Ok so I'm the newby around here but I love this thread you started (apart the squabbling) because if someone has a reason for hand washing they should have somewhere to discuss it. There are plenty of reasons to hand wash things: Travel, Unexpected Trips, Unexpected Delays, Loss of Washer/Dryer, Lack of Access, Global Concerns, Minimalist Living, Avoiding Chemicals.. etc. I have long stints where my only access to washer/dryer are in a communal situation where many of the people have quite a different lifestyle than I do. The management is good about replacing the units as needed but being the one coming behind the sick person or the guy who partied/smoked all weekend is out of luck. I really enjoy the idea of doing things on my own terms in my own time and that is greatly affected when you have a few hundred other people to work around. It's more fun to take one's self out of that hectic/annoying equasion. I'm highly chemically sensitive as well so imagine the courage it takes me just to walk down to that laundry room praying that no one is running chlorox in their loads. (It could be months before I could come across a time when that isn't going on.) After seeing various shows about what lives in the water of most any washer (even privately owned ones) I can't imagine doing my laundry with anyone elses now. Dust mites, Fecal Choloforms among other things are just some of the common things found in water that cause rashes and other problems even on supposedly 'clean laundry'. Because of that now, I don't wash anything without Grapefruit Seed Extract because it's the one of the only things that kills that stuff. I was drawn to the thread also because I was looking for an easier way to handwash items with a low footprint ie.. In a small space to have multi-purposeable items that are easily stored goes a long way. My biggest concerns are: * Avoiding CRUNCHY or STIFF laundry (after all that work). * Finding a way to adequately spin/mangle the water out (without killing the hands completely as I have early onset arthritis)... I am currently using a 6 gallon drink tub with a handle and spiggot so I can move it around and do it wherever I want to and drain most of the water out before moving again. I realize I'm going to need to find a hose of some kind to hook to the sinks though. (Not as easy in the bathroom...) I also want to get a rolling plant stand or something for it so I can move around easily enough, which might actuall work out for agitation of some kind. The lid fits very tightly so it winds up having a wider opening than the WOnder Washer and holds more as well. AGitation? I'm going to look at the agitator on the Lehman's page but for right now I have one of those 'grabber' devices that people use to reach things when they can't bend over safely. Spinner verses Wringer/Mangle? Does anyone have any ideas on which is better in the long run? I've read extensively about two 'small' electrical spinners as well as the 18 inch type hand wringers and I just wonder about the benefits of either item. BOth wind up being a little pricy (@ $150 or more) and I can't imagine spending that kind of money on things that will not work on towels or sheets... Where does all that water go? Do you literally sit inside your tub? As for hanging to dry I have a single pole curtain rod from Ikea but I may go get the double one and put a rod on it without a curtain to drape the larger items over when I wash them. It allows for about a 1.5 inch space between curtains so I figure it will not affect the light weight curtain much if at all. It's right near the cieling fan as well so as long as it's well wrung it should dry quickly. I may post this kind of thread as well under another type of title about being chemically sensitive to see if more people who relate to that might have some experience with what to do. Thanks for any thoughts. I'm so tired of things coming out stiff - like socks, etc. Thanks GG

Well, the Oxyclean didn't cause the dye transfer....the hot water did. and Oxyclean won't remove the dye either. Doesn't Rit color remover need hot water to work?...Hot water won't do the shirt any good....but what's to lose? Try the Rit...it's the only thing I can think of that may work outside of overdying with another color...or decorating the shirts with permenant markers....they're available in lots of colors! Linda C

The towels you are referring to are called fingertip towels. They are smaller than a hand towel but larger than a washcloth and are rectangular. You can find them in most linen department of larger department stores or just g Google them and buy them online. You set them out for guests near the washbasin. There should be a small basket or hamper nearby for them to put them in after use. Since many people today don't understand these older customs you may have to leave a gentle "prompt" for them to use them. Perhaps a small lettered sign near the discard container saying "used fingertips towels go here".

Elmer I was surprised those 2 people showed up after. because they hadn't last year. I think maybe the reason they showed up was they may have been told by the other group of workers I may need some help because I started to cry when the worker asked if she could say a prayer for me. We had been talking about my sisters passing away and the suicide of my good friend and I haven't grieved yet for my sister who passed away in December. I cried because these things make me emotional. I get teary when I go to church and hear church music or just from listening to the Priest, they may have thought it was because of the things we talked about. I don't know the reason but I did feel uncomfortable and wished they hadn't showed up. My friend's daughter also had them come to her house and they did say a prayer with her and left her a Bible. Just because they helped her she let them pray for her even though she has no interest in religion at all. She thought just let them do it and they will go away. When they came into the city they asked for volunteers to help join in helping out because they were spread thin with all the disasters happening so I am assuming not all volunteers with them were religious. As I said I would rather give a donation for their help than have a conversation about Jesus and his good works. I will do a follow up over the phone but I won't be answering my door for more prayers or whatever. I got the help I needed to clean my basement plus more work than was requested for the price of a prayer. They didn't cause me any harm except for me feeling uncomfortable.