outdoor washing machine

[Earthbound]

I there any way to keep a washing machine outdoors for use in the winter? I dont have any room in our small place for one and have been handwashing/cloths line as well as friends and the laundrymat. Id like to get one and put it outside or in the greenhouse and greywater the trees and such. My concern is, will the water that always seems to be left in the unit freeze and mess up the whole unit? I was planning to connect and disconnect the water with every use. There are always free units on craiglist and such and was planning to go that route. Note; it costs 40 bucks a pop to dump a machine at the landfill so dont want to experament with a few of them....
Any advice would be appreciated. I do have a few outbuildings and qite a few greenhouses but none of them are heated. Ave temps here are around zero and coldest -15.
thanks!!
corry

[Cabin Fever]

I'd suggest buying an old wringer washer like the one below. They drain completely.

[NCLee]

Agree!

I grew up using one of these. It was kept on a screened back porch. Our record low temp is -5.

With a modern one, if you can't drain the lines, they may burst after the water freezes.

Lee

[Earthbound]

Thanks! I kind of suspected that......
I have been looking for one of the old wringers for quite some time, but the island i live on does not seem to have many. Back home where i grew up there would be hundreds for the taking. I grew up with one as well.
thanks again!
corry

[diane5000]

Hi Earthbound,

Well I have a washing machine like no one else on this planet. It may be too

simple for your taste however. In my sixty years I have decided simplicity

is what I want...even if it means a little hard work.


I am sending you a link where you can see it in action.


Incidently, I am really surprised to hear you have to pay to have the old

wringers disposed of. In Canada you pay dear to buy one, assuming the

Mennonites haven't bought them all up.

Keep us posted as to what you decide on.
Gotta go, it's washing day!



Diane
http://www.frombeyondthegrid.com

[ldc]

How cold is it, or does it get in your part of BC? Here in Louisiana, almost all washers are outside, year-round. ldc

[Earthbound]

Thanks Diane5000! Is the link you provided for the machine the one at the bottom of your post??? I could'nt get the screen to play??? Old computer.
Nothing is to simple for my tastes, I live like i'm camping everyday and love hard work. Comes from an upbringing in small town saskatchewan. i'm looking forward to seeing what your talking about.
In regards to weather here, may-october id be ok with it working outdoors as we are well above freezing, but come end nevember, we will hover at the freezing mark most nights and warm up during the day. Last winter though we had record snow and cold and we got to -17 below zero for close to a month... i left the praries to get away from that...lol!
corry

[meanwhile]

Dianne5000: LOVE the washing machine and enjoyed the rest of your site too. Great idea.

Earthbound: We have used a plunger to wash clothes in the bath tub. It is not easy and the kids made a mess but in a pinch - it works. Good luck