Well folks since I've got bad knees building one of JW's Bike-O-Warshers is out and I've been thinking about this idea for a good while. I call it the Wind-O-Warsher because the wind should do most of the work. Of course there are probably hundreds of ways a person could use the wind to wash clothes, but this is just one of mine. It should work like this. A large round plastic tote of some sort mounted on top of an automotive coil spring with an arm going up with sails on it so that no matter which way the wind is blowing it should rock the tote back and forth and while doing that agitating the clothes.
Of course the clothes might need rinsed when you use it, but I don't always do that when I wash in one of the tubs, but a person could plant a row of plants under a clothes line and when you take the clothes out of the wash cycle hang them on the line to water the plants as they drip almost dry. Have a plug in the tote where the water left in it can be run to the same row of plants before filling the Wind-O-Warsher with clean water for the rinse. Once done do the same with that water.
It would all depend on the size and strength of the coil spring, the amount of water in the tote, the sail size and the speed of wind gusts as to how much agitation occurred.
What Ya think?
If the wind is blowing the same direction, which it does some time, wouldn't it just lean the tub to one side and keep it there?
ReplyDeleteDD, Its real unlikely around here that there won't be a lot of gusts. I'd imagine the car coil spring wouldn't let it even come close to laying over. If it will hold up the corner of a car then the weight of 4 or 5 gallons of water sure won't be enough to make it lay over even with pretty high wind.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Even if you had to wash just a few clothes at a time, no biggy. I love the idea of the clothes line with plants underneath.
ReplyDeleteI bet the dry heat and winds there would dry the clothes pretty quick.
Terry I came up with that idea because without having a wringer to wring the clothes out a lot of water runs off of them when I wash them in a tote. I just figured why not put that water that would be lost to good use.
ReplyDeleteYes the wind and usual lack of humidity dries clothes real fast. Its usually best not to spare the clothes pins though because with the whirlwinds and high gusts you may be chasing down your clothes. Been there and done that a couple of times before I learned.
Sounds real good if you put the end of an axle in the spring and bolt the tub to the hub it would spin back and forth with the rocking action but you might need a lid if you do that..Good Luck..
ReplyDeleteP.S. with a the free donkeys running around how come no one uses the old animal tread washers?
I have a big spring I'll donate.
ReplyDeleteRicky, The wind changes directions here at the drop of a hat. I thought about something like you're talking about, but decided the simpler the better. When I've washed clothes in one of the totes before I let them soak for about a half a day and every time I went out side or got near it I'd rock the tote a few times and they came out ok. With this they should be agitated a heck of a lot more.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the animal tread washer. I guess wind or pedal power sounds more high tech?
Frann if you have 2 I'll build you one to. (If it works like I think it will.
I will bring an assortment today.
ReplyDeleteNote to self: Don't spare clothes pins!
ReplyDeleteAnother method that is easy on the knees is to get a small plastic garbage can with lid. Put water, clothes and soap into can. Bungie the lid down and place in your vehicle. Drive to the Field Lab and back and the clothes will have seen plenty of agitation and be ready to rinse and hung up to dry.
ReplyDeleteFD, doubt that I'd have to go to the Field Lab. About one trip down my road and back should to it (If the clothes didn't get worn out on the trip)
ReplyDelete