Portable washing machine?

[chicken12]

Anyone use one of those little portable washing machines in their shops to wash shop towels? My wife is not to trilled with me using our normal washing machine in the house as my shop towels always leave some sort of left over crud in there and then I have to go in and clean it by hand. I would love to put a full size washing machine in the shop but I don't have the room so I was looking at one of those small little portable ones. The problem is all the reviews on the ones I have seen seem to say they ****. Any one have one that they would like to share some feedback on? Thanks

 

[bad_idea]

Let me ask a dumb question. Why wash the shop towels? I cut up all the old t shirts, bed sheets, and towels for rags. I can't use them faster than I get them. I have a bag of them in the attic now waiting for me to cut them up. When they get dirty I toss them.

 

[Playwme]

Good idea bad_idea.

I do the same. Our city has a problem with people leaving clothes outside the charity clothing bins when they get full. The charities won't take them if left outside and have to pay to throw them out. When I get low I just do a quick run down to the shops and stock up again.

 

[CNGsaves]

Friend has the integrated apartment-sized washer with dryer on top. It's terrific for small loads of laundry and would work great in a shop. Footprint is only about 3 ft x 3 ft at base and 6 ft tall. If garage was in warm climate that never froze (or always heated garage), this over/under unit would be perfect.

 

[7echo]

An option to consider if the opportunity exists-
Our paper towel vendor at work makes a special price for employees. I have 2 nice auto feed roll towel dispensers and good pricing on replacement rolls. I have no space for a washing machine. If I had a nice large shop I would consider the washer/dryer combo, for shop towels, pet beds, etc.
Also, you might try a used appliance store, would likely be a less expensive way to go.

 

[lotsoftools]

A portable washer would work, but not worth it in my opinion. Consider the space it will take up, water and drain hook ups. I use mostly paper towels, when I have actual cloth rags they get tossed when too dirty.

 

[jaye944]

I have one

 

[Thumper68]

I just make a run to the landromat when I start running low on cloth shop rags, I can wash dry and fold in just over an hour and no issues with the wife.

 

[tractordude]

I switched to the blue rags in a box. The sam's club sales rep gave me a sample box to test out, and I have been buying them ever since.
@ $10, a box will last me over one month. I think a average homeowner could get a few months from a box.

 

[Zeke]

I might understand your wife's opinion of you washing your shop rags in the family washer. I mean, really? But, you could wash the rags on hot and then run a load of your work jeans to clean things up. Full load of detergent and rinse 2wice.

I wash some pretty dirty stuff and have never had to hand clean a washing machine.

 

[RECox286]

In boot camp we learned how to use a ship-board washing machine.

It consisted of a bucket, hot water, soap and a plumbers' friend. If

you don't let the rags get too dirty, it only takes a couple of minutes to

clean them up like you would churn butter ! Another bucket of cold water

will serve as the rinse cycle, then drape the rags on a line in your shop,

and they will be dry for the next go round. Pretty cheap on machinery,

water, soap, and electricity. It'll keep the bride happy too.

Uncle Bob

 

[ezriderga]

I'm retired from full time work but detail cars part time to make some "mad money." I hand wash my microfiber towels in a 5 gallon bucket with warm water and some all purpose cleaner.

 

[theoldwizard1]

In boot camp we learned how to use a ship-board washing machine.

It consisted of a bucket, hot water, soap and a plumbers' friend. If you don't let the rags get too dirty, it only takes a couple of minutes to clean them up like you would churn butter ! Another bucket of cold water will serve as the rinse cycle, then drape the rags on a line in your shop,

Rags that have a lot of grease or oil on them should be washed in some kind of solvent first (like parts cleaner solvent) or thrown out. Let dry completely before washing.

Modern laundry detergent is missing a key chemical. Sodium. Buy a box of tr-sodium-phosphate (make sure it is the real deal, not some substitute). Add 1 tablespoon to your 5 gallon bucket before you "start" your washer !

Don't overdue the laundry soap (liquid soap will dissolve in cold water) or you will need to do 2 rinse cycles !

 

[jaye944]

Why do women wear white on there wedding?

All kitchen appliances come in white

ta dum !!!!!!!!

 

[brass89]

I can't say how well it would work for heavy duty grime since I don't wash anything super greasy in it - but I have a small machine, a Haier model hlp21n. Sits about 20" away from the wall and 17" wide and under 30" tall, comes with wheels, comes with a fill hose about 3ft long that will attach to a garden hose for filling purposes. Agitator free design (just the big open barrel), top load (just be careful of the plastic lid). They can be found for around $270-300 which ***** cause it's approaching cost of a generic full size machine but like you, space is a major issue. It had pretty good reviews and so far so good with mine. I've had it close to 2yrs now. I paired it with a Sonya 110v dryer (no 220 at the moment and no gas). One nice thing, it spins quite well so the clothes only feel barely damp coming out - seems to do a better job that most larger machines unless you get into the $2k range.

Granted it's not a huge machine (1cu ft) but that's the trade off for smaller footprint. It'll wash a couple pair of jeans and maybe 5 tshirts and some undergarments or couple pair of jeans and 4, maybe 5 sweatshirts with nothing else in it. I'd say enough to wash around a week's worth of guy's clothing (provided they don't change their clothes 2-3 times a day).

Hope this helps.

 

[CJM8515]

Sams club sells the 1x1 shop towels for like 100 for 15 bucks. I reuse them till they are done then toss them. No sense in going crazy washing them when they are so cheap.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Besides the usual laundry detergent I usually pour in a couple cups of Simple Green, and also use Sodium Carbonate (Washing Soda) if I have any on hand....

 

[sberry]

We use paper towels and Styrofoam cups. I aint foolin with rags, I have but its really a pain.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Here is my shop rag washing setup.

1940's electric agitator and stainless pan to go with it, something my parents had prior to getting a Bendix washing machine in 1950 or so, and here are some other threads on shop rags and washing them. I much prefer cloth shop rags to paper. I use a lot of shop rags to keep them from getting very dirty, and I have them sorted by the very clean ones I use for car polishing and such, vs normal use, vs grunge rags that eventually get ratty enough to just trash them.

PLEASE, be very careful about throwing oil and solvent soaked rags in the trash. If its solvent such as mineral spirits on a paper towel, I hang it over the edge of the trash to evaporate, then it goes in the outside trash. Other greasy and oily stuff goes in the outside trash right away, never left inside.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35178

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55571

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229106

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223781

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61176

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94545

 

[Mike Miller]

I buy a bundle each of terry cloth towels and micro fiber towels at COSTCO once a year, wash them once in a bucket of cold water and Castrol Super Clean use them again on the really grimy stuff and toss them.

 

[captaindiode]

I know a guy who details cars and uses one of these in his shop:

Portable and all you need is a hot and cold faucet.

 

[Lippyp]

I'm very tempted to pick up an old twin tub type washer, the ones that have a seperate washing drum and spin dryer. They can be had for pennies or even free on freecycle, you can hand fill them from a bucket and drain into a drum so they don't even need plumbing in and you can soak stuff in them overnight if neccesary.

 

[Lippyp]

I'm very tempted to pick up an old twin tub type washer, the ones that have a seperate washing drum and spin dryer. They can be had for pennies or even free on freecycle, you can hand fill them from a bucket and drain into a drum so they don't even need plumbing in and you can soak stuff in them overnight if neccesary.

 

[CTyankee]

I just make a run to the laundromat when I start running low on cloth shop rags, I can wash dry and fold in just over an hour and no issues with the wife.

Another reason to avoid using the laundromat at all costs..I'm sure the next person that comes along expecting to clean their clothes appreciates this. IMO laundromats shouldn't allow oil/grease/gas rags to be cleaned at them. I mainly use paper towels and save using rags for the messy stuff...then just throw them away.

 

[littleponderosa]

the small town i live close to has a laundromat with 2 dedicated work clothes/rags/nasty stuff washers and 1 dryer. cost is minimal to do 2 loads as long as you bring your own soap.
owners know that the trampers/working folk need a place to do laundy and decided to go this route -- works good for all involved.
Bill

 

[desmo316]

Anyone use one of those little portable washing machines in their shops to wash shop towels? My wife is not to trilled with me using our normal washing machine in the house as my shop towels always leave some sort of left over crud in there and then I have to go in and clean it by hand. I would love to put a full size washing machine in the shop but I don't have the room so I was looking at one of those small little portable ones. The problem is all the reviews on the ones I have seen seem to say they ****. Any one have one that they would like to share some feedback on? Thanks

Those portable washisng machines **** when it comes washing your coveralls, jeans, beach towels or a quilt but for shop rag use they should work great. You can also let the hot water run until it is up to temp prior to hooking them to the faucet and use an aggressive detergent with out having to wory about a family member's skin sensitivity. Since the machine would be dedicated for shop use you can allow the load to soak over night with out causing a bottle neck.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

When my parents got a new washer many years ago, we just slid the old one over (in a unfinished basement) and hooked it up with Y fittings on the faucets. We used that old Frigidaire for years for the shop rags. Hung them on the line to dry.

Charles

 

[sberry]

I don't have a "shop" machine and originally thought I might although I really don't miss it. I am a clean mechanic. I wash it off first and don't have to roll in grease and can rebuild a diesel engine in a white tshirt and you never know it. I got to train my helper if he is gone long, got to get grease up to his pits, part of it due to working in places that don't have a convenient sink.
I love disposable towels, even plain rolled white is fine but I get it before it gets me and get it in the trash and disposed, don't feel like adding another process.
At one time my garage bud let me scoop off his rag service and it was ok but another can sitting around and another chore to remember.
I will wipe the nut off on the job before shoving a socket on it.

 

[brass89]

most laundromats i've seen don't technically allow greasy work clothes etc to be cleaned in them. many have signs up, but enforcing the rules is another matter. attendants can't see everything people put in and some laundromats operate overnight with no attendant present. it comes down to the honor system. having a few dedicated machines would be nice. used to be irritating as well even with a dedicated rag/uniform cleaning service. their policy was all rags (dirties) had to be nothing more than greasy - no metal chips and ****. would get a delivery of clean rags and have to sort through them picking out metal chips in spite of the policy. people ****.

 

[sberry]

We have wood stoves a good part of the year. Its hard to get everyone on board but in shop I compact clean non hazardous back in a few firewood pallets and burn most of it early in the season. A good portion of my waste is free heat.

 

[JamieRude]

Haier HLP21N Pulsator 1-Cubic-Foot Portable Washer is best product known to me so far..It is a portable washer with 1-cubic-foot stainless-steel tub for loads up to 6 pounds.. This washer is perfect for a small apartment.

 

[A**holes Garage]

I use the Scott heavy duty paper towels, disposable.
For those application where I need mor than paper, I use the Costsco micro fibers and red cloth rags in bulk.
I get them all greaaed up, etc. then throw them away. No running to the laundromat, no ruined clothes from f'd up personal washer.

 

[santagary]

Another reason to avoid using the laundromat at all costs..I'm sure the next person that comes along expecting to clean their clothes appreciates this. IMO laundromats shouldn't allow oil/grease/gas rags to be cleaned at them. I mainly use paper towels and save using rags for the messy stuff...then just throw them away.

Bingo...I throw all mine away into my airtight all nighter stove with kindling...makes a great fire starter. I get "new" rags from the local timeshare maintenance department who must replace worn old towels and wash rags every few months. They are bagged and clean. I imagine any hotel disposes of old towels and rags the same way....worth a look in your area of the world.

 

[youngnstudly]

I use the Terry cloth towels from COSTCO as others on here mentioned, but I also like to keep a roll or 2 on hand of the blue throw away shop towels for really greasy chores.

With the Terry towels, I like to use the fresh clean towels for washing or drying my car, the dog (rainy season), or cleaning windows and damp wiping the garage walls, tool boxes, etc. From there they get washed separately with any work clothes, and they are normally clean enough to use over and over in the same manor.

If something greasy comes along, I pick the worst of the used towels and use that with the full intention of throwing it away when finished. Overall, you can reuse decent shop towels MANY times without issue if you use them sparingly.

Hell, I even throw my slightly used ear plugs into an old sock and wash/reuse them as well. Living on a fixed income doesn't give me the option of being cheap, it gives me the option of being POOR!

Here's a washing machine alternative I bought my Dad for X-mas this year (recent earthquakes and power outages from storms + a full hamper of dirty clothes = No clean clothes!). I would be leery about washing greasy stuff in it, but dirty clothes and rags in smaller amounts shouldn't be an issue:

Andy

 

[LS6 Tommy]

There are commercial towel washers from janitorial supply companies that use portable/apartment style hookups. Keep your eyes peeled on ebay/craigslist. They're not too expensive.

For me it's Microfiber towels for car cleaning. Blue paper shop towels for everything else.

Tommy

 

[shopnut]

I went to the trouble of installing a washing machine in the shop and haven't used it even ONCE in 15 years now. Not sure if it even works anymore. If the towels are that bad, I toss them. YMMV

 

[Milton Shaw]

Don't get a 120 volt dryer. They use less power than a hair dryer so they take forever to dry anything. I switched to mostly blue shop towels but occasionally use stained kitchen towels for some jobs. Don't wash them just use and dispose. Blue shop towels work better in a kitchen than Bounty type paper towels. They can be wet, wrung out and reused several times for cleaning. Haven't used White paper towels in years.

 

[nadogail]

When I had a spill from the oil heated hydraulic presses at a former job, I would go to the dirty uniform bag and grab soiled uniforms to wipe up the mess.

The laundry guy used to ask me "What Happened, This Time?"