book on the inside of the washer's front panel. Between tub and front panel.. Found this out hard way and it saved us buying a new one. Maytag is the best from our experience.
It is not easy to get to the book but that is the book the maintenance person would use to know how to reset the computer board.
Put that "wringer mop bucket" on a low, secure table with 6-10" legs and you'll find "wringing out your clothes" will be much easier on your back. Same for your "washing" set up using the plunger. Pushing down is easier on your arms and back muscles this way.
A 5 gallon commercial salad spinner works so much better. You can find them at restaurant supply centers or on line. The lowest price I found was $85. If you have arthritis, it really makes a difference. Consider putting dowels in the holes at the bottom of the bucket with rubber on the end of the dowels. It will keep your bucket from moving around. BTW, you haven’t lived unless you experienced standing your frozen jeans up against the wall to allow them to thaw out. 😂. Thanks for the great video.
Flash back to my childhood! I remember well how we started with whites in hot water for the first load and darks in the last load of the day. 😊
this is a terrific way of getting them clean and saves so much hydro
Yes, but also very labor intensive, especially for older people and/or others who may have physical difficulties. Jim
My dear Pam I know exactly what you are talking about that's the type of washer mom had and this was in the 80"s and used it up to the early 90's.
Adding a 1/4 cup white vinegar to the wash water will help "cut" the soap and won't leave a smell.
My grandma used her wringer washer when I was growing up in the early 70s. She actually used it into the 80s even though she had a real washer. My mom would wash clothes out by hand in the 70s and we would hang them out on the clothes line.
O-Cedar makes a mop bucket with a stomp pedal on it that spins the basket. Some people use those.
My grandma taught me how to do laundry by hand. For a long time, I though she didn’t have a washer, but she did and just wanted to teach me. 😂 I still my delicates by hand. When I camp, I do laundry by hand with zone soap, a small plastic washboard and 2 collapsible buckets. Saves on having to bring a lot of clothes when camping.
Thanks for sharing!! Jim
I've been looking for a manual washing ringer but they are super expensive right now. Lehmann's has a great set up but it's over 1000 dollars. I have a washing plunger and a 15 gallon oblong trough for washing. Being on a well it's important for me to be able to reuse that water for toilet flushing. Works great. For "wringing" I'll put the wet clothes in a large laundry basket and place a smaller one fitted on top and stomp. The larger area of the bottom of the basket does better than feet. If you don't have room for a wringer bucket it's a good alternative. I've always had a clothesline one indoors and one outdoors. No sense paying the electric company. I have thin cheap Walmart grid down towels for easier washing if need be.
I bought a portable wringer from amazon. It is turned by hand, no electricity needed, and it can be mounted on the rim of a bucket, or on the edge of a counter or table. That's what I got to go with my plunger/agitator for off grid.
Where can you get the red plunger?
Luv the bucket to wring out water🎉
Great seeing things in action. With respect to wringing, one thing I say was using two 5 gallon buckets to do outside. One has a number of small holes in the bottom and perhaps lower on the sides. The other had no holes and a lid. Cloths in the bucket with the holes. Other bucket on top, and sit on the bucket lid. Works.
If want to save the water you need to raise the buckets a bit and have a pan underneath to collect the water squeezed out. Hauling new water and using more soap may not be prudent.
Amazon has the calliger clothes wringer- just like the wringers i remember only hand cranked
I don't own a washer and I don't always want to go to the laundromat when it's 78+F or -45F, so I use a bucket and a plunger I got free at the home show and my son cut 4 quarter-size circles in it. (unmentionables get done in the bathroom sink) Most people use too much detergent, then wonder why it takes forever to rinse.
Yes, I remember helping my Gran with her laundry.
My grandfather would fill up the copper outside the wash house & get the fire going under it. Later Gran would boil the sheets up in the copper.
In the wash house, were two concrete tubs & a washing machine just as you described. Gran was always afraid of the mangle.
Later Gran acquired a semi automatic washing machine more like todays.
Once all was washed clean and wrung out, it went out onto the clothes lines that were strung between posts, pinned in place with wooden clothes pegs, and the line pushed up higher with a prop.
Wow betide anyone who drove too fast past the house yard or made the cows run and raise dust on wash days!
It’s called a “mangle” for a reason!
Ours were goats…
I am interested in off grid laundry. Thank you for these ideas. ....Sometimes when it rains, it pours with multiple appliance breakdowns, but when all the repairs and replacements are done, you will be elated! I enjoy your teaching videos.
Identical childhood wash day memories! And then having to do all that ironing afterwards!
We sprinkled the sheets and pillowcases with water, rolled them and put them in the fridge overnight and ironed the next day. My grandmother started me ironing my grandad's handkerchiefs and moved me up to pillowcases. Nothing smells as good as freshly ironed sheets that were dried on the outside clothesline!
My husband and I bought a farm six years ago and one of the first thing I did was buy a wringer washer, and used it until it broke.
Remember this you can also use a regular plunger if you can't find the other.i seen someone use it and a lightbulb flashed
I haven't used a dryer in years and years. I either hang my clothes outside if the weather permits or downstairs in the basement where the wood burner is with a fan to circulate the warm air. I do have a regular washing machine and a manual one if the grid should go down.
My dryer just went out and was able to hang clothes out on the fence. I have a new clothes line that we haven't put out yet. If I had a choice to have my washer or dryer out of service, I'll choose my dryer! I've been without a washer before and it's awful on a farm especially during the rainy, muddy season like we've had here. Thank you for sharing this handy tip!
Great topic which has inspired me to get a solar generator specially for the washer! Lol
I loved the idea of big mop bucket for ring, it beats my crank ringer
You could wash in the bottom part of the bucket w/wringer too!
You can wring larger wet clothes in a large towel by rolling up, I did that while trsveling. Have a great week
Yes, and I used to stomp on the rolled up clothes/towel bundle to (with clean feet!) to press more water out ;-)
That's what I was thinking, too. But for a demo on the counter, this may have been simpler.
I remember the wringer. My parents had the wringer for many years, and during the 1972 Agnes flood, my dad rigged it up so it would pump out the water on its own. I will look into the metal clothes pins. The wood ones are great, but they fall apart so easlily. There are alternative small clothes washers for dorms and small apartment, but you have to spend more money on those. I like this idea much better in a pinch. You would have to do small batches. like you did. I went two weeks once without a washer. It was under warranty, but had to wait until someone came out and fixed it. There was wash water would not pump out. I was frustated, and had to wash my underwear by hand at the time. We all have gone through this at one point or another. I went and looked at your Amazon list, and I must say Wow! There is a lot of good stuff listed. Good ideas. Itcould not get the website to come up until today.
Ty ! Have seen a foot peddle operated one, but it looks so small? But does have a spinning action. I am sure I saw ringer things too.. the old style, like you were talking about.
Being very broke , many times, many loads were wasbed in the tub by hand. Not fun or easy, but it worked. Tyfs !
Great ideas. Thanks. My only concern is that while you were washing in only about 4 gallons of water, you used enough detergent for more than a full washer-load, thus making the rinsing a bit more difficult. Since Tide is your detergent of choice, you can use less and keep the sudsing down to a minimum, and therefore the rinsing as well. At least I think so.
Agreed. I was surprised by the amount of detergent that she added.
Surprisingly, I found online advice that an 8 pound load of laundry only needs One Tablespoon of laundry detergent, to clean, and our washers and clothes are carrying too much detergent. Also found a small amount of white distilled vinegar (one fourth a cup diluted in half cup water) added to rinse cycle or in fabric softener dispenser will soften clothes and rid clothes of excess suds, especially good for bed sheets
Yes, I do remember washing by hand....labor intensive, for sure! Thanks for the additional tool information!
I always rinse hand washed clothes in vinegar to get out all the soap. A tip from my grandmother.
I was born in the late 50s in the UK, we didn’t have a washing machine and just had a free standing mangle (wringer) I’m without a washing machine at the moment, so it’s back to washing by hand… and I’ve never had a dryer…. I really could do with a mangle now 😂
You can also use a spinner mop bucket which will get more water out I would think... And you use your foot to operate it.
When I hear people talking about going "green", I ask them how many are willing to hang their clothes outside to save on energy.
Outside clothes lines aren't allowed in my suburban neighborhood so have to make do with the basement.
@@dalegaa4094 That's sad
I hang my towels over a shower curtain rod less in the drier. Can’t have a clothes line here.
I have a pullout line on my back porch. I also have a washer and dryer there.
@@That.Lady.withtheYarn
I do this too in the winter.
Helped my grandma many times with her old Maytag washer, remember the saying well "don’t get your (tatas) in the wringer”
Good tips. I actually bought a
salad spinner from the thrift store
to wash and rince delicate items.
Yes been there with the wringer washer and 3 tubs. In the south almost everything went into the last rinse of blueing water which was a whiting agent. I still love doing laundry to this day. We had a manual wringer near the clothes line it was set so tight your clothes were almost dry. Only was used for towels, sheets, etc. No clothes. It would break the buttons or zippers. I would have to rewring your cup towels they are much to wet for the dryer. lol
One thing I've found that helps tremendously when hand washing clothes, towels, diapers, bedding, etc. is adding washing soda to the water along with your soap & simply letting things soak for 10 to 15 minutes before you start actively washing them. BTW I use bar laundry soap & a washboard for most things. It's work but the clothes really do come out so much cleaner than by machine.
Soaking is great, and where do you buy laundry soap bars?
@@kimmoyee2453 Amazon carries them.
@@kimmoyee2453walmart or most grocery stores
God Bless You! This is an EXCELLENT idea! For emergency, I have stationary tub in our garage and I keep my laundry plunger, clothes pins and washboard there. Ringing clothes at 69 is not easy. This is great! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Jim
OMG! I’m reminded of how I did my laundry in the Philippines back when I was young! Back then, we washed our clothes in plastic laundry tubs and used our hands to wring those clothes, for whites, we would lay them out under bright sun while soaked in soapy water for about half a day, then rinse them at least 3 times! Oh, how I would get rashes or bruises on my hands because of my sensitive skin. You know, we didn’t have rubber gloves back then. 😅 Fun times!
I luckily have my gran's wash board from when she lived in West tx prior to the 1950s... she washed clothes and everything for 6 people and herself.... they all lived in a shack with 2 rooms... one for the "kids" and the other was her and my grandfathers room. I'm so glad she saved it ❤
Smart idea! Another thing for helping with a shorter drying time in the dryer is to put a clean dry towel in with the load and it won't take as long to dry.
I started doing this method ,when times called for it, when I was in high school, back in the late 70's. Works great. I even used the bathtub when the washer broke down. I now discovered making my own laundry soap. Fantastic addition. Homemade soap is easy and works so much better. Saves me 150.00 each batch. Love it.
Do you use the dry method or wet? I have done it both ways but preferred to make mine into a powder.
I make the liquid form,because the new HE washer doesn't give enough time, or water, to distribute the soap thoroughly for a proper wash. I make mine with 1 bar of naphtha, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup of washing soda...makes 5 gallons of detergent. Use 1/2 cup of this mix and add it to a cup of water in a jar, and shake it, before I put it in the washer. My HEwasher sucks, I hate it. You can't open the lid and check on the load, and it won't let you soak things , it empties the washer ,which defeats the purpose. Ugh
@@ruthm4749 thank you for the reply. I made my liquid the same way. I haven't done it in years though. I will try it again. I do not like having a front load washer... but it's still working so there's that.
I bought an industrial size salad spinner as my wringer. It works amazing.
This is the same idea my husband had for laundry. I saw another video that you use a new plunger with holes in it. I purchased one also.
Nice video Pam & Jim ! ❤️ For some of your viewers who don’t want to buy a fancy (so to speak) plunger… you could simply buy a cheapo plunger and drill (poke) holes through it … saw a video called “DIY plunger washer off grid laundry preparednesses “ 😊
That’s what I did!
You could maybe too put “wet clean-clothes” in the tub- and put a bucket-lid on top of the clothes and step on the bucket lid- and squeeze water out that way ..? 😜
@@Cicerosings yay !
Invest in an extra plunger or two to have on hand. They do break. One is none, two is one.
Wow, mop bucket...GREAT idea!!
My washer of 20 years died too this week. I bought a cheap portable washer from Amazon which is working out very well. I could have used your video before receiving the washer. Love your content.
Our new one finally came a few days ago and we have been getting caught up on our washing cycles. Jim
Thinking about how we'd do laundry off-grid is certainly a worthwhile topic! On the amazon page for the plunger, I noticed they advertise a portable wringer, too, which could be clamped to the edge of the table. It's more expensive than the bucket wringer, but for a large family... it might be worthwhile. I had no idea these items even existed nowadays for purchase. Brilliant!
I do have a small hand washboard purchased as an antique that I could use. We had a bigger one when I was a kid, too. We also had an electric washing machine with the wringer on top when I was very little, for awhile. Then we went to the laundrymat for years once it died.
I loved this video, thank you! My mom had a 2 inch scar on the inside of her harm from running the ringer as a child. Your comment brought back a lot of sweet and tender memories of her. Thank you!
I remember the days of my mom doing clothes in ringer washer and hanging on line. We also had the scary dark dirt floor cellar with the the spiders. I hope it never comes to this grid down stuff because I was getting very tired just watching you. You have great ideas which I've taken from watching many of your videos.
Get a good mop bucket like a Rubbermaid, because the cheap ones just break. It's more expensive up front but it's much less expensive than a real mangle/wringer. Heavy items, like jeans or sheets, can be wrapped around a pole outside and twisted fairly easily to wring them out. And you have to be aware of your water type. You can't use plain soap in hard water unless you also use washing soda to pull that soap out of the fibers. One suggestion: if you end up in a grid-down situation or washer-less, at least, wear clothing meant for off-grid living, for goodness' sake. Wear clothing that is easy to hand wash. Linen is great against the skin winter or summer and keeps outer layers cleaner so you don't wash outer layers as often (medieval and renaissance clothing trick) and it is more durable than even cotton which stinks in one wearing. Wool doesn't get washed like normal clothes so you won't have to deal with that at all. Hang wool out in the snowfall to "scour" it to wash it. Or hand wash gently and lay out to dry. Big wool outer layers only get washed at the end of winter and then stored away until fall. They can be freshened up during winter by just airing them out on the line. We can't expect to apply old-fashioned techniques and live with modern expectations, like wear it once and wash it. To use old-fashioned techniques, we need to use old-fashioned wisdom regarding clothing types. I've done a lot of off-grid laundry and have an old 1940s metal laundry baffle like your plastic one. It's saved my back and hands in many a laundry load. Simplify your off-grid clothing if you're going to have to do off-grid laundry week-in-and-week-out.
Yes! A wringer pole is a must for the heavy stuff. And with all the bashing of plungers and wringers, expect to lose some buttons and zipper teeth.
@@RepublicTX A mother good reason to develop the skill of mending clothing: patching, darning, replacing zippers and buttons.
I love this