Portable washing machines have, dare we say, a laundry list of pros and cons. They can be just as effective as normal washing machines, though they do require more effort on your end. You’ll need to fill and drain the machine manually, and there might be an occasional water spill from a leaking hose that’ll need cleaning up. Another pro is that it takes much less time than you’d think to thoroughly wash, spin, and hang dry your laundry.
However, a con is that maximum load capacities are around 10 pounds which equals a few shirts, a few dresses, a nightshirt, and a week’s worth of underwear. Yates told us from her personal experience, “It only takes me about an hour total to wash, spin, and hang dry a load in my machine, each load is on the smaller side. That being said, my portable washing machine really cleans my clothes well—as well as a full-size washer would—but it uses less energy, water, and detergent.” Note that not all machines can handle heavier items such as denim jeans or jackets.
Finally, we love that portable washing machines are less expensive than full-size washers but still give a quality cleaning and use less energy, water, and detergent, making this a solid choice if you’re interested in adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Amanda Klecker, a certified building biologist who assesses the overall health of homes, weighed in: “Look at how much water it uses in the wash,” she says. “The greenest option for sustainability is using water from the tap.”
