Washing machine

[bmcecosse]

My dirty car/railway togs are being banished from the new domestic washing machine ------ so I will need to install the old one in the garage - which has a water supply but no drain. Only solution (yes - pun intended) I can see is to catch the discharge in a plastic container. So - the question is - does anyone know how much water a washing machine discharges in a typical cycle ?? Will a ten gallon container be large enough ??

[RobMoore]

It will depend on the machine, some fill up then empty once done some fill up and empty several times during the cycle.
is there no drain near the garage? you could get some plastic guttering and make a channel to it from the machine.

[PSL184]

From the net......

Washing machines used to use as much water per wash as a person now uses in an entire day - up to 150 litres! (1)

Advances in technology over the past 20 years, however, have succeeded in reducing the average water consumption to about 50 litres per wash - still quite a bit of water! Clothes washing now accounts for about 15 percent (2) of the water that we use on our homes, so by reducing wastage in this area we can make significant water savings.

Washing machines vary tremendously in how much water they use per wash: when adjusted for capacity, some use as much as 20 litres per kilogram while others as little as 6 litres per kilogram! Therefore, when buying a new washing machine it is important to make sure that the model is water efficient.

Search on the make and it might tell you....?

[billlobban]

Roy, as above it all depends on the machine (if it was a commercial machine I would be able to tell you exactly). But why a 10 gal container what about a water butt outside the garage. Use it to water the roses its only got detergent and a little dirt in it.

[bmcecosse]

Thanks all - v interesting. There will be NO holes in the garage wall (I have been 'assured') - it's built into the house - and I happen to have a 10 gallon plastic container. It would obviously need to be emptied after each wash - by carrying to the drain - so some limit on size/weight.
" detergent and a little dirt in it " - Yes - well you haven't seen the state of the railway togs after cleaning the grate and ashpan, and the smokebox......

[RobMoore]

you dont need to drill holes in the wall, get some plastic guttering lenths and route a canal to the drain then store when not required.

[MarkyB]

Isn't there a workshop or out building it could go in near the train shed?
Then all the overalls could be washed in it using their electric, and making all the steam train widows happier.
Win,win I reckon.

[Jefftav]

You can buy fold flat pipe that might jubliee clip onto the wm outlet hose and then just run it to the nearest drain/flower bed/grass patch then roll it up when not in use. The outlet water can come out with some force so weigh the pipe down or at least keep an eye on it.

[bmcecosse]

There already is a washing machine at the railway - and when I can - the worst of the overalls are done there - but often it is already in use. And yesterday - it jammed shut with my overalls inside and full of water.......... Messy! But thanks for all suggestions - the new domestic machine is still at the proposal stage..........

[Kevin]

There already is a washing machine at the railway - and when I can - the worst of the overalls are done there - but often it is already in use.

Launderette

[bmcecosse]

" Launderette " - hmmm - none locally - and likely to cost money ........... Could take them down to the river I suppose - that's what was done in the old days......

[Kevin]

" Launderette " - hmmm - none locally - and likely to cost money ........... Could take them down to the river I suppose - that's what was done in the old days......

Could take them down to the river and you a health & safety man.
I know it costs money but your garage solution doesnt sound ideal unless of course you are going to use the waste water to wash the floor/driveway/pavement/road at the same time

[bmcecosse]

Yes - there are probably 69 European Regs that will stop me washing my overalls in the river these days......... The hope is that the garage machine will not overflow the catcher tank - and so no involuntary floor washing will be involved. Need to think hard and fast on this - new domestic machine has moved forward from 'proposal' to 'model selection' phase.......... It's close to being a done deal - I think it has passed the point of no return........

[billlobban]

Guess you had better add another coat of underseal to the crossmember then Roy as replacement may have to wait another year

[bmcecosse]

Update - it would have worked well - if my 10 gallon container had held more than 5 1/2 gallons.......... The actual washing only expels about 2 gallons of filthy/soapy water - then it goes mad with rinsing using vast amounts of water - but would all (just) go into a 10 gallon container. It's going to be a hose to the drain I think....... Thanks all for suggestions!