Off-Grid Laundry Learnings

Q: Who says you need electricity to wash and dry your clothes?

A: You don’t, with off-grid laundry supplies from Lehman’s

Because a traditional electric washing machine takes about 20 gallons a load, if water where you live is a precious commodity, doing laundry the old-fashioned way might be your solution.

Here are some top tips to keep your clothes looking and feeling their best, whether you do laundry without electricity by choice or necessity.

Choose your method

You can use a tub with hot soapy water and a mobile washer (which makes YOU the agitator); you can use a wooden washboard for a true retro experience; or the heavy-duty hand washer with the wringer attachment. If you are doing quite a bit of laundry, say for a large family, the heavy-duty hand washer is probably your best bet.

Start with the cleanest laundry

You can reuse the water for several loads if you start with the cleanest items first, perhaps pajamas instead of the jeans you wore to work in the barn.

Make your own laundry soap

Commercially prepared laundry soap often contains a lot of water and you can save a lot of money (paying as little 7 cents a load for soap). Lehman’s has recipes for you.

Invest in a wringer

Your clothes will dry on the line so much faster if you use a wringer to remove excess water.

Harvest the energy of the sun

You know all that lint in the dryer after each load? That’s your clothes falling apart. Rig up a clothes line and dry your clothes in the fresh air. You will also save money on your electric or gas bill as any appliance with a heating element takes a lot of power.

Don’t hang your clothes directly in bright sun though. The intense heat and light could fade your clothes and make them feel stiff.

Learn more

For more off-gird laundry tips, visit blog.lehmans.com and enter “washer” in the search terms.

Wash-day accessories: lehmans.com/category/washers_and_wash_day_accessories

Laundry soap: lehmans.com/product/homemade-laundry-soap-starter-set/

Laundry equipment: lehmans.com/category/clothesline_and_clothesline_accessories