let's say the power's out and you need clean clothes....

[Morgan101]

I would venture to guess we all have at least one sink, and probably a bath tub. Fill it with water and start scrubbing. Keep a separate bucket for rinsing, and hang on the shower curtain rod. This shouldn't be an insurmountable problem.

[Murphy]

I think I'd just turn the power back on and use my normal machine. Gotta love solar!

[Cedar]

Last summer I made myself a,bucket washer from a square 5 gallon bucket with a lid, and a new toilet plunger. I don' use it alot, as I tend to take mass amounts of laundry to.moms to wash (and get real.internet), but I used the bucket washer the other day to wash some tshirts.

It easily washes clothes clean in a few minutes. I only put 3-5 t-hirts in at once, or 2 pairs of jeans, in order to get more squishability. I use liquid laundry soap, or dishsoap, or Dr Bronners. Then wring out, then 1-2 rinses. All in cold water. Water goes onto my plants.

I am making a human powered washing machine for fun, (and for my legs) as a project next.

Cedar

[grumpygremlin]

when I lived alone and washed everything by hand a bucket did just fine.

[22-Rimfire]

I'd crank up my generator and run the automatic washer assuming there is water. I keep quite a few of extention cords around for my work, which would come in handy should I need them at home.

I also have a large wash tub that I can wash the dog in (when I had a dog), just can't throw the thing away.

[fearpink]

I was at our local town flea market and found an old washboard. I picked it up then looked at some videos on how to use it :D. Plus I use a clothes line so I'm good with drying.

[Morgan101]

We too have a wash tub and a scrubbing board. Not sure who will get that job. I guess it will be shared.

Not a bad idea to take a look at the antique stores to pick up old tools and accessories that work. This will give chordless a whole new meaning.

[101airborne]

Hmmmm........ something I really haven't thought about. I guess I need to dig that old wringer washer out of storage, I have several Gennys and the smallest one will easily run it. We have a clothes line that we use in warm weather for towels and stuff to dry em'

[RICHFL]

You need to go back in history about 100 years ago. Say 1911:

Mondays was the day for family laundry. The largest kettle would be put on a fire to heat the water. Homemade lye (Made from wood ash) along with laundry soap would be used in a metal tub (5 gal) and a scrubbing board. The women folk would start with the less dirty items first washing and piling up a load of clean but soapy clothing. Wash water would be replaced as needed thru out the wash cycle. Then women would take each piece of clothing and twist it to remove as much of the soapy water as possible. The wash tub would now be filled with cold fresh water to rinse the clothing. After rinsing all the clothing; again they would twist the clothing. removing as much water as possible. This took all day long for a small family of 4 people with 1 change of clothing per week would take over 6 hours of hard labor. Most farm families were not small but stood at 6-10 kids. Why because the farm needed the hands to do the work.

By 1920 ladies were using a pressing tool (with 2 rollers one on top of another) to remove the water. Most families did not get am electrical washing machine until the mid 1950's.

So remember that your great grand mothers did this every week from the time they were about 9 years old until most had died in their 60's.

[Applejack]

remember the old wash boards. They would also work. Leman's has a lot of non-electic items that are great, but I am looking to find these items used if possible. they do have the wash plunger though also for anyone still looking for one.
Applejack

[Echo2]

A stream works.....just looking for a bit more stationary....easy to use...

[coxmw]

Trash bag or bucket, some soap worked for me on FTX and camps.

[Diesel]

obviously cleaning clothes in this way would not be a priority if you could not eat ;) But I do agree

[Echo2]

The only thing I see that may become an issue with it....is the fact that it burns up valuable caloric intake....but priorities I feel would make themselves known fairly quickly...

[Diesel]

I'm starting to see quite a few realistic uses for a recumbant bike as well, grain mill, laundry, generating emergency power