Portable Washing Machine on the truck

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by redoctober83, Aug 22, 2016.

  1. redoctober83

    redoctober83 Road Train Member

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    Hey everyone! So, a few weeks ago someone posted a youtube video of a prototype foot action washing machine. Now it was posted a joke for something drivers who have an automatic can use their left foot for. Well it got me thinking about actually doing laundry on the truck and if it was feasible. I did some research and found this portable washing machine on amazon and thought I would give it a try, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UZRV9MG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .

    We all know how expensive it is to do laundry at the truckstops or laundromats that we can fit a truck into, for $110 I purchased this portable washer to use on the truck and found it to be pretty easy to use. It uses 240 watts so a simple 400 watt inverter would work and it only takes 5 gallons of water to washer and 5 gallons of water to rinse. I just hang dry the clothes in the truck when I am done. With the spin dryer that the unit has, everything was dry within 5 hours. A couple days ago I even did my twin sheets and they were ready to go back on the bed within 5 hours.

    So the other night I recorded a youtube video showing how the setup works in my truck. I figure if I can recoup the cost of this washer by not having to use the washing machines at the truck stops within a few months. Average cost of a single load of laundry at a truck stop is $5.00 ($2.50 to wash, $2.50 to dry). A week's worth of laundry for me was 3-4 loads; sheets as one load, towels, shorts and pants as another, and of course shirts, underwear and socks as another load. That's $15-20 a week or $60-$80 a month!!! By saving that money, I'll recover the cost of this portable washer in less than 3 months. If the washer only lasts a year, I'll be saving at least $600 a year after the initial cost of the washer. That's a pretty good savings!

    Anyways, here is the video of me showing how it works in my truck.

     
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  3. G13Tomcat

    G13Tomcat Road Train Member

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    That is hellaciously AWESOME~~~!!
    If you'd've said 'where' in Ohio, one of us Buckeyes would've bought ya dinner, bro!!
     
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  4. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    Just take a wash board into the shower and do it each time you take a shower. One set of clothing won't take long.

    I'm halfway serious. Thoes HE washers in the truck stops couldn't clean a cat.
     
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  5. redoctober83

    redoctober83 Road Train Member

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    Thanks. LIke I said, it's kind of crazy, but works for me. Plus I know what was has been in the washer before me. Sometimes the washers at the truck stop looks scary!

    Yeah, I thought about that. I have washed some clothes in the shower with me before. Usually the clothes I had just finished working out in since I didn't want them to stink after sweating in them.
     
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  6. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Cute little thing but how do You dry your clothes?
     
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  7. redoctober83

    redoctober83 Road Train Member

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    With a match :biggrin_25523: I think I mention in the video that I hang dry everything
     
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  8. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    RV's have had tiny washer/dryers for years. But they have to have a drain and adequate venting for the dryer operation and power. Plus, they can do such small loads, I find them not practical for anyone. Plus, the dryer takes forever.
     
  9. redoctober83

    redoctober83 Road Train Member

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    Yeah, that's why I didn't go with one of those units. This machine has only the wash section and a spinner to spin the water out of the clothes, which gets the clothes pretty dry and then I just hang them up. After about 4-5 hours it's all nice and dry :)
     
  10. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    That takes forever to dry plus the clothes are stiff.For myself it's 1 load a week and two every other week 28th bedding..Unless I have alot of whites I'll wash clothes together otherwise it's wasting water.But I use more then just detergent so all my clothes are nice and clean.
     
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  11. G13Tomcat

    G13Tomcat Road Train Member

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    ^^^ @pattyj . . . IN previous threads you said stiff was good??? Clothing of course, ... hehe....
     
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