How to Wash Clothes in a 5-Gallon Bucket

Washing machines provide a great amount of convenience but use a large amount of resources, including water and electricity. Hand-washing garments takes more of your time, but greatly reduces your carbon footprint on the planet. It can also extend the life of more delicate pieces of clothing. With just a few simple materials, you can wash clothing by hand in your own home, instead of tossing it into the washing machine.

2 5-gallon lidded buckets
Drill with 1.5-inch bit
Laundry soap
Water
Plunger
Scrub brush
Clothes ringer (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Make a whole in the center of the bucket lids with the drill. The hole should be large enough for the handle of the plunger to fit through and move up and down.
- 2
  Pour soap into one of the buckets and then fill it halfway with your laundry. Fill the bucket with water to several inches from the top. Place the plunger in the bucket and place the lid over the top. Close the bucket.
- 3
  Push and pull the plunger up and down, agitating the clothing and soap inside. Do this for 20 to 30 minutes. You may need some help with this step. It can be strenuous.
- 4
  Remove the lid from the bucket and rinse the plunger. Fill the second bucket with water. Remove each article of clothing and inspect it briefly for spots that need to be scrubbed out with the scrub brush. Wring out each garment by hand and place it into the rinse water.
- 5
  Place the plunger in the bucket and put the lid over it, fastening it completely. Plunge the clothing for several minutes and remove the lid. Repeat this step if you find a soapy film still on your clothing.
- 6
  
  Clotheslines offer a greener way to dry your laundry.
  
  Wring your clothes dry by hand or with a commercial clothes wringer and then dry them on a clothesline or in a clothes drying machine.

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