Wringer Washing Machine - Save Electricity, Water, and Money

Some inventions stand the test of time. The wringer washing machine - a labor saving device, is certainly one of them. Even though today's washers are usually run automatically by an electric motor and pumps, this wasn't always the case. For about a hundred years, everyone was doing their laundry with wringing machines.

These devices come in all shapes and sizes. Their technology has changed with the times. However, the one thing that hasn't changed is a wringer washer's ability to save water, detergent, and power as it runs. Compared to conventional washing machines, the energy savings can't be beat.

The Basic Run Down of a Wringer Washing Machine

In the days before electric motors, a wringer was no more than a tub with a hand powered crank on the top. The tub was filled with hot soapy water. You would agitate your clothing with your hands or a stick to move the soap through the fabric. Then you would crank your clothes, piece by piece, through the wringer. They would move onto a rinse tub and then be cranked one last time before being hung out to dry.

With the rise of electricity, the agitation was done with a simple motor that shook or rotated the tub of the wringer washing machine. Even the wringer itself was motorized. However, you still needed to transfer your laundry to the rinse tub by hand.

Wringer washers are more time consuming to operate, but they get your clothes clean and save on your utility bills. If you start with your whites and least dirty clothes and move onto progressively dirtier and darker clothing, you can even save your hot, soapy water for another round.

Finding Wringer Washers to Buy

A lot of people prefer the convenience of conventional washing machines these days. This has made wringer washing machine hard to find. You can't just go down to your local department store and pick one up.

The good news is that even though the last wringing washers were made in about 1990 in the United States, you can still find working or refurbished models. Since more people are worried about reducing their carbon footprint, these economical washers might be even more available in the future.

If you are looking for a wringer washer machine for your home, you should try to search online. Ebay and Craigslist are good places to start. There are also specialty stores that refurbish old machines and get them working again. Their simple mechanisms make them easy to repair.

You should also check with your local Maytag supplier. Maytag wringer washer machines used to be manufactured in millions from the turn of the last century until 1983. Their model E2L was produced for nearly forty years. It could run on gas or electricity.

If you live in a community that has a lot of Amish or homesteaders, you could try to ask them where they got their wringer washers. The non-powered washers are preferred by people who are trying to live off the grid.

Pros and Cons of Wringer Washing Machines

If you are thinking that a wringer washer might be just the thing for you and your family, there are some points that you need to consider.

First of all, it will take more human time to do your laundry. Each cycle is only about fifteen minutes (as compared to forty or more for a standard washer) but you need to be wringing clothes and rinsing them at the end of each cycle.

Wringer machines are not good for delicate clothing. The wringer can snag garments and can even damage zippers and buttons if they are not put in right. You will have to hand wash your delicates, like wool, silk, georgette, cotton voile or muslins, and thereby spending even more time with your laundry cleaning.

On the other side side, a wringer washer will save you money. Initially it is less expensive than a conventional machine. It takes less energy to run, especially if you opt for a gas model. You will also save on your water and detergent consumption levels.

Wringers are also better for the environment for all the reasons listed above. Because they are built to last, you won't be putting in a landfill any time soon either.

In Summary

While some people like the nostalgia of a wringer washing machine and other people like living off the grid, when you decide if a wringer washer is right for you and your family, you're essentially making the choice between your time and your money. Thankfully, this machine creates the choice in the first place.

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