Not everyone thinks about portable washing machines or how handy they can be when they go camping.
You’ll have to do laundry at some point if you’re planning a camping trip that will take place over several weeks or months, and not all campsites will have access to laundry facilities. Also, you don’t want to only be able to do laundry on the schedule of the campsite or laundromat.
That’s why getting a portable washing machine is a great idea for any camper or for anyone that doesn’t have laundry where they live.
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Here are the top 5 picks (keep scrolling for more details and picks 6-10).
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Many people think that you should use a non-electric washer when on camping trips, and this is a good one. It’s about 0.6 cubic feet, which means that it can fit in small spaces. Also, you can fill it up at any water faucet or hose because it doesn’t require electricity.
It doesn’t have a hand crank, but it is manually operated. You just pump the basket that you’ve filled with water, clothes, and detergent for about 20 minutes before your clothes are clean. One of the downsides of this mini washing machine is that it doesn’t wring out your clothes at all.
You can press down all you want, but you’ll need to wring the excess water out of them manually. Then, you should hang your clothes out to dry. You can use hot water or cold water when you wash clothes with this machine. Also, it can only handle small loads because of its size. This compact washing machine is about $150 on Amazon.
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This washing machine is very skinny, so it can fit in smaller spaces. It can hold about 10 pounds of laundry per load, and it has a stainless steel tub. The washer also has many different wash settings available to you. There are eight different water levels and 10 different wash cycles, from a quick wash to a heavy wash.
It’s also a top load washing machine. This washer also has a child lock in case your kids are at the stage where they like to get into things that they shouldn’t. The control panel on this washing machine is also very easy to use. The manual that comes with it will also help you understand more about the weight of different articles of clothing so you don’t overwhelm the washer. It costs about $300 on Amazon.
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This washing machine is great because it also has a spin-dry option. At one time, this machine can wash up to 18 pounds of laundry and dry five pounds of laundry. There’s a drain pump that removes the excess water very thoroughly before beginning the job of a spin dryer.
It has a control panel that displays wash and dry times, as well as wash cycles and draining options. It can be slightly confusing to use, especially when you read words like faucet adapters with clamps in the instructions. However, the control panel does make it easier to select the washing and drying settings you want.
The control panel of this washer dryer combo is basically three dials that control the washer, dryer, and cycle settings. Also, it costs about $175 on Amazon.
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This is a great washer for those who travel in an RV because it only needs a sink and a regular outlet. Also, it has a stainless steel wash tub that will help to sanitize whatever you’re washing. There are five water levels and ten wash cycles for you to choose from.
It’s very good at getting out tough stains and grime that you might get from adventuring around the country. It runs very quietly, so you won’t be annoyed every time you do laundry. This washing machine is about 1.34 cubic feet, and it’s very hard to move around.
You should figure out where you want to keep it and just leave it there. It doesn’t have an Energy Star certification either. This machine is about $300 on Amazon.
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This electric portable washing machine is said to be one of the best for apartments because it’s very space-saving. It has a control panel that comes with a child lock, eight different spin cycles, and an LED display. However, it doesn’t have the biggest load capacity.
It’s only about 0.84 cubic feet, which is why it doesn’t handle big loads well. Also, the hose can leak if you’re not cautious about it. The best thing about this washer is that it has a child safety lock. It will also stop the cycle if the lid is opened.
This washer is about $270 on Amazon, so it’s not the most expensive portable washer out there. Also, it’s not Energy Star certified. And, it’s a top-loading washer, which most people prefer to a front-loading washer.
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The SUPER DEAL washer is one of the best twin tubs around because it can hold about eight pounds of laundry. It has 10 different washing options for you to choose from, and there’s a water inlet hose so that you don’t have to fill the machine with water every time you want to do laundry.
You can also see your clothes while they’re washing through the translucent tub lid. It has a stainless steel tub with plastic outside, so your machine won’t rust. It’s very lightweight, and you can put it just about anywhere.
This machine also doesn’t twist your toes as much to wash them, so your clothes won’t be as tangled after a wash cycle. It costs about $160 on Amazon, so it is one of the cheapest electric options.
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The COMFEE’ washing machine is about 1.6 cubic feet and has six different wash cycles. It can handle about 11 pounds of laundry at one time, and it also has an extra rinse option that will help get rid of every last bubble of detergent.
The tub is made of stainless steel, but the outside is more durable because it’s made out of plastic composite. This washer comes with an Energy Star certification from the Department of Energy because it only uses about 84% of the power that other compact washers use.
It also has a handle and wheels that help you move it around easier. Along with a water inlet and drain pump, this washer has a lint filter. It’s about $250 on Amazon, which is a great price considering everything that it does.
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This washing machine is not electric, but it’s very friendly to your wallet. This machine is perfect for those who like to save on water and electricity. You can manually wash about 10 shirts or one outfit at a time.
Even though you have to use the hand crank to wash your clothes, you don’t have to worry about the machine falling apart or needing to replace a piece. This washing machine is built to last because it’s not electric. However, this washing machine does have a lot of parts that you have to assemble on your own.
Also, the hand crank can be difficult to maneuver until you get in a rhythm with it. If you don’t turn the hand crank fast enough, your clothes could be soapy and still dirty when you’re done. There’s a detachable drain spout that makes it easy to get rid of the dirty water.
You’ll also have to wring your clothes out in order to dry them. This is one of the cheapest compact washers at about $65 at Walmart.
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This washing machine is a favorite among those who don’t have laundry in their apartment or campsite. It has 1.6 cubic feet, so it has good space for you to do a good-sized load of laundry. The drum is made of stainless steel, so it will last for a very long time.
Also, it only requires a 120V outlet to operate it. There’s a drain hose that is also used as a fill hose. There are six different wash cycle settings for you to choose from and a glass window so you can see your laundry. It also has specific spots for you to put bleach, detergent, and fabric softener.
Plus, it has advanced vibration technology that will reduce the noise of the machine. One of the only downsides to this washing machine is that it doesn’t have an Energy Star certification. It also doesn’t have a steam function that would help with wrinkles and stains. Also, it’s about $850 at Home Depot.
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The Garatic washing machine is capable of washing up to 13 pounds of laundry at a time because it has two tubs. This washer is very easy to use because it only has a few different wash cycles. One of the tubs is used for drying while the other can be used for washing.
And, it only takes about 15 minutes to complete a washing cycle and five minutes to complete a drying cycle. It’s super easy to do laundry with this machine. All you have to do is put your clothes and detergent in it, press the start button, and wait for your laundry to be done.
The drainage tube is also very easy to use. Also, this machine is made of plastic composite on the outside so that you don’t have to worry about it rusting. It costs about $210 at Walmart.
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The Lavario 1204 Manual Portable Clothes Washer is the best washer for campers because you don’t need a source of electricity to use it. If you have a clean water source and detergent, you can do laundry.
Also, it’s probably a good workout to sit there and pump a basket until your clothes are clean. While it doesn’t wash a lot of clothes at a time, it’s the washer that makes the most sense for campers to get. Also, it’s one of the cheapest portable washers out there.
You won’t have to worry about breaking the bank by getting the Lavario. It’s made of good material that will last you a long time, and the material can wash your clothes with both hot and cold water. It hardly takes up any space at 0.6 cubic feet, and it’s eco-friendly because it doesn’t use electricity.
There are a few things that go into picking out a portable washing machine. These include:
Most electric portable washing machines will need a good source of electricity to work properly. You’ll most likely only need a 120-volt outlet to make one of these machines work, whereas full-sized washing machines require 240-volt outlets.
On the other hand, if you get a non-electric portable washing machine, you will be the power source. While this might get annoying at times, some campers will go for a non-electric machine because they might not have access to electricity at some campsites. Whichever you choose, you’ll need a power source of some kind.
Most portable washing machines have less than three cubic feet of space, compared to about five cubic feet of space inside a full-sized washing machine. Some models of portable washing machines aren’t meant to wash large items, such as towels, winter clothes, or sheets.
However, if you’re going to use your portable washing machine when you’re camping, you might not want one that’s super big. The non-electric, hand-powered washing machines are typically smaller than the electric ones. It all depends on what you plan on washing with your portable washer.
Some portable washers will drain the dirty water automatically, but others will require you to drain it manually. You might not want to put in that much work when washing your clothes, which is perfectly fine. If that’s you, you should look into portable washing machines that will drain the water for you. If you don’t mind the work, a manual washing machine could work for you.
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