I was asked this question in a recent comment, so I put the question into my search engine.
I asked AI this question: How does she wash her clothes Bealtaine Cottage?
(16 years of sharing Bealtaine Cottage is now immortalised on the World Wide Web.)
Answer: Colette O’Neill of Bealtaine Cottage washes her clothes using traditional, off-grid methods that align with her permaculture philosophy. Her process typically involves:
Hand Washing: When her washing machine broke down, she transitioned to washing items by hand daily. (2009)
Rainwater Rinsing: She uses a rainwater barrel for rinsing clothes. She notes that this naturally softens the fabric, removing the need for chemical softeners.
Outdoor Rinsing: She prefers rinsing and working with laundry in the open air, often using a line to hang heavy, wet items like patchwork covers.
Alternative Equipment: While she has expressed interest in old-fashioned twin tub machines for their water efficiency, she primarily relies on manual labor and natural resources.
Natural Drying: Clothes are dried on an outdoor washing line or, in colder weather, draped over her Stanley stove inside the cottage to dry.
