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

When I read about people spending a great deal of money, or working so hard to clean a wedding gown, I have to tell my story. After our wedding, I had my dress cleaned and put into a "Heritage Box". I stored it in our basement. A few years later, my then four year old son and a few friends were playing in our basement. I heard this shrieking laughter coming from downstairs, so thought I better check to see what they were up to. When I walked into the room they were in, I gasped when I saw they had found my wedding gown, and laid it on the tile floor, and were using it as a slip n slide! They all stopped and looked at me, waiting, I'm sure, for an explosion. All I could do was laugh! I only have boys, so I knew the dress would never be used again, but the story has given many a good laugh over the years! Good luck with the washing--I know a woman in our community who makes wedding gowns, and she always recommends washing them.

You've led the horse to water (gotten BM to sit and hear you guys out) but you cannot make her drink (she isn't gonna do what you suggest) but I would have a hard time sitting back & watching the train wreck too. Instead of SD just not visiting, would it be within your ability to offer to take her younger sister for those weekends? (or an occasional weekend)? It sounds as if BM would welcome less distractions to her dating and you are not going to change that... if she gave a rats behind about her kids' feelings, she would at least feel guilty if not change her behavior. But, instead she gives the option of include him or stay home. I don't even get the sense that she has an ounce of guilt or remorse or any consideration to how this makes the kids feel. Trust me, she will reap what she sows... When BM moved away with BF and left her other DD with grandma, we offered to take her other DD one night a week to have dinner with us so SD could see her more because she was used to seeing her sister every other week and after BM moved, her other DD chose to stay at grandma's on many of the weekends SD was with BM so SD was going weeks without seeing her sister. (of course SD's sister was 12 and declined to have dinner with us... I think because BM had a problem with it and talks badly about us too) But, in your case, your SD will probably worry about her sister and fall into the role of caretaker at BM's and that is not good for SD. While it's not your responsibility to do anything at all, it would be a nice gesture to babysit her sister occasionally so SD gets to see her sister and doesn't have to be the caretaker or worry that mom is neglecting her. It's such a sad situation... there really should be a license to breed!!!

Dish water in the basement is better than toilet water in the basement. :] The heating element burned out on my old DW not long after I finished a modest remodel on the kitchen. I did dishes by hand, while I considered replacing it, or turning the empty space into a drying cabinet. After a month or so I decided to replace the DW, but if you have an injury that makes standing painful, I think repair or replacement asap makes more sense. You can get an idea of repair cost--it might be minor, such as replacing or tightening the supply line or drain hose. If repair is more expensive, how do you feel about a used DW from Craigslist or a Restore? As for the toilet, is the leak from the stool or from the tank? if you have someone strong enough to move the toilet, replacing a wax ring or other seal is fairly easy. I just went through that ordeal, too, and thank goodness for my strong son-in-law. I replaced the old wax ring with a Sani-seal, which is more expensive (ap $12.00), but more error-proof for an amateur. Replacing a fill valve is even easier and you don't need to move the toilet. The gasket failed on the fill valve, which is what caused the flooring underlayment to swell and break the seal on the wax ring. Asking friends or neighbors to recommend a plumber is a good idea, but a competent 'handy man' should be able to handle the toilet issue(s), and might be able to tell you what's causing the DW leak. Good luck!