Ask the Canary

Posted on Apr 21, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Products, Susie Collins

I don’t have access to a safe, nontoxic washing machine, what do I do?

The Wonderwash is a possible solution for people having a hard time finding a safe, nontoxic washer at an affordable price.

Q:

I live in an apartment building and the common laundry facilities are too toxic for me to use. I also don’t dare go to the neighborhood laundromat because it’s a toxic soup; the use of dryer sheets alone is enough to knock me out for a week. My landlord refuses to provide a safe nontoxic machine for me. Because I am disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and other illnesses, it’s too exhausting for me to do my laundry in my tub or sink, especially the big items like sheets and towels. Do you have any ideas about how I can do my laundry safely?

Sincerely,
Wash Wishing

A:

Aloha Wash,

This is a common problem for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity who don’t have the resources or the living situation to buy their own washing machine. And peeps living with inconsiderate roomies or family are always in the position of being the Laundry Police; all it takes is one toxic product used in the machine to render it off limits to a canary. Sometimes I think the idea of beating our laundry on rocks in a creek seems a better way to do our laundry.

For people with limited resources and no access to a safe washer, members of our community often recommend the Wonderwash, a countertop unit for under $50. You might like to read a review of the Wonderwash by Leslie at The Oko Box Blog.

Most people say their new Wonderwash needed some time to offgas, which can be expedited by running it through some cycles with lemon, alternating with your nontoxic clothes soap. And I have heard someone say that the unit did not work well at cleaning their clothes, but I’ve only heard that once out of many positive recommendations.

I don’t recommended that you buy a used washer as it can be a nightmare if it arrives contaminated with previously used products.

I hope this gives you a possible solution!

Aloha,
Susie

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17 Responses to “Ask the Canary”

  1. Kerry

    22. Apr, 2010

    I had no idea a product like this existed. This would be a great product for kids who go off to college and/or live with roommates , who have a parent or family member with MCS.

    When my daughter came home from the dorms and now when she comes home from an apartment with 5 roommates who use toxic laundry products–she spends a day detoxing her clothes the best she can. Washes them, rinses them, hangs them outside for 24 hrs…and of course there’s a lot of the product still there. After that we have to detox the washer. (She tries so hard to educate her roommates about the toxins in the products. She attends a very “green” school…and yet “green” she tell me has a long way to go to convincing people that their laundry products aren’t green.)

    I’ll have to take a closer look at this washer and price it. I have another going off to school soon, this could be a solution to our “go home and visit and spend half the time detoxing laundry” problem….

    Thanks for sharing Susie!

    I feel for all with MCS who do not have their own washer/dryer. How frustrating and exhausting!

    Reply to this comment

    • Susie Collins

      23. Apr, 2010

      This is sort of reverse application! Have the little wonderwash for the iffy laundry of guests and save your own machine from contamination. Great idea!

      Reply to this comment

  2. Lisa

    22. Apr, 2010

    I’ve tried the Wonderwash a few years ago. Boy was it a waste of my money. >.<

    It just never would wash things clean without a huge amount of energy expenditure. Washing things by hand in a bucket is less work for a better clean unfortunately.

    Could be that others get a different experience based off the types of soaps they use or maybe their needs.

    For me, it was a real let down when looking for something besides a bucket to doing laundry in.

    Reply to this comment

    • Susie Collins

      23. Apr, 2010

      Aloha Lisa! Yes I can see that the energy expenditure would be a problem for some, a definite drawback especially for some who are disabled, which I know is a lot of people in the environmental illness community. Were you using really hot water? Because the cleaning seems to happen through a pressure action caused by the hot water expanding in the drum and infusing the clothing with the water and soap. I was wondering if the hotter the water, the better cleaning you’d get. It’s a drag the unit didn’t work for you.

      Reply to this comment

  3. airy

    22. Apr, 2010

    I found Wonderwash to be a waste too. I did better washing my clothes in the bath tub.

    I did find out that you can get a medical note for having a washing machine in your apartment. The landlord is required to accommodate you. You will need to purchase the machine yourself, but it’s another option for you. I wish I knew about it when I was renting.

    I have notes about it somewhere. I’ll try to dig them up. There are washers that hook up to you kitchen sink and they are small.

    Reply to this comment

    • Susie Collins

      23. Apr, 2010

      Hi Airy! I’ve heard about this accommodation before and wondered if it’s a state law or federal– do you know? I’d love to see more on that if you have info, thanks!

      Reply to this comment

  4. Katrina

    23. Apr, 2010

    The WonderWash has been a great deal for us. We got a spin dryer to go with it (the larger floor size). After the clothes come out of the spin dryer, they will dry usually in just an hour or two even in our normal humidity.

    Ours are about two years old now, and the frame is showing wear at the pivot points. We also cracked our lid from tightening it too far, so be careful with that. We should replace it so it doesn’t leak.

    The upside is that it really doesn’t take any longer to wash clothes this way. Loads are just under 5 lbs each (dry) so we wash frequently. The WonderWash itself took very little time to outgas in the sun, maybe a couple of days. The spin dryer took a lot longer.

    The downside is that when I’m having a rough day and can’t grip very well, hubby has to put the lid on and take it off. If I’m having a really achy day, it’s hard for me to turn it for 2 minutes unless it’s really well balanced.

    We wash everything except large quilts in ours. Another nice thing is that it’s portable, and I love to rearrange things. :)

    Reply to this comment

  5. Katrina

    23. Apr, 2010

    It does make a difference about hot water. We’ve found that items that are greasy (like dish cloths used to clean up olive oil drips), are necessary to soak in heavily soapy very hot water prior to turning the WonderWash. Most things do fine with warm or hot water. Boiling water should never be added to a WonderWash, according to the instructions, so we’ve never added water that hot.

    For our delicates, I put them in those little net bags and wash them in cold water. If they are heavily soiled in spots, I just soak and spot-scrub them prior to loading them in the washer. It’s what I always had to do with a top-loader anyway, so it’s no extra work for me.

    I find it much easier to sit on a stool or stand to turn the handle on the WonderWash than to lean over the tub to wash items by hand. It really saves my back.

    As for soap, we use soap nuts (which are very mild) and organic distilled white vinegar. I think the WonderWash is probably one of the most environmentally friendly washers available aside from doing laundry in a sink or a tub, and I’m very happy we chose to try it.

    Reply to this comment

  6. Sandra Lee

    23. Apr, 2010

    This is a really interesting options. Washing clothes has been a huge challenge in recent periods, but I finally have a washing machine I can use. It just shows you that if we put our mind to creativity, so many options can emerge.

    Reply to this comment

  7. Melva

    23. Apr, 2010

    That little washer sounds nice. I have a portable stackable type that you can buy from Sears. The washer alone is about $600.00 with the dryer being cheaper. They hook up to the sink. At my new apt. the kitchen is so small that the dryer will likely be in the living room, LOL, but that’s ok. I am greatful that I can have one.

    Reply to this comment

    • Susie Collins

      26. Apr, 2010

      I thought about getting a stackable, but we ended up getting a regular top loader and putting it outside in the garden room. I love it out there. Of course this is not an option for people in apt buildings.

      I had a front loader and absolutely hated it. It did not fill with enough water to fully rinse out anything, making it impossible to detox anything, all it did with the small amount of water was impregnate the chemicals further into the fabric. And it grew mildew around the door gasket, which I learned later is a common problem with front loaders.

      Reply to this comment

  8. Airy

    25. Apr, 2010

    I live in California. I know people who have gotten allowances from their landlord to have a washer in their apartment for medical reasons. There’s a local person that I know that converted a Roper washing machine to be a portable one.

    You can also get a portable washer on amazon. I haven’t used one of these, but I know people who have had good luck with them. These are the kinds you can hook up to the kitchen sink.

    I found the old email I was sent about the washer. Here it is:

    “Roper is owned by whirlpool – they are the no frills division. The big larger washer model is actually less $ than that one. They are mechanical controls. Lowes carries them, and they have the best return policy.

    Be careful of high efficiency high tech, energy saving etc. washers. The electronic component plastics and electronic controls can be very toxic. The power/speed controls for exotic motors are really killers vapors too, like inverters and some battery chargers. some construction plastics are really toxic too. Avoid “quiet” washers – they just have more insulation. The less features, the better. Less to go wrong – easier to fix. There’s even some online repair parts companies.

    http://www.repairclinic.com/

    Old fashioned, one speed, two speed, or three speed simple induction motors do gas off odors but no where near as bad as the electronic motor controls of the high tech motors (like DC motors and “brushless” DC motors, not to be confused with induction motors which don’t have brushes either) in my experience.”

    I used repair clinic to fix an old washer that was in the house that we moved into. The part was only $15 (much better than getting a smelly repairman in the house).

    Reply to this comment

  9. Running Bear

    26. Apr, 2010

    What a great post. I hope to see more “Ask the Canary” questions (unless you’ve already got an archive I can look at).

    Although I can’t add anything about washing machines, I can say that rental laws (Tenant Landlord) are according to State. I do not believe there are Federal laws governing rental agreements. However, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is Federal and provides for numerous accommodations. To be sure, you can call your State’s Attorney General’s Office and ask for a copy of the Tenant/Landlord Legal Guide.

    I have had issues with landlords in both Massachusetts and Vermont. Each time, I won in court. I have found that, at least in New England, the law favors the tenant — especially the disabled tenant.

    Keep fighting the good fight.

    Many blessings,
    Gyan (aka Running Bear Woman)

    Reply to this comment

  10. J. Perez

    06. May, 2010

    I own both the Wonder Wash and the spin dryer, and used nothing else for well over a year. Both work very well, as long as you don’t overload them. These machines weren’t made for the larger loads larger machines can do. Figure, one outfit or change of bed linens per load and you’ll be fine. They also do their work much more quickly than an electric or gas machine.

    If there is a drawback, it is that these machines require human energy in the form of cranking, loading, and lifting – so they can be a challenge for someone who can’t do physical labor of those types.

    Although these machines to require less space than regular machines, they do have to be placed near a sink or shower drain (or outdoors). If you use them in the kitchen or bath, you necessarily give up some counter space to laundry. That’s something to consider if you have very limited space to work with.

    Reply to this comment

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