Camping washing machines - how good are they

Tammygirl
Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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edited June 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

I've been looking at various types that are out there and wondered how good are the spinners?  I don't have any problems with hand washing when away for a long time but the wringing out of clothes is not doing the clothes any good, T shirts and other items
are getting pulled out of shape and wondered if it might be worth getting one of these machines. I've seen twin tubs and single tubs that wash then spin afterwards. I know there are a few on CT that have machines and wondered if they could give me a bit of
advice of which is the best tyoe to go for. Many thanks in anticipation.

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  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #2

    TG, our Caravan twin tub washing machine is a Leisurewise, which we got through E-Bay, and cost about £90. It has a 3.5kg wash & 2.5kg spin. We can easily wash & spin a duvet cover in it and clothes come out much drier than one can get by wringing. We use
    ours a couple of times each week we're away, so I would guess that it's saved us money before a yrs out compared to using a site's facilities. We wouldn't be without ours now. Any other info you want just let me know.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #3

    Many thanks NTH, just the type of info I'm looking for, nice to know you can fit in a duvet cover. Do you by any chance know anything about the single tub versions, I'm not sure how they would spin, I've looked at various ad's but its not that clear.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #4

    Where do you store/ carry such big bit of kit?

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited July 2016 #5

    Where do you store/ carry such big bit of kit?

    Write your comments here...We dont have one but if we did in the caravan it would be the shower in the M/H the garage and from what I have seen in the shops they are not that big.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #6

    OK thanks, I have not actually seen one, just pictures.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #7

    Still thinking about getting one just not sure if I can be bothered with all the faff of filling emptying etc. its ok if you have water on the pitch or if you can take it to the washroom and plug it in (saw a Dutch lady do this in Spain) but if the water
    tap is a long way off and there isn't a drain near by, its a lot of carrying.  I would really be quite happy with just the spinner part, the washing by hand doesn't bother me as things arn't dirty so need very little in the way of washing, its the wringing
    out it ruins clothes.  I store it in the shower when not in use/travelling.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2016 #8
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  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #9

    Where do you store/ carry such big bit of kit?

    It sits on the back seat of of our tow car. As there are only 2 of us there's sufficient room for it alongside all our hiking & cycling gear and rucksacks. We just stick it in the caravan when we go out for the day.

    Dimensions:- 615mm (W) x 420mm (D) x 575mm (H)

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #10

    Still thinking about getting one just not sure if I can be bothered with all the faff of filling emptying etc. its ok if you have water on the pitch or if you can take it to the washroom and plug it in (saw a Dutch lady do this in Spain) but if the water
    tap is a long way off and there isn't a drain near by, its a lot of carrying.  I would really be quite happy with just the spinner part, the washing by hand doesn't bother me as things arn't dirty so need very little in the way of washing, its the wringing
    out it ruins clothes.  I store it in the shower when not in use/travelling.

    Have just looked on e-Bay & there's a single tub washer/spindryer that holds 3 Kg for £65 but don't know how good they are. see here:-http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORTABLE-230V-MINI-WASHING-MACHINE-IDEAL-FOR-CARAVAN-MOTORHOMES-SPIN-DRYER-/360545415804?hash=item53f22e727c:g:KkEAAOSwEeFVBBlk

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #11

    We have one similar to Nellie's but ours only takes a smaller wash load, so for bath towels, double duvet cover and my jeans, we need to use a site machine.

    The spinner is very good, OD agrees that hand wringing ruins the clothes.

    She washes a few loads, starting with the "whites" in the same water (as you say, nothing is that dirty), adding more wash liquid and hot water as required. 

    Unless we are on a serviced pitch, I take the washed clothes to the laundry room and rinse them, then OH spins them in our machine.  Saves transporting a lot of water.

    We put the machine in our shower room and lay the drain pipe into the shower.  The shower hose is ideal for filling the machine.

    The machine is not that heavy so we carry ours under our fixed double bed.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #12

    Thanks KJ,AD,NTH very helpful. NTH the single tub machine is the one I was looking at but on reflection i  think it will be a pain as you will have to take the clothes out of the washer, pump out the water then put in the spinner basket to spin the clothes.
    I think if I go for one it will be a twin tub, there are a few to choose from the sizes are all pretty much simlar.  

    AD agree trying to get the use of a washing machine on some sites can be a problem, so much so that this year i did the bedding/towels by hand onceSurprised

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #13

    Thanks everyone, I've gone and ordered one off . . . y that well known site £78 Smile can't wait to try it out.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #14

    Thanks everyone, I've gone and ordered one off . . . y that well known site £78 Smile can't wait to try it out.

    You certainly won't regret it, in the long run. Tips- we fill the washer with 2 buckets of cold water and a basin of hot, using Tesco's liquid wash. Short spin after wash to get rid of soapy water before rinse in clean cold water, and then final spin. I'm
    sure you'll soon work out the best way foryourself.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #15

    Thanks everyone, I've gone and ordered one off . . . y that well known site £78 Smile can't wait to try it out.

    You certainly won't regret it, in the long run. Tips- we fill the washer with 2 buckets of cold water and a basin of hot, using Tesco's liquid wash. Short spin after wash to get rid of soapy water before rinse in clean cold water, and then final spin. I'm
    sure you'll soon work out the best way foryourself.

    Cheers, will have a few plays with it at home before taking it away, used to have a twintub when we first got married so I'm sure I'll soon get into the swing of it.Smile

  • Rayrowe35
    Rayrowe35 Forum Participant Posts: 112
    edited July 2016 #16

    I  have a mini portable from leisure direct via Amazon. It is a single tub with spin function. It washes very well, but the spin function is not much good. The capacity is low, the clothes retain too much water and it overheats. So for washing only a single
    tub is fine, if you need to spin, look for something better.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #17

    Took delivery this afternoon of my new toy (twin tub) I have already tried it out and it gets a huge seal of approval from me Smile I did 2 loads
    1 each of lights and darks, about the weight that I would do every 3 or 4 days by hand when away on site. Probably took me about the same time as by hand but oh what a differance with the spinner. The machine is very quiet spinner too. The machine is a little
    bigger than I thought but will still fit comfortably in the bathroom of the van. One very happy bunny, can't wait to go away again nowLaughing

    A big thank you to all who posted their comments and helped me to decide, if anyone else is thinking of getting one I can recommend them the spinner is great.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #18

    Took delivery this afternoon of my new toy (twin tub) I have already tried it out and it gets a huge seal of approval from me Smile I did 2 loads
    1 each of lights and darks, about the weight that I would do every 3 or 4 days by hand when away on site. Probably took me about the same time as by hand but oh what a differance with the spinner. The machine is very quiet spinner too. The machine is a little
    bigger than I thought but will still fit comfortably in the bathroom of the van. One very happy bunny, can't wait to go away again nowLaughing

    A big thank you to all who posted their comments and helped me to decide, if anyone else is thinking of getting one I can recommend them the spinner is great.

    Glad that it lived up to it's expectations. We certainly wouldn't go away for the length of time that we do without taking ours with us.

     

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #19

    Took delivery this afternoon of my new toy (twin tub) I have already tried it out and it gets a huge seal of approval from me Smile I did 2 loads
    1 each of lights and darks, about the weight that I would do every 3 or 4 days by hand when away on site. Probably took me about the same time as by hand but oh what a differance with the spinner. The machine is very quiet spinner too. The machine is a little
    bigger than I thought but will still fit comfortably in the bathroom of the van. One very happy bunny, can't wait to go away again nowLaughing

    A big thank you to all who posted their comments and helped me to decide, if anyone else is thinking of getting one I can recommend them the spinner is great.

    Glad that it lived up to it's expectations. We certainly wouldn't go away for the length of time that we do without taking ours with us.

     

    Laughing neither will we nowWink

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #20

    I asked about these a few months ago, but was a bit undecided Undecided  Based on your comments, I think I'll order one. Just one question
    ..... how easy are they to empty?  

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2016 #21
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  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #22

    Thanks David Smile  I was thinking of using it on a table in the awning, so getting a bucket under it wouldn't be a problem.

  • Rayrowe35
    Rayrowe35 Forum Participant Posts: 112
    edited July 2016 #23

    I stand mine on the shower tray and connect it to the shower tap via a hose and connector. It drains into the tray and then to the wastemaster.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #24

    We use ours in our toilet compartment stood on our caravan step, and drain it into the shower drain and then into the wastemaster. 

    LR I think that the table might be a bit high for both loading with water and for moving heavy wet washing in and out, unless of course the table is quite low.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #25

    Thanks for the advice Ray & nellie Smile  Sounds like the best option will be to use it in the washroom and drain into the shower then.  It's
    due to be delivered on Thursday, so plenty of time to have a play with it before our next trip.  Thanks again.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #26

    We started out using ours in the awning on a low table and draining into the wastemaster, but now we do like Nellie, in the washroom on a low step stool, fill using shower hose, drain into shower tray.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #27

    Thanks Kje Smile  That sounds to be the easiest way of filling and draining.  We already have a low step stool, so will be sure to take it.  I'd
    be interested to know how much water (approx) it takes per wash/rinse?

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #28

    I think ours takes 17litres for a full wash load.....just to wash.

    We rarely rinse in the machine if doing a larger wash as you would then need another 2 fills to rinse.  These machines are best used on a serviced pitch if you want to do that.

    There is also stuff you can use that means you do not need to rinse much, or even at all.

    What OH does is to start with the "whites", spin after washing to remove as much "soap" as possible, then I take the clothes to the laundry room to hand rinse.

    Meantime she tops up the water (which is not that dirty), adds a drop more washing liquid, and puts in the next load.  The darkest clothes are done last.

    When I have rinsed a load she then spins them while the next lot are washing.

    We have the Alde heating, so set the water to boost and sometimes use gas too if we want a faster heat.

    My other task is to keep the water topped up and stop the waste overflowing.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #29

    Thanks Kje.  Could be interesting as the first proper trial for the machine will be on a CL with no laundry room (which is part of the reason for buying the machine) and no fully serviced pitches.  

    We do have 2 Aquarolls (40lt) so should be okay for water, but OH may have to do a few trips with the Wastemaster Laughing

    We also have Alde heating, so will set the water to boost setting.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #30

    LR, we use 2 buckets full of cold water and a basin of hot for the wash, using a cap full of Tesco's cheapo bio liquid. Wash for 6-7 mins. Drain then a short spin to clear washing of washing water. Then rinse with another 2 buckets of cold water and a cap
    of fabric conditioner, for 3-5 mins, topping up if necessary, drain again and then full spin for about 6 mins. Times suit us but you might want to try different ones. Best of luck with your washer.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited July 2016 #31

    Thanks nellie Smile  We'll try that.  I suppose it'll all be a bit of trial and error at first.

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