Are you tired of taking forever to hand wring your clothes after washing? With a homemade clothes wringer, you can save time and energy on laundry day. In this article, I’ll share how to construct a basic but effective DIY clothes wringer using common household materials.
Materials Needed for the DIY Clothes Wringer
The good news is you likely have most of the items already. You’ll need:
- Two wooden boards (at least 1″ thick and 2′ x 3′ in size)
- Bolts, nuts, and washers (at least 6 sets)
- Eye bolts (at least 4)
- Ropes or straps (at least 6′ long)
Building the Frame
To start, lay the two boards side by side and drill holes through both boards at equal intervals along the edges. The holes should be large enough to fit the bolts through with room for the nuts and washers. Be sure to countersink the holes on one side so the nuts are flush.
Now thread the bolts through from one side and secure with nuts and washers on the other. Tighten them up to form the basic frame. You may want to test the rigidity at this point before moving on.
Adding the Rollers
Now it’s time to add the mechanisms that will actually wring the water out. Screw an eye bolt into each end of one board near the top. These will act as the rollers.
Attaching the Straps
Cut two lengths of rope or strap longer than the board width. Feed one end of each through an eye bolt so it hangs down either side. Knot or otherwise secure the ends so they can’t slip back out.
Your DIY clothes wringer is now ready to use! Give it a test run with an old towel before laundering your whole load.
Using Your Homemade Wringer
To operate it, lay damp clothes onto the board without rollers. Then position the roller board on top and start turning the handles to tightly roll the clothes between the two surfaces. The straps will stay taught thanks to the eye bolts. Work methodically from one side to the other to remove excess water.
In no time, you’ll have clothes with just the right amount of dampness for hanging to dry. On larger items like sheets, you may need a helping hand to keep things aligned. Be careful not to over-wring delicate fabrics like silk.
Rather than spending hours hand wringing after washing, your DIY clothes wringer can cut the time drastically! Let me know if you have any other questions before beginning your project. Feel free to tweak the design as needed for your space and materials available too. Soon laundry day will be a breeze.
Variation: Adding a Crank Handle
For those who want to take it up a notch, consider attaching a crank handle for an even more efficient spin. Simply screw an additional eye bolt into the center of one roller board. Attach one end of a long handle or dowel rod to the eye bolt, and fasten the other end securely. Now you have a real spinning mechanism rather than manual rolling.
In conclusion, with just a few simple materials gathered around the house and following the directions above, you’ll be well on your way to quicker drying time after washing up. Your clothes and body will thank you come laundry day! Let me know if you decide to build one of your own.
FAQs about DIY Clothes Wringer
For a really cheap wringing method, all you will need is two small, circular plastic laundry baskets and a drill. Make several half-inch holes in the bottom of both baskets. To wring out your clothes, set them into one of the baskets with the basket either in a tub or outside.
Put down a large, fluffy towel, then lay the wet garment on top. Roll up the towel tightly with the clothing inside. Twist the bundle: start at one end, rolling methodically, and work your way along until the entire towel is tightly twisted. This squeezes excess water out of your clothes and into the towel.
Gently squeeze out water, but do not wring; wringing or twisting can damage fibers and distort the garment’s shape. Then, roll the item in a dry towel, jelly roll-style, and squeeze to remove water. Step 6: Lay or hang the garment to dry.
Use your hands to wring the water out of a clothing item. Lay down a dry bath towel, then spread the clothing item onto the towel, so both are as flat as possible. Then, roll the towel up to encase the clothing item and twist the opposite ends of the towel. The towel will absorb the moisture from the clothing.