Ask Jackie: Homesteading by Jackie Clay-Atkinson & Backwoods Home Magazine

Author:Jackie Clay-Atkinson & Backwoods Home Magazine [Clay-Atkinson, Jackie & Magazine, Backwoods Home]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Backwoods Home Magazine
Published: 2012-08-02T06:00:00+00:00

Laundry methods

I don’t have the space for a wringer washer and was wondering what sort of laundry methods you’d recommend that don’t involve a conventional washing machine, for clothes and for household stuff like towels, quilts, and rugs. I thought about getting one of those non-electric pressure washers that has a hand crank and looks like a small cement mixer. I also thought about soaking clothes in the bathtub with grated lye or Fels Naptha soap, plunging with a clothes plunger, and rinsing in one or two big plastic dollar-store tubs. If I went with the second method, how long would I soak, how much soap should be used on average, and is a second rinse necessary? I’d greatly appreciate your thoughts.

Kristin Radtke, Wisconsin

My first homestead washing consisted of a washtub and scrub board. And I was glad to get them, too! Actually, it’s not all that bad and does get the clothes clean. If you grate up a bar of Fels Naptha soap and boil it in two gallons of water, it’ll form a jelly, which works well for washing clothes. Just soaking won’t get the clothes clean. You have to scrub or plunge for a considerable length of time. Use very hot water and the clothes will get cleaner and the residue will rinse out better. The hand-cranked washing machines are fine for a few shirts or kitchen towels, socks and underwear. But they are pretty small for towels or jeans. If you don’t have room inside for a wringer washer, how about outdoors in the summer time? I’ve washed for many years this way and enjoyed myself while washing clothes. At least until snow flies!

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