8 life-changing portable washers, dryers and other laundry gadgets
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Laundry stuff is taking over the Internet, and no, we're not talking about Tide Pods.
If you paid attention to any CES coverage last month, you'll remember how one of the most popular inventions was a laundry-folding robot called FoldiMate — that costs near $1,000 and doesn't really work. While laundry tech is becoming an increasingly attractive category to consumers, the truth is that most of us aren't about to drop a grand on a robot to do a small task that we can do ourselves.
However, there are some seriously sweet laundry hacks out there that you might not know about, and that don't require dropping a ridiculous wad of cash. Whether you're traveling, camping, only have a few things to wash, or live in an apartment without a laundry room (which is, in fact, the literal worst), there's a hack for you. Here are eight devices to help save some water, quarters at the laundromat, and your sanity — no expert installation needed.
SEE ALSO: Which robot vacuum should you get? This guide can help you figure it out.
Washing
Turelar Portable Sink Washing Machine
Image: turelar
Perfect for traveling or if you live in a building without a laundry room, the Turelar Portable Washing Machine is about to make the lack of a real washing machine a ton easier. This little gadget fits in a suitcase pocket and washes items in a water-filled sink at the touch of a button. Because it washes with a hydro-electric motor, clothes are cleaned with oxygen molecules and won't be damaged through the mixing of water and electricity. Get this Amazon's Choice product for $88.90 here and save an extra 10% with the provided coupon.
Check out the Turelar Portable Travel Washing Machine
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EcoSpin
Image: avalon bay
A more heavy-duty portable washing solution comes in the form of the EcoSpin, and this one doesn't require a sink. The Avalon Bay EcoSpin is a hand crank mini washing machine that washes clothes with a spin cycle similar to that of a regular washing machine. It does require some slight effort on your part, but it's completely manual, making it super clutch for camping or hiking trips where electricity or ways to recharge batteries aren't exactly abundant. According to the reviews, it also makes the task of hand washing delicates way easier as well. Get it for $59.99 here.
Get the Avalon Bay EcoSpin, Portable Hand Cranked Manual Washing Machine
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Electric Mini Washing Machine and Spin Dryer
Image: kuppet
Not into the manual labor that comes with cranking? We feel that. If you have access to an outlet and want something more hands-off, this 2-in-1 mini electric washing machine and spin dryer could be your life saver. Yup, you read that correctly — this five-star rated machine has a twin washing and drying tub design, making it like, the biggest hack of all laundry hacks. With a washing capacity of 7.7 lbs and a drying capacity of 3.3 lbs, those in-between loads or seemingly worthless trips to the laundromat just got a whole lot more convenient — and you only have to purchase one machine. Get one of four colors for $87.99 here. (To see a similar product to the KUPPET but with slightly larger washing and drying capacities, go here.)
Check out the KUPPET Electric Mini Washing Machine and Spin Dryer
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Scrubba Portable Laundry Bag
Image: scrubba
If you really have to travel lightly, the Scrubba Portable Laundry Bag could be your solution. This wash bag is a "modern take on the old fashioned washboard," as the inside is lined with hundreds of nodules that claim to clean clothes in minutes. Though it takes a slight bit of manual labor, it doesn't require any electricity or batteries, which is a life saver during camping or power outage situations. The bag only weighs five ounces and can double as your average dry carrying bag, so when say "portable," we really mean it. Get it for $49.37 here.
Check out the Scrubba Portable Laundry System Wash Bag
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Drying
Dr. Dry Portable Electric Drying Rack
Image: dr. dry
If you're using a portable washing machine, it probably means that you're also without a dryer or didn't wash a load big enough to need a dryer. The Dr. Dry Portable Clothing Dryer is perfect for traveling or tightly squeezed living spaces. It features almost too-easy assembly, wheels, and is compact enough to fit behind a door. Hang up to 66 lbs of wet clothes on the rack (and add the lower removable rack for extra space), zip up the enclosure, and the energy-efficient heater will blow heated air up through the clothes, with pressure gentle enough to not damage even the most delicate items — a few people have even left reviews about successfully drying stuffed animals. Choose between 1,000 and 1,2000 watt with prices starting at $64.99 here.
Check out the Dr. Dry Portable Clothing Dryer
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Nina Soft Spin Dryer
Image: the laundry alternative
Looking for something a little more heavy-duty? Not only is the Nina Soft Spin Dryer totally adorable, but it's also an Amazon's Choice product and claims to get laundry 90% dry in just three minutes. This little electric dryer operates similar to a regular dryer, with clothes going inside and dried by a spin cycle using an on/off button. While each cycle can only do about 12 lbs of laundry, it's perfect for in-between loads or clothes like underwear, socks, or work uniforms that need to be washed and dried regularly. One person in the reviews even claimed that it "saved her sanity" — just remember to put a container underneath to catch the excess water. Get it for $134.99 here.
Check out The Laundry Alternative Nina Soft Spin Dryer
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Organization
Seville Classics 3-Bag Laundry Sorter
Image: seville
Sorting dirty laundry is a necessary evil (unless you're down with tie-dye everything) but this 3-Bag Laundry Sorter just made it a hell of a lot less tedious. It features three sturdy, machine washable bags to organize laundry into darks, lights, towels, or whatever you choose so you don't have to sort through one giant basket on laundry day. When you're ready to wash a bag, just pick it up by the handles and throw the whole thing in the washing machine. The cart also comes with a fold-down table across the top, perfect for folding, ironing, and space-saving. Get it for $87.99 here.
Check out the Seville Classics 3-Bag Folding Laundry Sorter
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MiracleFold
Image: miracle fold
We can't promise a robot to fold your clothes, but we can offer something to make the torturous task of folding laundry slightly more bearable. Like you've probably witnessed employees in retail stores using, the highly rated MiracleFold board can make the art of perfectly stackable folding shirts, pants, and towels faster and more uniform. You'll understand why the word "miracle" is involved when your drawers and shelves miraculously have more room due to neat stacks rather than balled-up garments. Get it for $29.99 here.
