OUR WASHER BROKE!

Broken Washer!

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A few months ago, our washer began making the most awful sound. I don't know if I can even describe it expect that is was loud enough that I was afraid to wash our laundry. Well, it turns out that the suspension rods had worn out. Luckily you can order replacements. So a week later we received our replacement suspension rods and were back up in working order.  I don't know about you, but I hate it when our laundry gets backed up. I'm the one person in our family who takes care of washing, drying, and folding our laundry regularly. So what was I to do when the washing machine is broken and I have an affinity for anything done the old way? Well, wash the laundry by hand of course! 

Unfortunately, I don't have a washboard and all my wooden buckets have a hole in them (sarcasm). It was summer and I didn't feel like starting a fire to heat the cauldron. The next best thing I had wash my bathtub and hands. I was able to use the lye soap I made last year to get the clothes squeaky clean. 

In case you need a tutorial, here you go:

Fill the tub with warm/warm-hot water. You can add laundry detergent at this time. Separate clothes into light and dark piles while the tub fills with water. Toss one of the piles in hot water bath. If you have clothes with stains use some soap or stain remover and work it into the stains to get them out. 

Now for the hard part, get out your guns and use your hands and arms like the agitator of your washing machine. This is extra terrible if is hot outside and you are like me and keep the thermostat at 80 degrees in the summer.  When your arms are burning and you are sweating like a hog, you're time to rinse out your clothes. 

Oh yes! You have more to do! Now, drain your tub and while you are doing that take your clothes, one by one and rinse them out. Once they are all rinsed out and soaking wet, ring them out. You can do this by twisting or squishing them. Don't believe for a second that your clothes will be anywhere close to dry. 

You'll have to put them in the dryer or out on the line. In my own opinion it is quicker to toss your clothes in the dryer although I did not try putting them outside. I did however, put my clothes in the dryer with about 6 dryer balls. I purchased these from Amazon, Wool Dryer Balls by Smart Sheep. They definitely help speed up the drying process. I actually use these with every dryer load and it cuts the time down significantly. 

After about 6 loads of laundry by hand you'll have tired arms and clean clothes. If you are lucky the suspension rods will arrive the day after you catch up on the laundry. Have fun!