The Perfect Portable Washing Machine for the Camper

How do you clean your clothes while on the road? The most significant obstacle our family has faced when taking long camping trips is washing clothes. We have made several summer trips that have lasted over a month, and washing our clothes has been a major stumbling block. Our camper does not have washer and dryer hookups. Camping can be difficult with limited storage to pack enough clothes to last more than a week or two, so clothes will have to be cleaned and worn again. Through some trials and errors, we found the perfect portable washing machine for the camper and for our needs.

The best portable washing machine for camping is the Black and Decker Portable Washing Machine. The Black and Decker portable washing machine allows us to wash our clothes wherever we are camping, ensuring that we always have clean clothes available.

The Problem with Campground Laundry Rooms

First, let me say that we do not use the washers/dryers at many campgrounds for a few different reasons. Mainly, it is not convenient. If other campers are using the appliances, then you must wait your turn. Once a load of clothes is in the process of washing, you will need to wait to put them in the dryer or return in 30 minutes. Then you must relive the same process when drying.

We have heard stories of others taking campers’ clothes from the washer or dryer and leaving them on a table at the campground because the person was not there waiting to retrieve their clothes. The washer and dryer location is often not conveniently located near your camper. Finally, it just seems dirty somehow to wash and dry clothes in machines that others are using.

Many newer fifth wheels and motor homes come with a washer/dryer hookup, which allows you to wash and dry clothes easily. However, since we travel in a camper with no hookup, we have had to figure out a way to do it ourselves.

Hand Crank Washing Machine for the Camper

For our first extended trip, we purchased a small washer with a hand crank (Check it out on Amazon). The washer had a small drum, and you added a few clothes, detergent, and water. We used the hand crank to turn the drum and wash the clothes.

The hand crank method cleaned the clothes well but had several drawbacks. First, it is a small drum, so you cannot wash many clothes, usually only an outfit or two (if it is summer) at a time. Washing a small load is fine if you are cleaning clothes for one person or maybe two, but it takes a while for a family of four. Secondly, there is no spin cycle, so clothes come out very wet. Finally, it was hard work. You are traveling, and who wants to work hard to wash your clothes when on vacation?

The hand crank method is inexpensive as the washer costs less than other models. The unit did a good job and would work well for someone camping solo, but washing was a very cumbersome task for our family. However, it successfully kept us in clean clothes for a month-long trip from Atlanta to Maine and back.

Portable Washing Machine for the Camper

For our next long trip, we purchased a portable washing machine (Check it out on Amazon) that we could carry in the camper. This washer was electric so no more hand cranking. The machine also had a spin cycle and was relatively inexpensive. The biggest plus for this machine was that it was small enough to travel conveniently. We would place it in our bathtub when we used it so that it would drain into our tub and straight into our grey tank.

Like the hand crank model, one of the most significant drawbacks was that we could only wash little loads as the drum was small. Also, while this washer has a spin cycle, it was not highly effective, so clothes came out reasonably wet. In addition, these machines were not built to last long, and we went through a couple of different models. While this machine was better than hand cranking, it did not fit all of our needs, so we kept looking for a better solution.

Larger Portable Washing Machine for the Camper

We finally found a portable washing machine for the camper that fits our needs perfectly, the Black and Decker Portable Washer (Check it out on Amazon). This model is a little larger, so it can be more challenging to travel with, but it has worked perfectly. The machine is 36.6″ high x 20.3″ wide x 20.7″ deep, and it weighs 70.5 pounds. The washer that we use has a capacity of 1.6 cubic feet, which the perfect size to wash what we where on a daily basis. The washing machine is available in sizes up to 3.0 cubic feet for those with larger families.

Our washer rides in the back of the truck when traveling, and we use it outdoors to wash. The washer is kept under the camping awning, and it is covered with a tarp while traveling. The unit has two handles, making it easier to transport. The machine can be difficult to get into the back of the truck, so we use a motorcycle lift (Check it out on Amazon) to help us with this task.

The washer has a capacity of 1.6 cubic feet, so you can wash a decent amount of clothes at once. The spin cycle works excellently, and the clothes dry quickly after cleaning them. The unit has several settings, including “quick wash” and soak. You can set the machine for a small, medium, or large load. The washer also has a hot or cold setting. Although we only use the cold setting, you can easily modify your outdoor shower to use the hot water hookup. We use a y connecter (Check it out on Amazon) on our water spigot at the campground and run a separate hose to the washer for our water.

There are two different methods that we utilize to drain the water while the clothes are washing. If our campground has a sewer hookup, we drain directly into our tub, so the water goes into our grey tank. This method requires a drain extension (Check it out on Amazon). If our campground has grey water dumps, we drain into a cooler with a handle and wheels (Check it out on Amazon) so that we can easily transport the water to the grey water dump.

Drying Your Clothes

Although we found success with a washing machine for the camper that accommodates our family, no portable dryers have been effective. We have determined that the best way to dry your clothes is to air dry them. There are several options when airdrying clothes.

The two best methods for our family when drying clothes are a small wooden drying rack (Check it out on Amazon) and a drying tower (Check it out on Amazon). The wooden rack works well, especially if you only have a few items to dry, but the drying tower is a very efficient use of drying space. It has three levels of racks as well as two side fold-outs for shirts to hang dry. The drying tower also folds, making it easier to travel. Awning arms are always a convenient location for items such as towels.

Clotheslines are a great way to dry clothes as well. You can’t dry as many clothes on a line at a time, and some campgrounds do not allow them. However, lines give you the option to not carry a drying rack with you when you travel. We recommend attaching a net (Check it out on Amazon) to your line if you use a clothesline. These nets are easy to add and can be used to dry items such as dishes.

If you are worried about wrinkles when air drying your clothes, we recommend using a travel steamer (Check it out on Amazon). We have a steamer that stays on our camper permanently and is used often.

Washing and drying clothes can be challenging when camping, but through trial and error, we have found a great system that works for us and keeps our family clean. Several convenient options don’t include the expense or time of the laundry mat. We hope you find the perfect washing machine for the camper and a permanent solution for washing and drying clothes while on the road!

Have you figured out a great way to wash and dry clothes while traveling? If so, please drop us a line in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!