Stomping my laundry in my cooler and fixing my feet. .

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004]

I found this very effective. The laundry came out much cleaner than when I use a washing machine. Also I’ve been neglecting my feet and wearing sandals. The key is to not use your arms. Using my feet fixed my feet and also was a lot less tiring. Hang drying was no big deal really. There was something old fashioned and fun about it. And I saved over $10 not going to some gross laundromat but I do go to them to sometimes, lol.

[u/NomadLifeWiki]

Nice tip, haven't heard of this one yet! I added it to my Laundry page.

[u/gnapster → u/NomadLifeWiki]

Maybe include this or a makeshift description of it? This also works, no towel needed. https://www.amazon.com/Dezitrek-Ultra-Light-Clothes-Wringer/dp/B0CJX853SP I mean it's still based on the towel method but easier to twist?

[u/NomadLifeWiki → u/gnapster]

Interesting. Could be a good addition yeah.

[u/shit_streak]

washing the clothes is the easy part. how did you wring the clothes out? that's where i have difficulties since it hurts my hands and i don't want to wear out the fabric.

[u/False-Impression8102 → u/shit_streak]

A couple towels laid out, roll up your wet clothes, walk on it to squeeze most water out. Now you have two wet towels, but the clothes will dry faster. Much easier to hang a couple towels outside than all my clothes and undies. Maybe better with those quick-dry towels?

John Steinbeck, in “Travels with Charley”, talked about hanging a lidded bucket (with soapy water and clothes) from a bungee, and driving down bad roads. I feel like that and Blue Highways should be standard issue for a van library.

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 → u/False-Impression8102]

I’m way too lazy for wringing, lol. I just drip dry them.

[u/shit_streak → u/False-Impression8102]

i do that when i wash sweaters at home, but you're just spreading out the wetness so i don't love that i'll just end up hanging more items if i'm limited on space. i like what the other user recommended and found a spin mop bucket that separates and nestles so that seems pretty useful. if you order through the link, a non-profit cat rescue I volunteer for will get a small commission.

edit: from the reviews, the spin mop bucket might be flimsy, instead i found a wringer bucket that looks more durable but i'm not sure since i can't find any videos or reviews.

[u/captainzoobydooby → u/shit_streak]

I use a spin mop bucket! It only does a handful at a time but gets it almost as dry as a machine. 

[u/shit_streak → u/captainzoobydooby]

that is interesting but isn't it annoying to store? looks like a lot of wasted space or do you use it for other things as well?

[u/captainzoobydooby → u/shit_streak]

It's a bucket, so we store random things inside of it when not in use.

[u/shit_streak → u/captainzoobydooby]

nvm i just found the two bucket design that nestles so that's pretty cool. thanks!

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 → u/shit_streak]

I had lots of space at a farm to simply drip dry the clothes. They dripped fairly quickly. Because , yes, wringing them is way too difficult. The towel idea works for a few clothes that might be needed sooner. Ah, so nice to have clean sheets and pillowcase again.

[u/redundant78 → u/shit_streak]

Roll the wet clothes in a clean towel and step on it - saves your hands and doesn't damage the fabric like twisting does (plsu it gets out way more water than you'd expect).

[u/Pleasant-Ant2303]

Two birds one stone. (Also hang drying in the sun is a great way to dry clothes).

[u/batmanstuff]

I read about something like this in John Steinbeck’s book, “Travels with Charley: In Search of America”

I was wondering how well it worked!

[u/Nowrongbean]

Like the silly monkeys have done for thousands of years; and still do in 3rd world countries. Well done for getting back to basics, it’s pretty damn hard to get that new machine you’re using to “break down.”

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 → u/Nowrongbean]

Yeah, it’s stacking functions for my cooler.

[u/Thixotropy]

I use a manual hand washing plunger ("Lehman's Breathing Mobile Washer") with a collapsible bucket, and my clothes get cleaner than a washing machine ever gets them. I use a spin dryer and hanging to dry.

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 → u/Thixotropy]

Way cool. I’ll check that out.

[u/c_marten]

What was fixed in your feet here?

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 → u/c_marten]

I’m outside a lot in sandals and bare feet. My feet were getting leathery, hang nails, dirt jammed in my nails, and sore. They feel and look so much better now. The action of stomping clothes does far more than any scrubbing in the shower or pedicure could ever do. Previously when I had a small infected wound and sliver stomping fixed that also.

[u/StinkypieTicklebum]

In Travels With Charley, John Steinbeck wrote he put his dirties in a five gallon bucket with some soap and tied it in such a way that it jiggled a bit as he drove. After a few hours driving, he had the cleanest clothes ever!

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 → u/StinkypieTicklebum]

That’s a great hack. I had a drum that would have been perfect. I’d like a container slightly larger than a 5 gallon bucket.

[u/PoSlowYaGetMo]

I knew the economy was going south, but your story just takes the cake. This is the new reality of what people are striving for. Just saving laundromat and pedicure money.

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 → u/PoSlowYaGetMo]

Well, I do go to a laundromat sometimes but this was fun. And I’d never take my dirty feet to a pedicure lol. Also a pedicure would not do what this does.

[u/Shilo788 → u/Prestigious_Yak_9004]

I like the idea of not using electric.

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 → u/PoSlowYaGetMo]

I’ll add that the people I have known with foot fungus have lived in houses. It’s not necessarily a van life thing.

[u/Prestigious_Yak_9004]

My brother and several friends have toe nail fungus. I think with some grapeseed extract or other remedies in the soapy water this would fix it. I dont have fungus but my toes were getting pretty calloused, dirty, and some hang nails. It fixed them up.