How to Wash Clothes Without a Washing Machine

How to Wash Clothes Without a Washing Machine

How to Wash Clothes Without a Washing Machine

The clothes washer uses water, gas, and electricity to get your clothes clean. Here’s how to wash clothes using fewer resources.

Our sister site Sustainablog shared a great list of five DIY washing machines that use human power to wash clothes rather than electricity. But these ain’t your great, great grandma’s washboard. These primitive machines use less water and less power than an electric machine. And they use less human power than those old-fashioned washing boards.

Related: DIY Tea Light Heater, 6 Plans for Building Your Own Rocket Stove

The video below shows my favorite DIY washing machine. It’s by John and Christy from Mellish Fields West. I like this one because it lets you wash a huge amount of clothes at once using zero electricity. And it’s bike-powered, which is super cool!

Over at Sustainablog, Jeff has shared some details on this DIY washing machine plus four more ideas for how to wash clothes while saving money and conserving resources. Head over there, and let us know which one is your fave!

Image Credit: Washboard photo via Shutterstock

Written by Becky Striepe

My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”), and I am a crafts and food writer from Atlanta, Georgia with a passion for making our planet a healthier, happier, and more compassionate place to live. My mission is to make vegan food and crafts accessible to everyone!. If you like my work, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and .

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