Washing machine or not?

[Spwilkinson]

What are people's experiences with portable washing machines in the motorhome? I've been keeping a track of our laundry costs (2 adults and 2 toddlers) and, financially, it seems a no-brainer to buy one. Amazon seems to have some with good reviews for < £100 and so it would pay for itself in 2/3 months (NB - we're currently full time as we're meant to be traveling round Europe, hence the relatively short time period for pay back).

Having said that, I know we'd still have laundry costs for bedding etc, and am also aware that they may not be suitable for regular use. If you do recommend one, can I ask what brand and or model?

We're going to buy a trailer and so the 10kg weight wouldn't be too much of a problem.

Thanks in advance!

 

[63720]

Briefly - no, you'll still need a commercial machine somewhere.

 

[Nomadian]

We have a leisurewize one bought off eBay for £100. It’s ok, it’s paid for its self twice over. You have to fetch and carry water and boil your water as it doesn’t heat the water up. It’s no good for heavy bedding or large heavy towels but apart from that it’s been a good buy, works off the inverter no probs as the max draw is 180watts. Don’t expect to do a big wash all in one go as the max load is 3.5kg.

 

[Caggsie1]

I bought one and use it for two wk hols, not bothering for Shorter stints. I find it labour intensive, get water, get more water for rinsing. Start with whites n progress to colours so don’t have to change washing water too often. The cycles are reasonable, 15 mins. The spin is brilliant. So far we’ve used it on good days outside. It vibrates quite a bit so inside I would think that the only suitable location would be the shower, I think it would walk off the kitchen worktop.

 

[Robert Clark]

We’ve got a mini washing machine in our garage

washes and spins just like a washing machine at home

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[rosalan]

No! No and No! One of the penalties (?) of living in most motorhomes, is the limited space. Unless you perhaps own a large American RV with several 'pull out's' the limited storage space for a holiday with children (children = toys), yourself and perhaps a partner would for me be a non-starter. My wife and I have a 5 berth motorhome, with large garage and struggle to find enough room for our belongings. Allowing for the extra payload of carrying a washing machine is yet another factor.

 

[rosalan]

No! Space, weight, value, spend the purchase price on a rent machine or give the children a bucket of warm water with soap suds.

 

[MyrtleGuru]

I did like the idea from robiebee a few years ago:
"what you want is a bucket with a tight fitting lid place your washing in bucket with hot water and soap powder fit the the lid and take it for a drive and hey presto your washing is done, it does work but do make sure the lid don't come off or that it falls over in transit great for washing your smalls as you go"

 

[Charlie9038]

I tried both types there available from from Argos. Ended up taking them back. As more or less useless. Ok for the odd tshirt, shorts etc, twin tub design whites first soon off then coloured. Forget a duvet cover as too big. I prefer to use on site machine and have the extra space. Or do it by hand in a bucket. Unless you have garage space like Robert Clark has I would forget it.

 

[bigwood]

Whilst we were waiting for the ferry in New Zealand the owner of a coach build was showing us his motorhome. He was quite proud of the washing machine under the rear bed. It was neatly fitted.by The bed was lifted on gas struts.
He said he only used it on hook up were he had water on hand. I would find a site with a laundry. I don’t think French site hook ups would cope with the load from plugging a washing machine in.

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[Coolcats]

Guys you have to have a bigger MoHo, this is a 2014 image of the Team Sky Coach it is a pretty amazing vehicle one of the features is TWO yes TWO washing machines to keep kit clean.

 

[Coolcats]

Have to say though washing clothes is the last thing I want to do when on holiday and only do it when needs must, on occasion when traveling very light and camping just washed the clothes in the shower Needs must and all that.

 

[Catchic]

I did like the idea from robiebee a few years ago:
"what you want is a bucket with a tight fitting lid place your washing in bucket with hot water and soap powder fit the the lid and take it for a drive and hey presto your washing is done, it does work but do make sure the lid don't come off or that it falls over in transit great for washing your smalls as you go"

And a salad spinner thingy?

 

[bigwood]

Some one I know has a habit of miscalculating her requirments when we are away. A food shop can become a clothes shop rather than bother washing clothes.

 

[Reallyretired]

We carried one for a while. Absolutely fine in good weather as clothes are lighter. They will do a sheet or duvet cover on their own. We used ours in the shower as it could be easily filled with hot water from the shower and just drained into the shower drain. No hook up needed as will run off any small inverter. It took up quite a bit of space so currently is in the shed at home. We now just stop on a site and use their machines.

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[eddie]

We’ve got a mini washing machine in our garage

washes and spins just like a washing machine at home

View attachment 379570

? Robert Clark, ”We’ve done it” and everyone else’s posts “No, No, No, it can’t be done”

Next you‘ll be telling us that you can run it from the inverter, which as we all know inverters can’t be used as it flattens the 85 amp battery ?

 

[Shrimp]

I think a washing machine sounds like a good idea BUT it does seem most people try it then get rid of it.
We watched a couple-living in a caravan-they did their washing once a week and he spent all day-more or less- ferrying clean & dirty water!
I hand wash the lighter stuff and then find a Laundrette for the heavier & larger items.
Its not really about the washing it’s the drying that’s the problem!

 

[Innkeeper]

Were fulltiming. We spent a month in top half of Spain and would do a little wash each day. In like a big rubber bucket like builders use. Ok it took time. But once hung up would dry in no time. Even did bedding. Probably not as good as a mc but good enough.

 

[bobandjanie]

Not.
This is what you need:

Drying the washing

Shmbo has asked me to ask if there is a wonderful device that can go in the bathroom to dry the washing whilst we are on the move. We have a whirly washing line for when we are camped out But what do other people use? :Confused::Confused: Thanks

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

That should have taken you straight to Bob's post and a few photos of our laundry.
Janie ?

 

[whiskyman]

The wife thinks they are really really good, Im sure Its because
1, I have to fetch the water
2, I have to take the washed clothes to the sinks and do the rinsing
3, she likes to organise me.

Cheers

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[jezport]

I have sold lots of twin tub traveling washing machines over the past few years and have tested them on various washes so I could be honest when customers ask questions.

1 They wash extremely well in a short time
2 You can fit sheets in them
3 They will happily run off a small inverter
4 They pay for themselves in no time
5 They are lightweight <11KG
6 They are very reliable
7 The spin is very fast and makes synthetics feel dry to the touch
8 They dont heat their own water
9 They can be stored on their side
10 They usually have a drain pump

 

[petercomplete]

Guys you have to have a bigger MoHo, this is a 2014 image of the Team Sky Coach it is a pretty amazing vehicle one of the features is TWO yes TWO washing machines to keep kit clean.
View attachment 379617

AMERICAN?

 

[Lenny HB]

We carry a twin tub, washes & spins well it does take a bit of time as it works best with small loads. If the weather is good and we have easy access to water much better to be sitting by your van than in a laundrette.

Wash day on an Aire.

 

[Southdowners]

The wife thinks they are really really good, Im sure Its because
1, I have to fetch the water
2, I have to take the washed clothes to the sinks and do the rinsing
3, she likes to organise me.

View attachment 379635 Cheers

You don't need to take clothes to the sinks to rinse them. Just spin them, leave them in the spinner, pour clean water over the clothes, allow the water to drain through, spin and repeat once more.

 

[Allanm]

No.
Organise your wardrobe so you only take easy to wash clothes.
Take enough clothes that will last you two weeks.
(Many people wash their clothes too often)
Find a launderette ( they are everywhere) and relax while the machines do the hard work.
Wash clothes every two weeks.
Use your portable washing machine space and weight to carry more wine/ beer/ favourite tipple.

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[mark49]

Buy more pants, socks n bedding. Take up less space than a washer?

 

[Ian Bosman]

Our approach is to stand the dirty clothes in a bucket with a dose of washing liquid and leave overnight then go through it by hand in the morning. The dirt seems to just fall away. Not the lazy persons way but seems to keep the two of us going. A certain amount of discipline required, ie remove garment, place in bucket at night just before retiring, deal with it at the start of the day, leave in the washroom on board hanging or drape over an used seat by a window having squeezed as much as you can of the rinse water out, let the sun (if there is any) do the rest. Another piece of kit, having weighed mine with a 300k pay load last year I was getting rid of stuff before setting off so not an option for a machine

 

[TCG]

Use the laundry machines at supermarkets, while your clothes are washing, do your shopping and have a coffee. Sorted

 

[Southdowners]

No.
Organise your wardrobe so you only take easy to wash clothes.
Take enough clothes that will last you two weeks.
(Many people wash their clothes too often)
Find a launderette ( they are everywhere) and relax while the machines do the hard work.
Wash clothes every two weeks.
Use your portable washing machine space and weight to carry more wine/ beer/ favourite tipple.

Personally I can't imagine wearing anything for two weeks without washing it. Sounds a bit grim to me!

 

[philsil1304]

We met an MHer with a twin tub. She bought it because, previously, when she was waiting to use the campsite washing machine, a person was unloading bedding and saying that the launderette was a godsend as their kids had been up all night with the runs and vomiting.

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