no washing machine? no problem!

getting rid of our washing machine was (and is) the best decision i ever made.  okay, probably next to television set.  it's been 6 months now and i haven't encountered any problem at all.  in fact, it made my life even better.  going back to basic is always better.

doing laundry by hands was a lot easier than i thought.  yes, no tedious scrubbing needed.  all i really have to do is soak my laundry for at least 30 minutes (overnight for heavily soiled curtains, linens, et cetera), and let the power of laundry detergent do its work.  i discovered by accident, thanks to my laziness, that loosened dirt are easily washed off during rinsing and wringing.  i don't even have to use any "luxury" laundry detergents because they usually do more harm than good, especially on black articles and delicate materials.

i also stopped using fabric conditioners because there's really not much difference on clothes after they completely dry under the sun.  i would always choose natural over any laboratory-made synthetic scents.   furthermore, residues from fabric conditioners will only weaken the fiber of your clothes over time.  even experts suggest not to use this laundry supplement on towels as it will decrease its absorption capability.

please skip the machine drier as much as possible.  those with no backyard or living in small apartments will often do half and half.  meaning, half of the clothes will be placed in the machine drier, and then half will be hung directly on clothesline.  your clothes will last longer this way, not to mention saves you time and lowers your carbon footprint.

the best part of not owning a washing machine, in my opinion, was the freed up space in our house.  albeit just a few inches, i could now use it for whatever my heart desires.  plus, there's no need for me to conceal a huge eyesore because washing machine is just plain ugly.