Product review (5 stars): an absolute must have for every household
let me start off by saying i live in a largeer than average household. 7-8 people there at all times so the amount of laundry to be done by the end of the week can just about fill up the back of my dodge pick-up. this translates into 25-30 bucks at the laundry mat every week to run the machines and buy cleaning chemicals and dryer sheets. i've had my eye on this machine for a while now. once we finally saved up enough money to buy a used washer and dryer off craigslist i bit the bullet and ordered this as well as the mini spin dryer for only $130 shipped straight to my door and saved a few bucks in the process. this washer has been a dream come true i wish i had these 20 years ago real talk. despite being so many people in the house i manage to keep up with ALL the laundry simply doing 2 or three loads throughout the day. the washer does a reeeally good job of getting the clothes clean. here's my preferred method. i fill up with hot tap water to the middle mark. add a little liquid tide detergent. like maybe a tablespoon and the same amount in baking soda. give it a quick stir with the spoon kept in the baking soda box and insert clothing until all clothes are wet and come up to the water line. i turn the handle slowly about ten times to build up pressure then walk away. sometimes for 30 minutes. sometimes for 12 hours. when i finally return i turn the crank 20 more times, drain then rinse with about 25 turns of the handle then transfer to the spin dryer and start another load in the wash to begin the soaking cycle. also, in the rinse cycle i use cold water and one tablespoon of bounce fragranced fabric softener. clothes come out super clean, soft, and best of all smellin great. the only reason i got away with buying this set instead of a real washer and dryer is because i do all the laundry anyway so it really didn't matter what anybody else thought, i don't regret this purchase one bit and if it breaks i want another just like it immediately ordered pronto!!! i gotta have it. they make electric washers which are cool too but with my style of washing which includes 70% soaking inside of a pressurized capsule, this works out best to my advantage. Jeans, towels, bedsheets...no problemo. comforters will need a front loader but i'll cross that bridge when i get there. I'm not one of those environmental geek types but man i must admit...it feels good to be conserving power. another plus is i plan on purchasing a truck camper eventually which has a very small compressed living space in it. this makes it possible to boondock for days at a time with only one spare outfit on board. to those skeptical about being able to keep up doin laundry this way...don't be. if i can do it so can you. me and the wife work 50 hour plus weeks and deal with kids outside of work.once u see how incredible this machine works and realize u can do the laundry from the day before everyday and always have an almost empty basket you'll somehow incorporate this washing method into your everyday life. i spend total maybe 25 minutes a day washing rinsing or hanging clothes but my basket stays empty which to me makes it all worth it. normally id spend 2 hours at the laundry mat anyway not to mention sorting thru the clothes, hauling them up there hopin it doesnt rain and being away from home. its just an inconvenience all the way around.most people i tell this about is more less worried about what their gf will think and what others will think. My suggestion..f**k what people think and start saving some serious cash. i giggled to myself using this for the first time but after that wasn't nothing funny about it. this is one serious little machine and it does what its supposed to.