Laundry
Posted by Wanderlust-Zebra@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 36 comments
I am curious, for those who currently or have lived aboard, how does laundry work? I have been looking at a couple boats and very few seem to have washing machines, and pretty much none have dryers. So do you do it by hand, or what solutions have you found? Also, if you are living aboard in marina vs anchored/moored somewhere or under way, do you just take short showers less frequently or how have you gone about that? I was thinking about buying a boat and living aboard for a while at a marina until I can get something else figured out.
Any_March_9765@reddit
if you are living at a marina they usually have machines wouldn't be a problem. If I'm paying for a marina, there is no way I'm paying for one without laundry. If you are not at a marina, get yourself a portable washing machine, there are manual ones too if you don't have power connected, you just crank it manually. Then hang it on the line to dry
SVAuspicious@reddit
There are options, and value for money varies from person to person.
You can wash in buckets. My experience is that washing in sea water ends up using more fresh water than just washing in fresh. If you use ammonia rather than detergent you don't need to rinse which is a win all around.
You can put machines on your boat. You need a pretty big boat to have full size machines and they take a lot of space and power. You end up washing big loads like sheets and towels elsewhere. Convenient but not very efficient.
You can use marina laundry equipment. In principle this works really well. It worked really really well for me at one point. (*) Some equipment is poorly maintained which becomes a problem.
You can go to commercial laundromats. This is absolutely reliable in my experience but does have transportation implications. My very best experience was in the UK with a laundromat next to a pub and interconnected. Great WiFi and the pub staff would serve you in the laundromat. Worst experience was in a town in the Bahamas with badly rusted equipment.
I carry ammonia for buckets, inspect marina equipment for condition, and am prepared for a trip to a laundromat. Google Maps and Google Reviews are my friends.
(*) I spent a couple of years in one marina with nice facilities but far from my boat. In nice weather I'd sit in the tiki bar while doing laundry and enjoy a glass of wine and a book. On one laundry evening, my now wife sat down next to me and we got to talking. We've been together nearly twenty years. So I met my wife while I was doing laundry at a tiki bar. Beat that r/sailing! *grin*
u399566@reddit
Nice!
vanalden@reddit
We washed in a large dry-bag with fresh water. A dehumidifier was very effective at drying clothes and even sheets and towels, using either the heads compartment or the whole saloon as the drying room.
BurningPage@reddit
Scrubba wash bag.
HoldAccurate3880@reddit
My wife and I installed a washing machine in an unused head we remodeled. Already had access to plumbing in and plumbing out and electricity. The remodel/install was about $1500 and took 2 days. Most 40ft+ sailboats have more cabins and heads than you'll ever use.
Electrical-Theme9981@reddit
I’ve washed clothes in a dry-bag, surprisingly effective
thelocker517@reddit
There's a purpose made dry bag called a Scrubba. Great for budget travel as well
dopbanaan@reddit
Yes! Fill, add (ocean safe) detergent, shake. Hot wash needed? Leave it on deck for a while in the sun.
Easiest way to wash ever.
Nathan_Explosion___@reddit
What are some ocean safe detergents? TIA!
kenelevn@reddit
Any natural soaps work. Dr. Bronners is my go-to both on-shore and off. It’s pretty widely available here in the states.
Wander_Globe@reddit
I've done the same in my van many times. Fill the bag, laundry detergent and then go all WWE on it and beat the crap out of the bag. :) Rinse and hang.
hottenniscoach@reddit
I do this in hotels too
Full-Photo5829@reddit
We use this method, if we cannot find a coin-op laundry: https://youtu.be/NXYPHasQHtk?si=LN0xKVCrrvcazdjo
Sea_Ad_3765@reddit
Living at a marina will not be a money saving idea.
Wander_Globe@reddit
My rent was $1400 and living at the Marina is $450. Problem is, finding a marina with space that allows liveaboards. Nigh unto impossible here in BC but I got lucky. Smaller the boat the better the chances. If you're in a city center then I agree, you won't save much by living at the marina.
wlll@reddit
"Sailing Project Atticus" fitted a small washing machine to their boat, and I think "Sail Life" fitted a full size one. Both on Youtube. That's uncommon though, most people use Marina facilities, a local laundrette or hand-wash when away from civilisation.
Wander_Globe@reddit
The SailLife one is like a mini and I think it washes and dries. Takes a lot of juice though but Mads has so many tech toys on his boat he needs a lot of power. Dude even has a bluetooth gauge to tell him when the tanks have too much poo. :) Well produced channel with no faux drama though so I like it.
MaximumWoodpecker864@reddit
Laundry is my least favorite part of living aboard. We have a combo unit onboard we use when cruising but it’s not super efficient. Regardless, I highly recommend having one installed- I know some cruisers on smaller vessels sacrifice a hanging locker or shower area to accommodate one. Our marina has one washer and dryer but it’s still dragging load after load up and down the dock (in the winter). I go to the laundromat every 3 weeks or so to do sheets and towels (we carry lots of linens onboard right now).
svapplause@reddit
The bain of my existence! We started out doing The Loopfrom Lake Michigan and now, 6 months later are in the Bahamas as a family of 5. On average, I’ve been spending at least $40 a week doing laundry. Everyone is pretty good about re-wearing items except the 13 yr old. I need a washing machine on board. NEED
oldmaninparadise@reddit
They make combo water dryers in a single unit. Most cruising sailboats over 45' have this. Over 55 this and dishwasher. 45' cruising cats have both these and usually 3 drawer fidge freezer combos.
caeru1ean@reddit
We have been cruising for 4 years and take our laundry to a laundromat or service.
SlipMeA20@reddit
Detergent, bucket, then rinse. Hang dry.
Sailsherpa@reddit
An over/under washer/dryer fits in the forward hanging locket of an Alden 54.
markboats@reddit
We did a wash half way through a delivery a couple years back, clothes plus hot water plus wash liquid in the empty flares tub, lash it to the middle of the helm and set the autopilot to high sensitivity and combined with the rolling ocean swell you get a fine makeshift washing machine 👌
kdjfsk@reddit
one option for washing, is little bicycle pedal driven washers. The clothes go in a hamster ball type thing, with water amd detergent, then you get some cardio to make up for the lack of solar panels and lithium batteries.
mekoRascal@reddit
The overland guys put clothes, water, and detergent in a bucket and let the driving around do the agitation. Might be able to rig up something similar...
mekoRascal@reddit
The overland guys put clothes, water, and detergent in a bucket and let the driving around do the agitation. Might be able to rig up something similar...
sghilliard@reddit
Don’t live aboard, but sail the Caribbean a lot with in-laws. Best solution for daily wear is three large buckets, one for soapy, two for rinse steps A and B. We use a brand-new (ie never used) toilet plunger to agitate the clothes. Start in soapy water, wring out, into rinse A, agitate, wring out, then into rinse B, repeat with each batch. When rinse water gets soapy pour water A into soapy bucket, B into A, and add fresh water to B. Amazing how much dirt we get out this way. Helps if you have a water maker, but pretty efficient.
For sheets and big towels we make a trip to a laundromat.
No-Country6348@reddit
We had a washing machine installed on our last circumnavigation boat and there was already one on our current circumnavigation boat. I would hate not having it, especially for long periods at sea or away from civilization. Sure, there are usually laundromats or, more frequently, laundry services in towns that see lots of cruisers, but I prefer to wash my clothes myself. I use the shore options for bigger things like blankets.
kdjfsk@reddit
A good marina will have a bath house with laundry machines. The ones at my marina are too few and dont work incredibly well...but they are free (not coin op). If i only have a load, maybe two, ill use them. if i have more, i drive town the road to a nice laundromat, where i can get it all done in about an hour tops. I kinda prefer that, because it saves time...its worth the $10 or so to do 3-4 loads.
there a large boat nearby that just rotates between a few anchorages, i guess depending on wind, and he brings he and his wifes laundry via the dinghy dock. No idea if he pays a daily rate or monthly or what.
There are 12v washers and dryers which you can add to any boat if you habe the space and watt-hours.
At our marina you cannot hang laundry on the deck of the boat...though i suppose if you wanted to go full frugal, you could hang it inside, or it would only take 15 minutes to tops to leave the dock and set the hook a few hundred yards away, where you can do whatever you want, lol.
ChazR@reddit
Our longer trips are about a full week of island-hopping. We mostly wear tech shirts and swimming outfits during the day, and those are easily hand-washed in salt water then fresh rinsed. It's dry overnight.
We wear actual clothes in the evenings, and it's easy to pack for a week if you're only wearing stuff for a few hours a day.
Bedrockab@reddit
I would goto target and get undies/socks in 30 packs and provision…..
chadv8r@reddit
At dockside, using marina’s washer dryer or laundry mat. On the water, hand wash and clothes dry over the cockpit. Or dry on motor cover.. or steam clean
NedKelkyLives@reddit
Not a proper sailor but when I have spent time on board, clothes were hand washed. Bigger items done at the marina
ifitsails@reddit
Most marinas have a laundry room, they usually have garbage machines. So we go to the laundromat like everyone else. Once you leave shore, who cares, go naked.