Simple Nest Portable Washing Machine Review

Laundry – it never ends. Clothes, towels, and linens are all a part of RV living, which means you’ll need to do laundry on the road.

We’ve been full-time RVers for the last seven years, traveling with our dogs. It has been exciting and has changed our lives. But…truth be told, the laundry part of camping is something I could do without.

Trying to find laundromats and laundry facilities takes time away from camping fun. Even when you have a washer and or dryer in your RV, sometimes you do not have full hookups, and moving the RV to empty your tanks isn’t a part of the plan.

So when I saw that there were small, portable washing machines made for RVers, I was intrigued. Could this be the answer to my laundry predicaments?

Why Travel With a Portable Washing Machine?

Portable washing machines save money, space, water, and electricity. Small enough to store in an RV, it can also be useful when public laundromats are not open or in rural areas without laundry facilities.

We ordered the Simple Nest Portable Washing Machine online from Camping World. It was delivered to us in just a few days, and – I should not have been this excited over a portable washing machine! But the little things that make camping easier are big deals to me. And at its price point, this was a big deal to me.

The Simple Nest Portable Washing Machine Specs

Dimensions: 16 1/2″ L X 15 1/2″ W X 22 1/2″ H

Maximum Load: Up to 7 lbs.

Rated Power: Washing/240W, Spin/120W

Water Usage Per Load: 1.5 gallons

With this easy-to-store portable washing machine, you can wash clothes anywhere and eliminate the task of hand washing.

How the Simple Nest Portable Washing Machine Performed

This machine is lightweight and easy to use at home or in your RV.

Put clothes into the removable basket, add water and detergent, and set the wash cycle. The transparent lid and housing allow you to monitor progress. Drain dirty water into a sink, tub, or shower when the wash cycle is done. The spin cycle removes excess water for faster line drying. A convenient power cord retainer system on the rear of the machine keeps everything tidy when stored.

I think this machine is great for single campers or those who want to keep up with an outfit a day. For those of us with dogs in our family, you know that laundry can get overwhelming. Camping means more towels when you get dirty. But dirty means fun! You won’t be afraid of the dirt with the Simple Nest Portable Washing Machine from Camping World.  

Setting up the Simple Nest Portable Washing Machine

It was easy to unpack and set up. I decided to try it outdoors and inside the RV to see which method worked the best.

I started by finding a level spot outside. I plugged the washing machine in and read the instruction manual. It was super easy to get set up and easy to fill up with a water hose. Or you can use the included attachment to hook to your water source. I tried a small load, with one pair of jeans, a shirt, and a tank top. I set the cycle for a maximum of 15 minutes and sat back and relaxed as I watched in anticipation of a life-changing appliance! Seriously though, I envisioned being able to do daily small loads like washing a clean towel for my dogs or having clean socks. This…was…amazing.  

The best part was watching the spin cycle but not expecting much spinning action. I was wrong. The clothes felt slightly damp, and I was able to hang them on another item I purchased from Camping World, a super useful folding drying rack. By the end of the day, I had a clean outfit ready to go and clean towels for my dogs. The machine cleaned all our clothes, and each load took less than an hour.  

Draining the water in between the washing and rinse cycles took me the most time. I think I will try to use less water with smaller loads. Draining the machine is done with an attachment hose that you can empty into your shower drain or sink or, if you are outside, perhaps a portable tank to empty at the dump station so as not to fill up your RV tanks.

Easy Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Washing

1. Place the tub on a level surface near the drainage point.

2. Open the top cover and turn the spin basket clockwise to release and remove.

3. Clip the water drainage tube to the right side.

4. Place clothes in the washing machine.

5. Plug the washing machine in.

6. Fill with warm water via the water inlet or direct it to the tub with the jug (not exceeding 40 degrees/woolen fabrics 30 degrees) to level marks.

7. Add Washing powder to the water.

8. Turn wash to time as desired.

9. When the wash ends, release the drainage tube and drain water into a sink or suitable container.

Step 2 – Rinsing

1. Clip the drainage tube to the side of the machine.

2. Re-fill the tub with clean water to the same level.

3. Turn the dial to the desired time.

4. When the cycle has finished, release the drainage tube and drain the water. 

5. Repeat the above process if necessary.

6. Leave the drainage tube in the released position.

Step 3 – Spin

1. Place wet clothes into the spin bucket, and split the load if necessary (do not overload basket, max 2kg).

2. Place the plate over the clothes and press down to secure it.

3. Place the spin bucket into the tub, turn counterclockwise, and click into position.

4. Turn the dial to spin for your desired time.

How to Dry Your Clothes After Washing

Then, take out those clothes and hang them on a line to dry or use Camping World’s folding drying rack. This rack is designed for indoor or outdoor use, in your RV or at home. It stands 51” L x 21 ¾” W x 35 ¾” H when open and folds flat to 39” L x 21 3/4” W x 2” H. It has a powder-coated white frame and wire with non-skid leg protectors. It gives you approximately 21’ of drying space plus an accessory rack and shoe drying holders at the bottom.

Camping has taught me that I can make adjustments to normal, everyday activities like laundry by finding innovative ways to keep our RV clean and keep our family healthy. Do a little laundry daily if you don’t want to spend all day at a laundromat. That way, your hiking and family time won’t be taken up with washing clothes!

Appliances do not have to be large or complicated to work. The Simple Nest Portable Washing Machine is now part of our traveling family, and we can foresee it traveling with us to many places and more adventures to come.

What do you want to know about this portable washing machine? Tell us your questions in the comments below.