DIY Cheap Washing Machine

How many times have you been on the road, without anywhere to do laundry? Whether it’s homesteading, camping, a road trip or some other adventure, nobody wants to be caught wearing dirty clothes.

Laundromats can be expensive and difficult to find, especially if you are driving through the country. Many hotels don’t offer laundry services unless you are willing to pay an arm and a leg. If you live off-grid or are worried about your energy consumption, maybe a traditional laundry machine won’t work for you.

Luckily, I’ve got a DIY project to solve this problem. It’s cheap and easy to make a portable washing machine to use off grid or bring on the go. In fact, I was able to purchase the supplies (not including the drill and drill bits) for less than $20!

With a few basic items, that you may even have lying around, you won’t have to worry about being caught without clean clothes again.

                                Supplies

2 x 5-gallon buckets
1 x lid that fits the 5-gallon bucket
1 x plunger, 1 x drill, 1 x drill bit (I used 1/8” but you can use larger)1 x hole saw bit (1 1/2”)

Step 1

First, you’ll need to choose one bucket to the be the inner “basket” for your clothes. Use the drill bit to carefully drill holes into the side of the bucket. Stabilize the bucket to prevent it from slipping while you are drilling

Make sure that the holes are not too close together so that you can maintain the structural integrity of the bucket. You also don’t want the holes too far apart. The holes are where the water will drain after you have washed the clothes. If you don’t have enough holes for the water to drain out, it might take a while.

Don’t forget to drill holes into the bottom of the bucket, too!

Step 2

While you still have the drill bit attached, drill several holes in the head of the plunger. Like the bucket, you want enough holes so that water can move through the plunger but not too many holes so that it loses its strength.

The holes allow a route for the soap and water to escape from the plunger’s suction, so that the water becomes soapy. It basically replaces the agitator in a normal washing machine.

Step 3

Use the hole saw bit to make a hole in the center of the top of the bucket lid. The arm of the plunger will stick out through this hole so that you can easily access it. Make sure it is centered and not off to the side, or this might affect the efficacy of the washing machine.

Be very careful to stabilize the lid before you drill. The hole saw works quickly but won’t grip the plastic lid unless you use enough pressure. You don’t want it to slip and get injured.

Step 4

Place your dirty clothes into the “basket” bucket with the holes, and then put the “basket” bucket into the second bucket that is intact. In my case that is the red bucket. Fill a little less than halfway with water and add in powdered laundry detergent. You should use biodegradable soap since the water will be running off into the environment.

For this example, I comfortably washed 1x t-shirt, 1x pair of men’s boxers, 1x pair of socks, and 2x dish rags. I could have fit more items in the washing machine, but the clothes were dirty, so I wanted them to get some extra attention.

Step 5

Put the plunger in the “basket” bucket on top of the clothes and then the arm of the plunger through the lid. Close the lid securely so that water and suds do not escape.

Step 6

Plunge, plunge, plunge! Use the plunger exactly how you would on a toilet. The plunger will work as an agitator and the water will soon begin to get soapy. I recommend plunging for at least 5 minutes, but 10 minutes may be necessary if your clothes have stains or are particularly dirty.

Step 7

Open the laundry machine and take the “basket” bucket out of the second bucket. Let the water drain. Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear and garments are no longer soapy.

You can have a helper hold the bucket while you rinse the clothes, or you can set it on the ground. You
can also hang the bucket to make it easier.

Step 8

Reverse the buckets so that the second bucket is inside of the “basket” bucket. Sit on top of the bucket and use the pressure to squeeze out extra water from your clothes. This pressure is in lieu of a spin cycle but works just as well!

Step 9

Remove freshly cleaned clothes and let them air dry!

Helpful Tips & Suggestions

This contraption really works, and my clothes came out looking and smelling great. I don’t mind sitting on the bucket, but you can always add a “spin cycle” to drain extra water if you prefer. To do this, tie up your “basket” bucket to a tree and spin it quickly so that the water runs out.

Depending on the plunger that you purchase for this project, you may need a different size hole saw bit. I’ve found that 1 ½ inch is large enough to fit most plungers without any issues, but there may be an exception out there. If you are worried about it, you can always size up. Alternatively, if you don’t have a hole saw bit, you can poke a hole through the plastic lid by some other means. All you need is for the plunger handle to fit out the top, it doesn’t have to look pretty.

Don’t overfill your bucket! This project is a great solution for a cheap and easy laundry machine that you can bring on the go, but it isn’t indestructible. If you over fill the “basket” bucket your clothes may not get as clean, and it might over-flow with suds.

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DIY Rainwater Collection System

Start Collecting rainwater today!

Rainwater collection is a great way to reduce your water usage. Did you know the average person wastes about 30 gallons of water per day?! 

Just imagine if you could save at least a third of your water usage. Well, you can!

A rainwater collection system is a really great way to recycle water during those hot summer months when water conservation is at its most necessary!

However, exercise caution. Some states enforce strict rainwater harvesting regulations. In Colorado, for example, collecting rainwater is illegal, as it is public property and belongs to the Colorado water table. 

Make sure that you are not violating any laws by doing so...

Those who collect this water are diminishing the supply for agriculture. See more about rainwater regulations here. Rainwater collection has been practiced for centuries.

The growing movement for DIY water conservation only confirms our need to recycle our natural resources and replenish our own depleting supply.

This step-by-step tutorial will get you started on your DIY rainwater collection system: Materials:

• Paint strainer
• 5-gallon bucket
• 55-gallon drum with lid
• Downspout fittings
• Gutter strainer
• Cinder blocks (3)
• 3/4″ spigot with 1/4″ turn ball valve
• Permanent black marker
• Jigsaw
• Power drill with 7/8″ spade bit
• Half-round bastard file Utility knife
• 1 1’4″ galvanized wood screws

With the 7/8″ spade bit, drill a starter hole in the side of the 5 gallon bucket.

Use your jigsaw to cut around the bucket.

Using your permanent marker, trace the top of the 5 gallon bucket on top of the 55 gallon drum.

Just like you did with the top of the 5 gallon bucket, drill a hole in the top of the drum with your 7/8″ spade bit to get you started. Following the guideline you created with the permanent marker, cut out the circle with the jig saw. The top of the 5 gallon bucket should fit snug in the opening of the 55 gallon drum.

Drill a hole at the bottom side of the drum with the 7/8″ spade bit.

File down the inside of the hole with your half-round bastard file.

Screw in your 3/4″ spigot until it fits securely. It may need to be filed a little more to fit just right.

Prop the cinder blocks upright in a triangle manner next to the house. Place your drum on top of the cinder blocks.

Using the existing downspout from your gutters, add an extension to run down into the rainwater collection.

Measure and mark where you need to cut the fitting so that the end will run into the top of your collection barrel.

Cut the extension with a utility knife and fit to existing downspout.

Use the 7/8″ spade bit to drill starter holes.

Cut the remainder of your lid with the jigsaw.

Place the lid back on top of the bucket to check for a proper fit.

Standing water can be a haven for mosquitoes, so we want to keep them out of the rain barrel.

Tie a knot in the paint strainer and secure to the top of the bucket.

Place a gutter strainer in the opening of the gutter on the roof. This will keep large debris from making its way down the fittings and potentially clogging the gutters.

This rainwater collection system will be up and running in no time. Even your little ones will enjoy it!

OK now it's up to you to start your own system there is no right or wrong just that you get started today. 

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10 Tips For Rainwater Harvesting

So you decided to collect your rainwater now you need to  decide what you your system is used for if you are prepping for the collapse of the world or if you are using this to leave a lighter footprint here are some tips that can help you with your rainwater collection efforts in no particular order.

Tip 1 Planning... know your roof square footage look at where your gutters are going to be. Calculate the amount of rainfall in your area. How much your budget is. You will be amazed how much you can get into when you start collection process.

Tip 2  You might want to check the regulations it is not illegal in your state or county just look up online you will see what I mean here

Tip 3 The size of your system how big you need? Its always easy to add rather then take away so when creating your system make it easy to add additional containers

Tip 4 Flow rate the standard gutters which fit into nicely into 2 inch pvc pipe are adequate for most think of the volume of water you get during your "wet season".

Tip 5  Filter at the gutter level. Keep the sediment and a solution for screening the more screens you have the less you have to worry about debris into your first flow catchment system.

Tip 6  Have a drain on the lowest part of the system. If you do have pipes that go underground have a way to get the water completely out of the system so there is no standing water in the system to keep bugs from breeding in the standing water or from freezing and cracking your pipes if you are in a cold climate.

Tip 7 Tanks should be sealed whenever possible and vented and be sure to put a screens on all vents.

Tip 8 Have some form of a overflow and then make sure that you use this for the best potential possible. Use it for a garden or fruit trees look into permaculture and keep the water from just spilling out over the top and that it will not erode any surrounding soil

Tip 9 Output is for the end user where are you going to need the water to go to are you going to use it strictly for drinking or irrigation of crops or vegetables and where are you going to have water spigots at? See step 1 PLAN YOUR SYTEM think in mind for expansion

Tip 10  Built to Last This is the most important thing you can be building when it come to possibly your future so think long term

Bonus Tip  have a way to fill your system with a water truck or city water...remember do not mix rainwater with city water results at the same time the results will not be good.

Did any of these tips help be sure to leave a comment below and let me know

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