You don’t absolutely need access to a washing machine to get clean, sweet-smelling clothes. While it takes a bit of work, bucket washing doesn’t require electricity, so it’s a good choice for outdoor enthusiasts or hard-core environmentalists. It’s also a good skill to have if the power where you live is unreliable, if you just have a few things to do, or if you’re flat broke, need clean clothes for work, and you’ve already looked under the couch cushions for quarters.
You will need
- Two large, clean buckets (if you only have one, see the Tips section)
- Something to use as an agitator (such as a clean unused plunger, an old sponge-style mop with the sponge part removed, or even a broom handle)
- Laundry detergent (in a pinch, you can use a small amount of shampoo or hand soap)
- Fabric softener (optional)
- Teaspoon measuring spoon (a standard silverware spoon works too)
- Somewhere to hang your clothes where dripping won’t be a problem (I just use the shower curtain rod, but if you have access to a clothesline, by all means use that)
Start by putting three to five adult-sized garments or five to 10 underthings in one of your buckets (if you have two buckets of uneven sizes, use the larger one) and fill the bucket about halfway full with water. Add a teaspoon or silverware spoonful of laundry detergent and allow your clothes to soak for at least an hour.
Insert your agitator and agitate your clothes for about five minutes. For a plunger or mop, use and up-and-down motion. If using a broom handle, stir the clothes. To remove any visible stains, rub the garment together with your hands (you can also gently brush with a clean scrub brush or old toothbrush).
Drain the soapy water and refill the bucket with clean water. Add 1 teaspoon or one silverware spoon full of fabric softener. Transfer the clothes to the second bucket and agitate for another five minutes.
Fill the other bucket with clean water. Remove the garments from the fabric softener mix and, one at a time, swirl them in the clean water to rinse them clean. For larger garments, dunk them up and down a few times. You may need to change the water once or twice.
Wring out your clothes by hand and hang them up to dry. They will take several hours to dry if you’re drying them inside or live in a humid climate. I usually let them hang overnight.
TIPS:
If you are washing underwear or anything with bodily fluids on it, add a splash of white vinegar when you add the detergent. The vinegar will work as a natural disinfectant.
If you only have one bucket, just remove the clothes after you use fabric softener and rinse it out, then refill it with clean water and use it as the “rinse” bucket. If you’re using your tub or shower, you can just put your clothes on the tile or tub bottom, but if you’re camping, you’ll need to find somewhere to put the wet clothes where they won’t get dirty.
If you find your clothes get wrinkled after hang-drying, spritz them with a fine mist, using a small amount of plain water from a spray bottle. Then run your hand over the garment. This will remove the wrinkles.
