After a small accident left a shirt and pants bloodied, the owner of an aging top-loading washer used a brand-new plunger to move a small load around the washer and said the clothes came out clean.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit post, they said that because a replacement machine was already on the way, the improvised plunger method let them deal with bloodied clothes immediately instead of letting them sit.
The original poster wrote, "Did get a few looks when I went to the hardware store first thing this morning to buy the plunger. I imagine they thought I had a different type of emergency."
"Drill (or poke) a lot [of] holes into the plunger and you've got yourself a fantastic agitator!" one commenter wrote. "I take my holy plunger on extended off the grid trips as well as when my washer broke. I believe my laundry was just as clean if not cleaner!"
"I did laundry like this when our power was out for a week after a hurricane," another person said.
More background
Commenters also noted that the basic idea predates the modern plunger.
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One person wrote tied the improvised method to historic laundry tools, writing, "No laughing, my great gran, born in Scotland in 1875, had a 'dolly' for agitating clothes in a washtub." The commenter added that it "looked kinda like this" and included a picture that resembles a coat rack.
The OP also recalled, "I remember seeing my mom washing clothes on a washboard and using a wringer to get most of the water out before hanging to dry."
It just goes to show that keeping the "old ways" in mind can be helpful in this more modern time.
What can be done?
For a top loader that still fills and spins but will not agitate, manually moving a small load like the OP may work as a temporary solution.
The discussion also turned to options for people without a working washer at all.
"A plunger and a 5 gallon bucket and you are in business!" one wrote.
When it came to drying, one commenter recommended "the old school wringer that I can clamp onto a table or countertop to extract water."
Another person warned, "Be incredibly careful—the other name for a wringer is a 'mangle' for good reason. Tie your hair up, wear short sleeves and keep your fingers way back!"
Commenters also said the same technique can help with heavily soiled items before a regular cycle. One commenter said, "Works great to prewash dirty softball socks and pants before going into washing machine."
Where can I learn more?
If a washer isn't doing so well, a few basic maintenance steps can help it stay useful a little longer.
• A home maintenance expert said easy DIY washer maintenance can help avoid costly repairs.
• At TA Appliance, technicians said maintaining peak washer performance can be surprisingly simple.
• A cleaning expert showed how a satisfying maintenance hack helps washers stay in tip-top shape.
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