For 6 months, I used ONLY the Portable Clothes Washer to clean my clothes.
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Yes, you read that correctly. I used ONLY a Lavario to wash my clothes for 6 straight months and lived to tell the tale.
I’ve been a full-time RV’er for about two years now, so I know RV living is a balance of knowing which comforts are practical (coffee maker) and which are not (washer/dryer in my trailer). And I have to say, the Lavario did a good job considering it’s a fancy bucket and basket.
So why did I do this? I started using the Lavario in July 2020 to avoid the often-packed laundromats at RV parks — thereby reducing my risk of getting Covid. ‘Nuff said.
Here is what I learned from my greatest teacher, the Lavario Portable Clothes Washer:
- Yes, you’ll need to pre-wash (probably)
- Have pets? Get a lint roller
- Pros: Good, sturdy design that works
- Cons: It’s not a washing machine
- I don’t need as much clothing as I thought
- I’m a nerd with no arm strength
- Always consider the little things (does this thing fit in your RV shower?)
1) You’ll probably need to pre-wash
I pre-washed my clothes primarily because I use a deodorant that tends to stick to the inside of my shirt. And I’m a messy eater. I just gave my shirts a pre-scrub in some warm water and then threw them in the basket with the rest of the clothes. I should mention, however, that my partner was successful in washing his clothes withOUT pre-treating, so I think it really depends on your lifestyle, preference, and level of sloppy eating habits.
2) Pet hair must be dealt with
I was spoiled by industrial dryers that would blast pet hair from my clothes. With the Lavario, I invested in a gigantic lint roller and removed the pet hair from my clothes (mostly socks) before tossing them in. This quick step ensured the pet hair was minimal going into the basket.
3) Pro: Good, sturdy design that works
I used the Lavario 1-3 times per week, usually using cold water. It held up beautifully. When the water was more warm/hot, the basket warped a little bit during the wash, but it was fine afterward and NEVER broke. On that note, please use common sense when using this device and read Lavario’s FAQs and the instruction manual. It’s a fancy bucket and basket, so don’t do anything foolish like sloshing around bleach and/or scalding-hot water. It’s meant to give your clothes a basic wash.
4) Con: It’s not a washer/dryer
I found myself missing washing machines as time went on, but that could be due to the fact that I’m lazy. I would rather be reading while a machine washes my soiled garments, but 2020 had other plans. Additionally, while drying clothes outside makes sense — it wasn’t fun when they flew off the line and ended up in the dirt. Really, that was my only con.
5) I don’t need much clothing
I’m going to say this twice. It’s a small basket. IT’S A SMALL BASKET. You are not going to fit 8 pairs of jeans, 5 shirts, and a comforter into the Lavario. Let’s get more specific for the spatially challenged. Here are some examples of what I fit into the basket to wash, where each bullet point was a separate “full load”:
- One fitted Queen Sheet & One flat Queen sheet (thin fabric, not flannel)
- One towel and some socks
- 3 T-shirts and a pair of denim shorts
- A week’s worth of socks and underwear
- 1 set of workout clothes (bike shorts, shorts, sports bra, t-shirt)
I should also mention here that my partner was able to somehow get more clothes clean per basket. He was able to wash a handful of large t-shirts plus two pairs of pants in one load, which I attribute to my next point:
6) I’m a nerd with no arm strength
It’s true. I’m a nerd who can carry a 30lb bag of dog food only long enough to look tough in PetSmart. When it came to the Lavario, I did struggle to push the basket up and down when it was “over-full”. What does that mean? Two towels. Yup, I struggled to lift two towels in a bucket of water. Now, you are probably stronger than I, but this is noteworthy for anyone expecting to cram the Lavario full of heavy fabrics. I don’t recommend over-filling this thing both in consideration of its structural integrity and because it might be difficult to maneuver.
Here’s my Lavario in action:
7) Always consider the little things (does it fit in your RV shower?)
- Seriously, go look at your shower right now. Make sure the Lavario will fit in your RV shower. While I’ve heard of people trying to use this thing outside, I’d probably only recommend that if you have an easy place to drain several gallons of water (and your neighbors are cool with all that). Lavario does sell an RV accessory kit, but I never needed it because I emptied it in the shower.
- What’s your gray tank plan? The water has to go somewhere. Make sure your gray tank has capacity for at least two Lavarios worth of water which is somewhere between 10-20 gallons, or figure out a different setup. I personally open my gray tank valve when I’m ready to empty the Lavario so that it flows straight through to the sewer hookup.
- Forget the soap packets, buy the liquid stuff. I had to switch from those handy detergent pods to the liquid detergent. Keep in mind it’s not a lot of clothing, so I only filled my Gain cap to the “1” line or less.
- What is your hot/cold water situation? RVs aren’t known for their awesome hot water heaters. You’ll probably need to use cold water, which wouldn’t necessarily add to its cleaning power.
- How will you dry your clothes? Again, think about your neighbors. Are they going to be OK with seeing your unmentionables flapping in the wind? I personally used wooden clips and twine as a dry line.
- Do you have space for it outside the shower? There is limited space in an RV (obviously). The shower is the most sensible place to store it, but where do you put it when YOU are in the shower? It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but you should still picture how it fits (or doesn’t) in your living area.
The bottom line paragraphs
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by how effective the Lavario was in the long-term. I feel like it was absolutely worth the money considering how often I used it and how well it cleaned my clothes. An added bonus was that I would’ve been paying about $40/month for laundromats, so it actually saved me money over 6 months.
While I think the Lavario is a worthy purchase, consider your unique situation. If you’re going to spend upwards of $130+ on this thing, think about how often you’ll be using it and/or the value it would bring. I could definitely see this being useful for folks who are camping without a nearby laundromat (state parks), wanting to save money in the long-term (work camping), or just want to avoid humanity like me (weirdo recluse).
I hope this article has helped you make a decision about whether the Lavario is right for you. And if all else fails: