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Let’s face it, no one likes doing laundry by hand.
One of the most significant advances of modern times was the washing machine, a humble appliance that cut the time needed to clean clothes from days to just an hour or two.
For those living off-grid, though, finding the perfect washing machine can be a real chore.
For those who want a quick overview, below is our comparison table:
With that in mind, I searched high and low for the best off-grid washing machines that help you cut this troublesome chore down to size no matter where you live.
Check it out below!
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The Magic Chef Portable Top Load Washer is a compact and highly efficient washing machine originally designed for apartment use. It measures a positively tiny 17.7″ x 18.1″ yet is capable of washing a .9 cubic foot load.
That’s not a lot of clothes, sure, but it’s plenty for someone looking to live off-grid with their family where space is at a premium. Even better, the Magic Chef is one of the most energy and water-efficient washing machines on the market today.
It draws two amps of 120 V AC power while operating. That means each load of laundry uses just 70 or so watts. That’s honestly shocking it’s so low.
To put it into perspective, that’s less power than would be used by a standard 100-watt light bulb in the same amount of time. So long as you have a reasonably sized solar system with an inverter you’ll have no issues at all running the Magic Chef to get all your laundry clean and fresh.
Another thing I loved about the Magic Chef was how easy the installation process was. It weighs just over 40 lbs, a lot lighter than most washing machines, and requires just a few basic hookups before you’re ready to start your laundry.
Once I saw the specs on this bad boy I knew I needed to look into it a bit deeper. I was very impressed by the overall quality of the workmanship and the effectiveness of its washing methods. When you add in the hundreds and hundreds of great reviews available on it, it was a no-brainer for getting the top spot here.
The Giantex Portable Washing Machine combines the size and convenience of hand-powered washing machines with the cleaning power of traditional models. It uses a twin tub design that mixes a wash/rinse tube with a spin tub to help remove excess water for an easier drying experience.
Modern washers do this in a single drum, but the design of the Giantex offers a lot of benefits for a tiny dweller or someone else living off-grid. For one, you can have more clothes going through the laundry at once.
Another factor in its favor is its compact size. It measures just 24.8″x 14″x 28.35″, noticeably smaller than our number one pick. That allows you to tuck it away in a closet or set it up in your bathroom without it getting in the way.
It takes about 15 minutes to run a single cycle in the wash, plus another 5 minutes or so for the spin cycle. Once finished, your clothes still need to be hung up to dry, just without the annoying wringing.
While the Giantex Portable Washing Machine isn’t exactly what I’d call a full-service laundry, it does a great job simplifying the most arduous tasks of washing clothes. It uses a bit more power than we’d like, but still offers a lot of value under the right conditions.
The Wonder Wash is honestly one of my favorite tiny house products out there. It’s a small canister mounted on suction cups that you spin by hand with a crank.
It sounds super basic, for the simple reason that it is. Once you’ve put your clothes in, you fill it up with water and detergent and seal the one-click level arm.
Once it’s all sealed up, you turn the crank by hand to spin the clothes around in the sudsy water for a few minutes, drain, and empty the clothes. You’ll still need to wring out your clothes, but it’s a superior washing method to rubbing them together in the sink or using an old washboard.
Best of all, it requires no electricity and no permanent plumbing connections. The water drains out through a small tube on the bottom that allows you to empty it into a drain or even into a container for later use in your garden, depending on the detergent you used.
At just six lbs, it’s extremely light and takes up only about as much space as a crockpot. I’m not going to lie to you, when it’s filled up with water and clothing it gets quite heavy, but as soon as you get it spinning properly the centripetal force helps you keep it moving.
While this isn’t a set it and forget it kind of washer, the Wonder Wash does allow you to move through large amounts of dirty clothes rapidly. It’s a good choice if you can’t spare any power for washing but still want something more than a basic washboard.
The Beko BWM7200X is a compact, high-efficiency washer. It’s 24 inches wide and offers up to 15 different cleaning modes to effectively and safely clean everything from dirty sheets to dainty lace.
It runs on 120V AC power and requires both a pressurized plumbing connection and drain hookup. Basically, it’s only an option if you have both a medium-to-large solar system with an inverter and a pump-powered water system.
The good news is that it gives you a ton of value in actual cleaning power. It can run loads up to 15.43 lbs, plenty for a week’s clothing for one person, and provides automatic cleaning, rinsing, and spinning to help remove the excess water.
Even better, its high-efficiency design requires only 270 watts and around 15 gallons of water per load of laundry. That’s a lot less than many comparable washing machines, perfect for folks looking to conserve water and power in an off-grid setting.
One of my favorite individual features of the Beko is its organic wash cycle. It’s designed to maximize the efficiency of organic laundry detergent. That’s something a lot of people looking to go green will appreciate.
If you’re looking for an off-grid washing machine that provides a cleaning experience as close to traditional as possible, the Beko BWM7200X is the way to go.
I know, I know, this isn’t technically a washing machine, but I think it still bears mentioning when it comes to off-grid and tiny house clothes washing. The Ohisu Washboard Basin is a tweak on the classic galvanized tin washboard that combines it with a water basin.
It’s about as basic as it gets, but it does clean your clothes and does so without using any power or more than a gallon or two of water. It’s by far the cheapest option on the list and fills up to the brim with just a single gallon of water and a dash of detergent.
You can give your clothes a good scrub on the ridged plastic in that space and get them squeaky clean with a little practice. Even better, it takes up a lot less space than a proper washing machine or even something like the Wonder Wash.
Obviously, it doesn’t have a spin cycle or otherwise drains your clothes. You’ll also need to rinse them off manually, necessitating either another basin or a fully functional sink.
Honestly though?
It’s still a great option for the right person. It gets your clothes clean and doesn’t take up much space at all. If you have zero available space, power, or plumbing connections the Ohisu will get the job done.
Technically speaking any washing machine can be used as an off-grid washing machine. There aren’t really any purpose-built models, in the same way, there are off-grid refrigerators or other off-grid appliances.
Off-grid washing machines are any washing machines or washing tools that allow you to wash your clothes while using less water and power. They’re ones that are capable of running off a reasonably sized solar power system or even models that operate without drawing any power at all.
Off-grid washing machines provide the convenience and comfort of freshly laundered clothes without the same level of water and power usage. They’re smaller, more efficient, and better suited for use in an off-grid setting.
This applies whether we’re talking about a full-up high-efficiency washing machine run off a solar power system or a human-powered washing machine. One offers greater convenience and simplicity while the other helps you further reduce your power demands while still giving you fresh, clean clothes to wear.
Another benefit is the reduced costs of an off-grid washing machine compared to washing machines that are on the grid. There are exceptions of course but overall they are cheaper because they are smaller.
There are several universal factors that anyone considering an off-grid washing machine should keep in mind.
One of the critical factors to consider with an off-grid appliance is its power requirements. Solar and wind power systems have come a long way in a very short amount of time, but they’re still most likely to be the pinch point for your plans.
I recommend you look for ones with the EnergyStar logo to signify their high-efficiency design for electric appliances. These use noticeably less energy than comparable models.
If you’re really short on power, there are some great human-powered washing machines that let you do a full load of clothes without drawing a single amp from your battery bank.
Water is always a precious commodity when living off-grid. Modern high-efficiency washing machines use much less water per load than their predecessors, allowing you to wash more clothes with less water than ever before.
Full-up off-grid washing machines rarely use more than about 15-20 gallons of water for a load. Smaller hand-powered ones use even less, averaging about a gallon or two per load.
Size and capacity relate to how much space a washing machine will take up in your home and how much laundry you can do at a time. The largest machine on the list above can handle up to 15 lbs of laundry at a go. Some of the smaller ones do less than a third of that.
You should balance out how much space you can spare for a washing machine with the amount and pace of laundry you need to do.
Let’s face it, installing appliances can be a real drag. Washing machines require multiple hookups, including power, water in, and drainage out.
There’s also making sure that they’re correctly leveled and getting them positioned just right to work with your other appliances and furniture. Larger models require more space and are harder to move around, but smaller ones may not have the capacity you need.
Some off-grid washing machines don’t require installation at all. Instead, they can be brought out when you need to do laundry and then put away afterward.
There’s a serious difference in price between full-scale washing machines and the more basic hand-powered models. A high-efficiency washer suitable for use off-grid can cost $1,000 or more, with the top pick on the list above coming in just under that.
Compare that to the very affordable price of less capable off-grid laundry options and it becomes a real question of whether you prefer convenience or thrift.
Off-grid washing machines are one of the best off-grid appliances you can pick up. They simplify a time-consuming and challenging task without using a tremendous amount of power or water.
Whether you choose the ease and convenience of our number one pick, the Magic Chef, or prefer the simplicity and low-cost effectiveness of the Wonder Wash, there are plenty of great options out there to help make your off-grid life that much more enjoyable.
One a footnote we also found a video for If you want to create your own off-grid washing machine! It works by hand. But if you want to go this way you can!
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