One common bane of apartment living is the laundry facility situation. While some newer complexes offer laundry hookups within the apartment itself, many apartment dwellers have to use a central laundry facility on the property, and at worst, must go to an offsite laundrymat. This can be both expensive and inconvenient.
Fortunately, there are now other laundry options available that do not require structural plumbing and venting for a washer and dryer. There are a number of washing machine models on the market that are compact and portable.
The benefits of the portable washing machines is that the water hoses can be hooked up to any kitchen sink when in use and they are compact enough that they can be moved to a corner or a closet to be out of the way when not in use. Most of the models, the Haier portable washer for example, have enough capacity for a small load of wash (1 to 1.5 cubic feet) and weight under 70 pounds.
Several manufacturers offer portable washers. They are extremely affordable, typically ranging between 0 and 0 depending on the model and features. When paired with a compact dryer, an all-inclusive laundry service can be had for a fraction of the price of a standard sized washer and dryer. When considering the costs associated with taking clothes to the cleaners or the laundrymat, the buyer will quickly recoup their investment.
However, there are some situation where even a compact washer and dryer are too large, such as in the case of dorm rooms, RV's, etc. In those circumstances, a table top clothes washer is the perfect solution.
The most highly rated table top washer is a unit called Wonderwash. It does not require a hook up to a water source or an electrical outlet. Water is poured into the washing canister and circulated manually by turning a crank.
Users of the Wonderwash recommend pretreating heavily soiled clothing and to be sure not to overfill the barrel; however, it is a quick and convenient solution over trudging to an offsite laundry facility. Clothes will need to be wrung after washing to remove the excess water. The company also sells a tabletop spin dryer to remove the excess water. Most buyers purchase that along with a folding clothes drying rack.
If you do not have access to an indoor washer and dryer, do not despair. Check out your options with a portable washing machine and laundry time will seem like a breeze.
