Lavario, portable off-grid washer

Where to get it

We found our Lavario washer on Amazon but it doesn't seem to be available there. Check the Lavario site to see where you can pick one up! We don’t make anything if you buy through this link. We just really like this product.

Why we like it

This portable, off-grid clothes washer gets clothes really clean, and it’s pretty easy to use. It works by raising and lowering a plastic basket inside of the larger bucket. The basket has holes in the lid and bottom, with open strips along the sides to allow the water to pass through the clothes as it’s moved. The two fit seamlessly together for easy agitation. 

The handle on the basket is tall enough to use without bending or straining your back, and as you lower the basket, the water is forced up through the clothing fibers for a deep clean that you can’t get from just swishing or spinning your clothes. 

We really like that this off-grid washer:

• Has a tall, comfortable handle

• Is sturdy and rigid

• Can easily be used indoors or out

• Has a drain for easy emptying

• Has a sturdy, enclosed basket for the clothes

• Has a perforated lid that holds clothing under water for soaking

• Comes in some nice colors

• Has rubber grips on the feet so it doesn’t slip while using

• Is usable without getting our hands wet and soapy

• Can be used with captured rainwater

We first tried this indoors (in the bathtub), during the winter, when we wanted to get a deep soak with some white fabrics. It made it so simple to agitate the clothes and then leave and know everything would stay submerged, and then to agitate occasionally without getting our hands wet. The water drains pretty quickly when the drain is released and the basket can be lifted and suspended on the top of the bucket so the clothes drip and drain as well. 

Rinsing is as simple as refilling the bucket with clean water, agitating the clothes, and draining. See how the Lavario off-grid washer works in this video.

Some things to consider 

While this can be used indoors, it does splash a bit depending on how aggressive you raise and lower the basket. It also takes up a bit of room for storage. Once assembled, it doesn’t break down to a smaller size. However, the ease of use and the way in which it cleans makes it a clear winner for us. 

We just wish we’d had this when we were snowed in and washing clothes by hand. 

How it impacts our prepping efforts

We’ve had to wash our clothing off-grid in the past and it can be very strenuous on the back while causing hands to crack and split …something that takes a big toll if you’re also chopping firewood, gardening, and making all your food from scratch. This off-grid washer makes cleaning clothes faster, easier, and less of a strain when electric washers aren’t in use.

Using this particular off-grid washer means we can care for another aspect of our hygiene (so important during emergencies) while leaving time for other important survival activities. 

Specs

The Lavario portable clothes washer:

• Measures 19” x 31” fully assembled

• Weighs 10 pounds

• Holds up to five gallons of clothing