It’s comforting to know there are other options. Whether or not your residence comes with these appliances, has the hook-ups for these appliances, has space for two large machines, or on the off chance your power is out for a few days, be comforted in knowing you don’t have to worry about running out of clean underwear.
At-Home Alternatives
The most leisurely option for washing clothes is to do so in the comfort of your own home, on your own time. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. To make the best of this situation, prepare your living space to handle a load of laundry.
Washing
Before washing clothes without a high-powered washing machine, it is best to prep the clothes first. Shake out each article of clothing, ridding them of as much hair and dirt as possible before the wash. If the clothes are ridden with tough stains, pre-soak them in warm or hot water to break up the stain. After the soak, if stains still persist, scrub the clothes gently with stain remover.
Continue to wash the clothes using detergent sparingly as needed. Using just the right amount of detergent makes rinsing an easier process. Lastly, wring out the clothes as best as you can before laying them out to dry.
If hand-washing is not your ideal situation, there are small, portable options to consider. Several less expensive washers exist, the Wonderwash for example, which still require manual effort to wash the clothes, but allow more clothes to get cleaned in less time than hand-washing.
Drying
Some bathtubs have attachments for a clothes line to hang. Backyards and balconies are also popular options for hang drying clothes, if accessible. Another option is to use a drying rack. One large drying rack can accommodate a fairly large load of laundry. For articles of clothing that need a quicker dry, you can get to work manually drying with a hair blow dryer.
Laundromat Alternative
Many people opt to take their dirty laundry to the laundromat. It is recommended to have a designated “wash day” for those who make the trip across town to the laundromat. This helps the family to prepare their dirty clothes ahead of time, sorting them into lights and darks so they’re ready to go on wash day.
The downfall of laundromats is the inconvenience of going there, possibly waiting for open or properly functioning machines, and then waiting for the duration of the wash and dry cycles to complete. It is not advised to leave clothes unattended for safety reasons, and to ensure nobody else steals your machine while you’re away. If this is your preferred alternative, do yourself a favor and bring a book or some other work to complete while you wait for your clothes to wash and dry.
Think about your current lifestyle and decide which alternative suits you best. Family size, location, and cost will all factor into your decision. Perhaps you will choose to go another route and invest in a laundry pick-up and delivery service. Whatever you choose, remember there are worse things than living without a washer and dryer.