A non-electric, manual washing machine is an incredible way to do your laundry off the grid. The market has a handful of wonderful washers and dryers that function on manual power.
They are generally known as “alternative washing machines,” and here is our list of the best such systems to do your laundry in an off-grid situation.
These off-grid washers feature one or another alternative mechanism for their function. Specifically, there are some models that run on hand-crank levers and some with foot pedals.
The common thing, however, is that all the models depend on some sort of alternative energy source, not traditional electricity.
Thus, you can take an alternative washer anywhere on your trips and travels as well as use it for washing in an emergency or off-grid situation. Of course, a non-electric washing machine is a simple way to do your laundry. You can install it anywhere quickly.
Off-grid washers are compact and sleek in design so that you can easily manage them in all your off-grid living spaces, whether it is a camping tent, campervan, RV, remote cabin, cottage, and more. Let us have a look at the best alternative, non-electric, off-grid washers, and dryers.
THE BEST TWO ALTERNATIVE WASHERS AT A GLANCE
Laundry POD Washing Machine
 |
|
Lavario Portable Washing Machine
|
|
|
Table of Contents
The Best Alternative Washing Machines
As you see, these alternative washing machines are obviously good for portable and off-grid applications only. Travelers, campers, and singles can only think of such a machine because it can handle a limited load of garments at a time.
Whatever the case, the highlight is that non-electric washing machines don’t need electricity. They are fully working on alternative sources of power to clean your necessary robes off the grid. Stay tuned for our list of the best alternative washing machines below.
1. The Laundry Alternative Wonder Wash
It is one of the most popular alternative washing machines on the market. The Laundry Alternative Wonder Wash is a compact hand-crank machine that can clean 5 pounds of your clothes in a matter of time. As you can see in the photo, it has a handy, patent-pending E-Z lid lever, which you can easily rotate to wash clothes.
It is an ideal choice for cleaning silk, woolen, and other garments. You can set it up in small living spaces like an RV, apartment, cabin, or boat. And make sure you have cleaner clothes, diapers, and hand washables right anywhere you go. Check out its price at the link below.
Why Should You Buy
|
Wonder Wash handles your clothes very gently. Different from the regular electric washers, it doesn’t have an agitator, so it keeps cleaning your garments so softly. Likewise, it has no moving parts inside, as well as a motor. That will certainly make the washer last longer and serve you best.
Above all, the alternative laundry machine is quite affordable for anybody who wishes to buy a portable and non-electric washing machine. Yes, thanks to its lightweight, compact, and handy design, you can take the washer anywhere hassle-free and enjoy washing at no cost at all.
2. Drumi Non-Electric Washing Machine
Yirego Drumi is probably the most popular alternative washing machine on the market. Different from the above models, it is a foot-powered machine, which needs no power for operation and also consumes less water for washing.
Drumi hit the market via a highly successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo in 2016.
The project could attract over 1,000 backers with an investment of $300,000, making the award-winning product a reality. As of now, Drumi is available for sale on Amazon, and it has a lot of takers across the world.
Why Should You Buy
|
This sophisticated foot-powered washer is made to clean 2kg of lightly soiled garments every day. It will take only five minutes to finish a load. So, it becomes a nice washer for various off-grid living spaces, such as RVs, campervans, cottages, cabins, and more.
It is priced a bit higher than the above non-electric washing machines, though. It has a rugged and durable pedal that features textures to let you pedal it with a grip. It has a very small and compact design, as well. You can easily store it in your car’s trunk and have a washing machine right there.
3. Avalon Bay EcoWash Portable Washing Machine
It is almost identical to the above WonderWash model. Perhaps a single OEM may have built it for both brands. Anyway, the EcoWash hand-crank washing machine is yet another cool option for travelers and singles. The cleaning technology of EcoWash lets you do the laundry gently in a matter of time, anywhere.
Yes, you can carry the washer on your trips and keep your clothes neat and clean, thanks to its smart technology. Simply turning the lever will cause it to function identically to the preceding model. Follow the link below to check out its latest price.
Why Should You Buy
|
It is, in fact, a great money saver when compared to regular electric washers. See, it costs you no electricity, and its innovative method of washing also saves a good amount of water and detergent. Moreover, the machine’s biggest advantage is that it is very compact.
Hence, it works quite nicely in small living spaces such as RVs, boats, campers, etc. Indeed, there are a good number of takers for EcoWash on all leading retail sites. Most of them are certainly satisfied with how it works for cleaning their laundry off the grid.
4. Laundry POD Washing Machine
Here is another cool pick on our list of off-grid washing machines. It is a portable washer designed to wash and drain smaller loads of laundry with less water and zero electricity. Well, it functions on a manual spinning system, which requires you to rotate a lever on top of the bucket-like portable washer.
The Laundry POD is a compact and portable washer. But it can stand up to tough washing challenges, especially during an outing or in a camp tent, flat, or apartment. Yes, it is ideal for washing your minimal garments in dorms, camping tents, and more.
Why Should You Buy
|
In total, the Laundry POD is a simple and easy-to-use spinning dryer for both indoors and outdoors. It can wash your clothes in just 10 minutes. You just need to fill it with six liters of water and 1.5 teaspoons of detergent to start the action.
The washer has a size of 14.45 x 14.02 x 13.55 inches. The brand sells it in multiple bundles of different units.
5. Lavario Portable Washing Machine
The next is a hand-powered off-grid washer from the brand Lavario. However, different from the above hand-crank washers, it has a different functionality. It highlights a piston and cylinder design to make use of your hand power for washing.
The piston is a plastic basket to load the clothes. It features a durable and solid handle.
You can move the piston up and down in the cylindrical bucket that holds the water and detergent. Fine, the up-and-down motion generates a continuous flow of water through your garments. The result is that you get all the germs and dirt out of your clothes.
Why Should You Buy
|
Its maker has introduced it as the safest way to clean dresses compared to other off-grid washing machines as well as conventional washers. The simple up-and-down motion is no longer going to damage your garments.
You get Lavario in a highly compact and lightweight design. It can clean your clothes in 20 minutes. And its handy and easy-to-use design makes it a perfect choice for camping, dorms, RVs, and more. The USA-made washer has better durability.
6. Aosgya Portable Washing Machine
The next item on our list of the best alternative washing machines is a mini or compact model. Well, the 1 kg washer is a hand-crank one. It is made to consume a limited amount of water and detergent to neatly clean your clothes up to 1 kg on your off-grid trips.
It comes in two parts: a rotatable washer basket and a strong base. You need to fill the basket with the dresses and crank it on its built-in lever, making it rotate on the base. The result is that you get the dresses inside mixed up with the detergent for washing.
Why Should You Buy
|
Interestingly, the unique design of the non-electric washing machines lets you wash your dresses without much tear or wear. It has no agitators or any other protruding components as you see with conventional washing machines.
Moreover, it is an ideal pick for all your off-grid washing needs. Its lightweight and ultraportable profile make it suitable for camping, RVs, trailers, and other outdoor activities.
7. MyPortaWash Non-Electric Washing Machine
Here is a simple foot-powered washer. It works on an easy technology that needs your foot to push down on a pedal to make an impact inside the washer bucket. You can load your dresses, water, and detergent in the bucket, which features a small agitator for washing.
As you see, it is an ideal product for small apartments, camping tents, hotel rooms, boats, and more. The washer is also perfect for washing a variety of clothing items like silk, wool, beach clothes, and more. It comes in a very stylish blue and white shade.
Why Should You Buy
|
As you can see, it is a very compact and durable washer. You can use it to clean your essential dresses during camping, RVing trips, or other outdoor events. It is quite easy to operate and handle, and it is certainly one of the top-selling alternatives to a washing machine.
8. Xedragony Portable Stacked Washer and Dryer
It is another simple, bucket-like, non-electric washing machine plus a dryer. This is a hand-powered solution. It comes with two rotatable handles; one for washing and the other for drying the clothes. To switch between them, you just need to change the pulsator.
The product is also very compact and highly portable. With just 13.5 inches in height and diameter, you can easily take it anywhere to wash your essential garments in an off-grid situation. Check out the link below for the latest price of the alternative washer.
Why Should You Buy
|
Of course, the Xedragony is an eco-friendly washer, as it consumes no electricity.
Also, it uses only a fraction of the water that a regular electric washing machine will require. You can use it in your flats, RVs, camping tents, and more. The washer is an ideal choice for cleaning baby clothes, diapers, silks, and more.
9. Laoli Manual Non-Electric Washing Machine
Here is another reliable non-electric off-grid washer that also integrates a spin dryer.
It is a simply hand-powered tool with no electricity required for operation. You can manage the whole process by hand. Well, at the cost of four to five trips to a nearby laundry, you get a cool manual washer to wash clothes in the comfort of your living space.
As you can see in the picture, it has a compact and strong design. Meanwhile, its sturdy rotating handle helps you achieve higher rotation speeds to dry up the wet clothes quickly. Thanks to its solid stand, you can place it anywhere in a stable manner for portable washing right anywhere.
Why Should You Buy
|
The washer is indeed very lightweight and portable. With a size of 23 x 15 x 13.5 in. and a weight of 12 lbs, it will take up only a small room for accommodation. Its detachable profile makes it an amazing pick for ideal use in RVs, campers, trailers, remote cabins, and other outdoor applications.
The non-electric washer can surely be your perfect secondary partner in washing along with an electric one. It is not always a good idea to rely on an electric washer to wash a smaller number of clothes or smaller items. That said, you can use the off-grid washer to neatly wash baby clothes, pet clothes, and more.
FAQs
1. How Can I Make a Washing Machine Without Electricity?
Non-electric washers are cool ways to wash your clothes without electricity. Most of these products work with a manual agitator or plunger that you need to rotate either by hand or foot. We have a lot of impressive non-electric washing machines on our list above.
Making a non-electric washer is a simple process. If you have a toilet plunger and a 5-gallon bucket, you can make yourself a run-of-the-mill DIY washing machine.
After filling the bucket with your clothes and detergent, you can move the plunger up and down to create agitation. You should bring the plunger just above the water level on the upward movement, and make sure not to hit the bottom on the downward movement.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article helps you find all the best alternative washing machines out there. It is absolutely a great idea to have a hand-cranked or foot-powered washing machine. That will help you quickly wash your laundry in many situations, like an outdoor event or an emergency.
You can do your laundry smoothly anywhere and enjoy cranking or pedaling to get your clothes clean and neat. Well, we have tried to include all the best and leading alternative washing machines on the market. You can share your thoughts below if we missed something.
Vahid Vee is a full-time blogger who is highly passionate about off-grid and sustainable power systems and is an expert at researching and exploring new topics, checking facts, and presenting things in simple language. As an avid observer of the global off-grid power and battery market, he is really excited to share with you the latest trends, fresh products, and other developments in the markets. #Contact Email @ veevahid@gmail.com – LinkedIn – Full blog profile.
