We went to our local caravan centre and saw them on offer for \u00a355 so we purchased one there and then.\u00a0 Six washes and we would be in front.\u00a0\u00a0 We did a “dry run” at home before setting off on our annual winter trip.\u00a0 All seemed well, the machine did its thing, not too noisy, vibration under control and simple to use.\u00a0 We packed the washer into the camper locker and set off for Dover.\u00a0 We had reached Spain before we decided we needed to do a washing cycle and on a fine bright morning I got out the washer and placed it on our folding table.<\/p>\n
We went through the two cycles twice (washing and spinning for coloureds and whites) and all went well apart from the washer nearly vibrating off the table once or twice.\u00a0 The clothes came up clean enough though the spinner could have been better.\u00a0 All in all the operation took all morning.\u00a0\u00a0 That was almost two years ago.\u00a0 Since then we haven’t bothered using it. \u00a0For us the reality was it was just too much trouble and we liked the idea of having a coffee or doing the shopping while the washing cycle went through. \u00a0When the spin cycle had finished we still had to dry the clothes and in winter this \u00a0wasn’t always practical. \u00a0 We didn’t even carry it with us in the end so sold it on Ebay<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n It does make you more self sufficient and it does give you the flexibility to pop a load in as and when so if\u00a0wardrobe space is an issue but you have room in a garage or large locker then you can cut down on smalls, T-shirts, bedding\u00a0etc. and recycle more often.<\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n It does take a fair amount of water so you need to be near to a fresh water supply. \u00a0It also needs warm or hot water to make a good job and this takes gas – something that might be in limited supply if you use Calor propane bottles and not LPG. \u00a0 The spinner will only remove the excess water and doesn’t spin clothes to the same extent as a home domestic spinner.\u00a0 This means that in winter you have a\u00a0bigger problem of drying all the clothes so even in fine weather\u00a0they may need to be hung out all day. \u00a0 If not then they are drapped all over the inside of the camper and tend to fog things up, not to mention making the place look untidy.<\/p>\n Verdict<\/strong><\/p>\n I think the last line of our experience chapter sums it up – we don’t use it.\u00a0 We prefer to use the Hyper-U Laveries and do the shopping while the clothes are washed and then drink coffee while they are tumbled dried.\u00a0 When finished the clothes can go back in the lockers\/wardrobes all snuff dry.\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe it would be easier in summer but certainly in our limited experience winter has its drawbacks.<\/p>\n Update: \u00a0On our winter 2012 trip we struggled for 5 weeks trying to get a supply of water as most of the sites, Aires etc. had turned off the water supply. \u00a0We had to survive on limited water – certainly not enough to use for washing and in any case with minus 12 temperatures it would have taken for ever to dry……<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Over the years we have always called into local laundrettes every couple of weeks to do the washing.\u00a0\u00a0 It always worked out ok as we would pop the washing into the machine and go for a coffee or do the … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.vennwood.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/IMG_4247washer.jpg\" "\\"IMG_4247washer\\"")
<\/a>Our\u00a0Washing Machine<\/strong><\/p>\n