Hand washing clothes on board

[AD28]

It occurs to me that it might be worth experimenting with using a bit of vinegar in rinse water to neutralise ammonia. Amongst vinegar's other benefits in clothes-washing.

Unlike the bleach-ammonia reaction (releasing chlorine gas), acetic acid (vinegar) turns ammonia to ammonium:

CH3COOH(aq) + NH3(aq) ------------> CH3COO-(aq) + NH4+(aq)

So you end up with a substance more analogous to that which is naturally excreted

And in dilution as one would in washing, even less of a problem, it seems to me. I might have to give that a try

[PommyDave]

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[Discovery 15797]

I find it interesting that Woolite has not been mentioned. I have been using Woolite for years onboard. It is easier to rinse out compared to most soaps, and smells great. Salt and dried soap in clothes will chafe skin in nasty places. Not only is it great for clothes, it is also recommended for washing Sunbrella fabrics, and sails.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by AD28

It occurs to me that it might be worth experimenting with using a bit of vinegar in rinse water to neutralise ammonia. Amongst vinegar's other benefits in clothes-washing.

Unlike the bleach-ammonia reaction (releasing chlorine gas), acetic acid (vinegar) turns ammonia to ammonium:

CH3COOH(aq) + NH3(aq) ------------> CH3COO-(aq) + NH4+(aq)

So you end up with a substance more analogous to that which is naturally excreted

And in dilution as one would in washing, even less of a problem, it seems to me. I might have to give that a try

Ammonia is great! Also super cheap!

After we started using it to wash our clothing in machines they got noticeably cleaner and fresher vs. Tide and derivations. We still use Tide (but only very little) and just a drop or two when hand washing.

[Butler]

As a side note I am always on thhe lookout for sales at Campmore and REI, thrift stores etc. for synthetics that wash and dry quickly, particularly the spf outdoors sport shirts and long sleeved Ts.
I had washed 4 of that type this morning and they were dry in less than an hour easily.
Some may not care for the feel but I have gotten used to it with all the back country travel done.
Cotton so comfortable but a PITA underway w/o a washer drier aboard.

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[zeehag]

ye donot need extreme measures, aka ammonia. just use regular laundry soap and rinse with sea water then smallest eer amount of fresh after wringing clothing to within an inch of its life.....works well. donot have to reinvent wheel on this simple task folks been doing for centuries...they used to use lye soap.
add vinegar to the fresh rinse to cut the soap in clothing. no chafe no fuss.,

[PommyDave]

Thank-ee Zee

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[UNCIVILIZED]

Originally Posted by Butler

I remember hearing a buddy of mine talking about a "cowboy wash". Deep tubb with a lid, add dirty clothes, water, detergent through it into the back of the pickup and go mend fence.
When you hit a patch of rough while sailing, strap that 5 gal lidded tub into the cockpit as above and go!! ;~>.

There's a variation on the Cowboy Wash. Instead of tying that sealed bucket full of clothes to something in the cockpit. Run it up the spar on a spare halyard, with a down haul/guy line attached. As given the amount of motion at the masthead, this should work even when anchored. Especially if you put an "agitator" in with things. And the agitator can be a smooth stone, or anything else with some mass that has smooth edges.
Just don't leave things up there too long or most likely all that'll be left is small bits of fabric floating in the wash water.


EDIT: The above is purely hypothetical. Meaning, try it at your own risk. I've only read that such works.