Washing Clothing While at Sea?

[Southern Star]

The Wonderwash actually works quite well, but you should use fresh water for both the wash and rinse stages. In addition, the wash cycle takes very little effort/time. If you are in a marina with a laundromat, or in an area with locals prepared to do laundry at a reasonable rate, that is obviously the way to go. But if you prefer anchoring in relatively isolated areas or are on a relatively lengthy offshore passage, they are very hard to beat. Yes they take up a bit of space, but they use no electricity and are very light - perfect, for example, on a catamaran.

Brad

Brad

[Roy M]

I'll probably end up with a Wonderwash and a hefty stainless steel wringer, unless I can find someone with the Splendide. Would you consider flying a special identifier flag (besides the accompanying drying laundry)?

[mikereed100]

I tried a Wonder Wash but soon lost interest and went back to buckets. It worked ok but was small and didn't seem to save me any water which was the reason I got it. Buckets or tubs are really easy and simple and have multiple uses. A wringer would be really nice as that is the aspect of laundry that I don't like most

[Reality Check]

Like many have stated... use less clothing

That you do have to use, can be sea washed and fresh rinse a number of times with out any significant noticeable effects from salt. Take advantage of shore side facilities as often as possible.

I cruise in the West Indies most of the time and I may wash aboard 2 to 3 times some shorts, t's a towel or two but when I get to a shore side laundry I make good use of them as really fresh clothing is always nice to have in high heat, high humidity locations like those I prefer to sail in... also allows for significant reduction in what you need to have on... when anything.

[bobnlesley]

We've found that washing clothes in salt water, as noted previously is a non-starter for anything other than my grungiest 'engine'bay' trousers and tee-shirt.

We (well Lesley) do all our washing in a bucket, which works fine in the sunny climate of the Mediterranean. To save effort we've perfected a technique: -
Fill Large bucket 1/2-2/3 full of fresh water
Add cold water washing liquid (widely available in the Med - don't know about in the USA)
Add dirty clothing
Sit the whole lot on the quarter (Port for predominantly red clothing, starboard if they're green) and tie bucket to the pushpit
Go Sailing
The wave action will agitate/clean the clothing and all it needs is to be rinsed out on arrival.

[shelleyof]

Actually I found taht it is much better to use liquid washing detergent in one of these washers, and use about one quarter of what you would expect as it will take forever to rinse out. I don't use ours for small itmes like shorts or t shirts, but when the sheets just MUST be washed and there is not port around then the washer comes out. For smaller itmes, the bucket is just great, and is easier all round.

[blackcloud]

Anyone use a lever-type mop bucket wringer or a chamois/shop towel roller wringer?

I see a bunch on google, just lookn for an endorsement from someone who's got one..

examples: Wringers from Royce Rolls Ringer Co , Towel Wringer

[oldsalt_1942]

Never heard of the black bag idea before but it sounds good.

When I was on my nine-month cruise on my 26' sailboat I used a 5-gallon bucket and a "plumber's helper" the tried and true plunger. Worked great as an agitator. Five minutes of pumping the clothes in soapy water and again in a clean rinse got my clothes really clean.

[nautical62]

I've really come to love those new synthetic surf/snorkel shirts. They stay fresher, much longer than cotton and I often wash them in a bucket of mostly fresh water after a rain collected from the dinghy. Soaking overnight in soapy water greatly improves the wash with no more work. They dry quickly. On a hot day, wear one to dry it and stay cool from the evaporation. It really decreases the need for shore side laundry.

[Starbuck]

$115 USD for a towel wringer. I'll throw my stuff around a shroud and twist.

Special: and now you know how to spell festoon.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Reality Check

Like many have stated... use less clothing ...

Beth Leonard has some excellent laundry advice, in her “Voyager's Handbook”.
Goto Page 219 ➥ The Voyager's Handbook: The ... - Google Books

A salt Water soak* will sometimes remove blood (and other deep set) stains. As previously noted, you’ll use a lot of precious fresh water getting the salt out.

* Soak the clothing in cold saltwater overnight, and then launder as usual. After you launder, but before you dry the item, boil a pan of water and boil the item for just a few minutes. You can only use this method with clothing that can take the high heat of boiling, refer to the clothing tag to be sure.
Salt water and baking soda is also a useful bleaching technique. Bring the solution to a boil, add clothes, let soak for an hour or so. Rinse well.

[BlueSovereign]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

$115 USD for a towel wringer. I'll throw my stuff around a shroud and twist.

Special: and now you know how to spell festoon.

Here's a less costly alternative.

I have contacted them to learn whether it is available in 230-240V

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/clothes_wringer.htm

[Talbot]

A modern version of ::



would probably work better, take up less space, and be a lot more reliable.

Now just need someone to make one for a boat.

[sgb71]

Y'all are crushing my romantic dreams of a carefree lifestyle of sailing with this laundry talk!!!!!

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by sgb71

Y'all are crushing my romantic dreams of a carefree lifestyle of sailing with this laundry talk!!!!!

If you don't wear any clothes, you will not need to do any washing