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Best Portable Washing Machine For Camping

One of the joys of camping is heading out into the bush and leaving the stress and chores of home and work behind – no 9-5 in the office or constant cleaning after the kids all day. But as we all know, you can’t escape completely and sometimes simple things like clean clothes need to be addressed.

Enter the camping washing machine – it’s small, easy to use and will keep your clothes clean wherever you are. We have reviewed the best portable washing machines for camping in Australia to make it easier for you when making your next purchase.

 

Companion Ezywash Washing Machine

Companion Portable Twin Tub Washing Machine

Sphere Ecospin Portable Washer

On The Road RV Portable Washing Machine

Scrubba Wash Bag & Dry Kit


best Manual unit
Companion Ezywash Washing Machine
best Powered unit
Companion Portable Twin Tub Washing Machine
Sphere Ecospin Portable Washer
On The Road RV Portable 3 kg Washing Machine
Scrubba Wash Bag & Dry Kit

32.5 x 32.5 x 42 cm

56 x 65 x 36.2 cm

34.5 x 34.4 x 34.3 cm

38 x 38 x 45 cm

16 x 6 x 6 cm

ABS plastic

ABS plastic

Plastic

ABS plastic

Polyether lining, microfibre

None

240V

None

None

None

1 kg

2 kg

2 kg

3 kg

3 kg

2.5 kg

12 kg

4 kg

2.3 kg

0.45 kg

1 Year

1 year

1 year

1 year

1 year

Best Portable Washing Machines Australia

Companion Ezywash Washing Machine

Companion Ezywash Washing Machine

Best Simple Unit

Pros
  • Completely manual
  • Takes only minutes to clean clothes
  • Holds 1 kg at a time
  • Uses less water than hand washing
Cons
  • You have to physically wring the water out before hanging up to dry
  • Flimsy base

With the idea, you don't want to spend too much time washing clothes while out camping, the Companion Ezywash is a solid little performer that will have you knocking over those clothes in no time.

It uses a small tub that resembles a concrete mixer to churn around your clothes by hand before draining the dirty water from the bottom, reducing its overall water requirements.

Then you need to hand wring the water out before hanging them up to dry. Even though this machine only holds 1 kg at a time, the results are very clean clothes in minutes and a process you can repeat easily for larger loads.

Overall this portable washing machine receives great reviews from customers and users due to its simplicity, lightweight and easy portability.

There are some small issues, like requiring a second rinse wash if the first water drained is overly dirty; the base is a little flimsy and moves around too much or that it only takes 1 kg at a time.

For a small group, washing some things every day, this little washer is an overall strong performer at a great price too.

Companion Portable Twin Tub Washing Machine

Companion Portable Twin Tub Washing Machine

Best Powered Unit

Pros
  • Quiet enough to run indoors
  • Uses less water than hand washing
Cons
  • Requires 240V power
  • 2 kg load is a little small for a large machine
  • It is heavy

The Coleman Portable Twin Tub is a big step up from the hand-driven Ezywash, however, this portable washing machine is more reminiscent of home as it's a top-loading, twin tub washer and spinner.

It does require 240V electricity (or 12V with an inverter or with a portable battery box) so keep this in mind.

This product has very high customer satisfaction as the clothes are cleaned and spun by the machine while you can sit by the campfire, with great results.

Given its weight at over 12 kg, it’s not so easy to move around and many people have mounted theirs onto a truck, caravan or motorhome as it’s a heavy carry.

It also only washes 2 kg a time, which is low for such a heavy machine, but if you want clean clothes and have the power set up to run it, then you can’t go wrong with the Coleman Portable Twin Tub.

Sphere Ecospin Portable Washer

Sphere Ecospin Portable Washer

Honourable Mention

Pros
  • Completely manual
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Fold-down crank handle
Cons
  • No gasket inside so is prone to leaking
  • The plastic lid doesn't lock correctly
  • Rubber feet on the base are flimsy

The Sphere Ecospin is a compact little manual washing machine that aims to be bigger than it is. It can hold 2 kg at a time and has a spin function to remove excess water, something its contemporary the Companion Ezywash does not.

It does use a manual handle to wash, the water can then be drained using the same action. The process takes under 3 min from loading the machine to hanging up the clothes.

There is a wide mix of reviews on this portable washing machine with some people giving it a solid rating, but those who use it regularly being fairly critical. It's a great design, however, issues like the lid not fitting properly and gaskets problems leading to leaks have disappointed many users.

The rubber on the bottom is also flimsy and doesn't hold it in place very well. Best bought and used by the occasional camper if you find it on sale, but for everyday use, you have better options on this list.

On The Road RV Portable Washing Machine

On The Road RV Portable 3 kg Washing Machine

Honourable Mention

Pros
  • Completely manual
  • 3kg capacity
  • Washing and spinning
  • Suction cups for stability
Cons
  • Shakes violently during the spin cycle
  • Clothes get out of balance

Like the Sphere Ecospin, the On The Road RV portable washing machine is high on promise and a little low on delivery.

It's a manual operated top-loading machine that is compact, lightweight and can be used anywhere. It can take 3 kg at a time, something even electrical camping machines can't often take.

However, this is the lowest rated washing machine on our list and with good reason – it constantly unbalances itself, leading to shaking and you must stop and redistribute the clothes evenly again.

One review said it kept unbalancing so much they just kept using it and then it fell apart on them. Not ideal at all. The suction cups don't hold it down during the more high-speed spin cycle either, which can also become unbalanced and shaky. Given these major operational issues, we can't recommend this machine.

Scrubba Wash Bag & Dry Kit

Scrubba Wash Bag & Dry Kit

Lightweight Option

Pros
  • Completely manual
  • Very lightweight at under half a kilo
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • On the expensive side

With quite a different concept to your regular washing machine, the Scrubba Bag is an easy, low tech and lightweight washing solution. It's essentially a dry bag with added features including an internal scrub board and a one-way valve.

You load your clothes, water and detergent. Seal it up and drain the air from the valve and then use your hands for a few minutes to move the clothes against the scrubbing board.

Then, you open it up, drain out the dirty water and replace it with clean and do the process again to rinse your clothes before taking them out and hanging them up. It takes a bit more time than the other manual machines, however, this is offset as it can hold 3 kg at a time.

It is a little expensive at $100 for what is essentially a dry bag with some addons, however, users seem to all be very happy with this small and compact washer. Best suited for small groups, hikers and those who like to travel and camp light and fast.

What To Look For When Buying Portable Washing Machines

Washing machines are not always first on the list of equipment to buy as many people head out for a weekend and then just wash all their clothes when they get home.

But for longer travelling or camping, it’s useful to have a machine that will keep your clothes, towels and any other cloth items clean and usable.

Here’s what to consider before making a purchase.

Electric Machines

An electric machine like the Coleman Twin Tub is more efficient, easier to use and cleans your clothes better.

But it is heavy and needs electricity so it is better suited to be mounted onto a vehicle and used where mains electricity is available or you have a good remote setup for power (ie. solar power and a battery plus inverter).

Manual Machines

Most portable clothes washing machines or devices are manually driven. This means you need to turn or crank a handle to move the clothes around as they wash.

In some cases – like the Scrubba Bag – you have to use your hands to move the clothes around an internal board to assist cleaning.

Manual machines require no power, are all much lighter and can be used anywhere. They tend to not spin dry the clothes very well and some hand wringing may still be needed before hanging up the clothes.

Remember, you can always get the kids to do the cranking or turning of the handles for you too!

What size do I need?

The machines in this review range between 1-3 kg in capacity. For reference, a machine at home can take 5-10 kg on average.

But what does this mean? In general, the smaller a load of washing means less water and less time to get it clean.

For an individual or a couple, 1 kg at a time, once a day may be all you need. If you are a couple of families, you may want something bigger like the On The Road RV which can hold up to 3 kg or use something more reliable like the Scrubba Bag which also holds 3 kg.

Camping Washing Machines FAQ

How do you do laundry while camping?

Ever since we started wearing clothes, there has been a need to wash them every now and then. Old school ways were to use rivers and streams and rocks to clean them.

You can still clean your clothes this way, but it’s much better for the environment, uses less water, less time and less hassle by using one of the electric or manual machines we have reviewed.

Load the machine with clothes, water and detergent, turn it on (if electric) or turn the handle and the motion will wash the clothes. You need to run a rinse cycle before taking the clothes out and hanging them up to dry, this is best done in the mornings to allow the heat of the day to dry your clothes.

Do portable washing machines clean clothes well?

Yes, they do as they use the same principles as your machine at home, just on a smaller scale. The smaller size of your laundry load is also why they clean quicker than your 10kg of dirty towels at home.

If you feel your clothes are not clean enough, you can always repeat the cycle yet remember - you are out camping in the bush, not dining with the Queen.

If you are after more heavy duty yet still portable units, check out this list of caravan washing machines.

Final Thoughts

The longer you head out camping, the more of an issue dirty clothes may be. For regular campers or those who camp for long periods of time – the ability to clean your clothes is paramount as clean clothes will keep you healthy.

Clean clothes, especially underwear or T-shirts, have a morale effect when you put them on, especially after a day out getting dirty in the bush that will make you feel nice and clean in the evenings.

The electric Coleman Twin Tub is a great choice if you have the ability to mount it onto a vehicle as it’s quick and easy to use, but is heavy and requires power.

The smaller Coleman Ezywash is the best pick for a small manual machine that will hold up and not fall apart on you. Unless you like to hike or travel light and fast, in which case the Scubba Bag is the clear choice for you.

Once your clothes have been washed, pop them out on a camping clothesline and they'll be dry in no time!


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Our Testing Process

In creating this article, we have completed a rigorous review process on the best out there, comparing products in total, and reading hundreds of reviews from fellow campers to help form our opinions.

The primary goal of our research is to help figure which product is right for you, the user. We systematically go through all of the available options on the market to determine which ones are worthy of our list.

Here’s a full list of the options we considered for this article. Please note that we have never accepted free products from manufacturers.

Full List Of Considered Products


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Louis

While Louis does most of his trips near his home in south-east Queensland, he has been camping as far afield as South America and Africa. He loves researching, testing and experimenting with camping gear whenever possible.

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