Northwood Calliger Clothes Wringer – Manual Laundry Wringer for Better Moisture Removal Than Portable Washers or Dryers – Heavy‑Duty Off‑Grid Washing Machine Alternative - Red

I've wanted this for a while now, ever since discovering that they still exist! It's one of several items I purchased to set up a hand washing laundry system outside on my deck during the summer months. The other items were a Ball Clothes Washer Deluxe and a Behrens Washboard, which I also reviewed. I did a lot of reading about this item on their website, watching YouTube videos, etc., so I felt like I had a good idea of what to expect. It was everything I was expecting. I will say I was surprised at how heavy it feels. I read the weight before ordering but once it's in your hands you realize that it has to clamp on and essentially stand up on something, and then the weight seems more significant. For example, I had clamped it onto the backrest of a shop stool/chair and it was so tippy that I couldn't even crank the handle or the entire chair would tip over backwards. I ended up putting a cinder block on the foot of the stool as a counter weight and that worked nicely. Just something to keep in mind when you think about what you plan to attach this to. It came with very clear directions on glossy heavy paperstock, a small detail but it made it very easy to prop up and read as my hands were busy holding the unit. The drain plate is a little awkward to get into place, it took some different approaches and then I was able to push it into place. The clamps are multidirectional as shown and there are three positions to move them closer together if needed, using the enclosed allen wrenches. I've only done one load so far to test it out but so far it's great. I think I'll need to play with the tension a little to find a good position for various items, what worked well on a bunch of towels didn't work as well on a pair of flannel PJ pants for example, so it may need to be tightened or loosened slightly depending on the item. That's an easy turn of the knob, so that's fine. I was concerned about the exaggerated style of the handle, how it protrudes WAY out, but it turns out to be ideal. I can stand close to it and turn it as I feed items through and it clears my body entirely without getting in the way. My only disappointment is that the directions say not to put items with "large buttons, snaps and zippers" through it, which surprised me given that jeans are mentioned in the description. But their suggestion is that you can wring the jeans up to the part with the zipper, and then reverse it without wringing the top of the jeans. I suspect some people will say they do it anyway and it's fine, but I don't want to risk messing up the tension or tearing the soft rubber rollers, so I wouldn't dare. It's something I hadn't realized, but not the end of the world. Overall it feels very well made and I'm glad I invested in this.

Opening this package, I found a heavy duty contraption from the olden times. Inside are detailed instructions on assembly, use, and maintenance, all of which are easy to follow. It becomes clear as soon as you open the package that they obviously care about their product and have built it to last. Use: After washing some laundry by hand, I took an article of clothing out, dripping wet, and fed it though the wringer. I adjusted the tension knob on top, the thing worked perfectly, leaving the article feeling as if, if not less damp than if it just came out of the spin cycle of a washing machine. (remember to use the wedge which is included in the package for the drip ramp to stay properly oriented.) Overall thoughts: outside of the above mentioned, I wasn't looking to spend as much as I did on this but I can't argue against its value and feel like, for what you are getting, the price is fair. I'll be using this a few times a week and after some time has passed, I will make an update to this. (10/8/21) 6 months in (4/3/22): I still like it. I live in a small apartment with no laundry facilities and I hate going to public coin operated facilities. The wringer has allowed for me to do my laundry since my first review and saved me it's equivalent cost in running coin machines. Cons: it should not be used with items which have buttons or zippers. I still run small buttons through, but I make sure they are flat and reduce the tension on the rollers to prevent damage. I've also noticed it has a difficult time with thin items, like summer pajama pants, where I have to crank the tension knob down to get enough pressure but thankfully thin items usually dry faster anyway so I don't fuss to much with this. I would still recommend this item. It's pros for me far outweigh the cons, and the cons are just minor inconveniences. Edit: approaching the 4 year mark of using this thing. Still works. No edits to previous remarks. Edit edit: December 2025 - I'm still using this regularly. I had to put some 3 in 1 oil on the tension knob as the screw part was showing some minor corrosion. With how much I use this, this was to be expected. Still recommend this.

I had been saving up for this for awhile, as hand wringing was killing my wrists. We are apartment dwellers and eco-hippies that prefer to be as off-grid as possible for the sake of future generations. We live in the PNW, so line drying in the rainy winter season takes forever if clothing is well wrung. It took me less than 10 minutes to have it set up and working. This wringer does the job! 1) Quality: This thing is built like a tank (and as heavy as one, to boot)! Every piece seems to be well made. Some reviews mention wiggles, tiny nuts, and other issues. I'm guessing these have been addressed, as the handle fits like a dream, the thumb screws are large and easy to operate, and everything moves smoothly and is firmly attached. I expect this to last a lifetime if it's maintained properly. And that's the key, maintain it. Rinse it to remove leftover soap/dirt after use, air dry before storage, and lubricate moving parts regularly. 2) Assembly: Read the instructions. I repeat, read the instructions as they tell you exactly what to do. The drip tray does need to be bullied into place, but if you push down on the ends as you force it in it will pop right into the pegs -- just like it says in the instructions. I'm a middle-aged woman with carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritic hands, and I was able to do it, so most anyone of average strength should be able to -- IF YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. 3) Usage: I've done 5 loads of laundry -- lights, darks, sheets, jeans, and towels/dishrags. Every single one of them went through like a dream. Fold zippers and small buttons to the inside of the fabric to avoid damaging the rollers/zippers. For large buttons, like on jeans, feed through leg first and stop before the button goes through, then back it out. Just like it says in the instructions. (Did I mention that you should read them?) Start with the top adjuster fairly loose and then tighten it by full turns until you get to the amount of wringing you need. Once you are used to it, adjustments are intuitive. It took me two loads to get to that point, so the learning curve is slight. Only heavy items needed to go through twice to get about 98% dry, I fed everything else through only once. Most of my laundry was dry within 4 hours on a 60 F, sunny day. (We dry on a rack on the balcony when there's no rain. If you have a large line to spread things out on, things will probably dry faster.) Drip tray notes: I used the wedge, although it may not be necessary as the tray stays put pretty well (as long as it's installed properly). Remember to tilt the tray so the lower end is on the side you are feeding the clothes into. Guide the clothing over the lip on the exit side so it doesn't get pulled beneath the wringer -- you will have a bad day disentangling it if you allow this to happen. 4) Handle: A lot of complaints about the handle. This is why we need more science education in schools. The handle is long due to basic physics, it's not a design flaw. The shape seems odd but is very ergonomic and is what allows you to spin it easily with little effort (as long as you set the tension adjusted properly). Our mounting bolt fit well with no wiggle, and the thumb screw makes it easy to take off for storage. 5) Mounting brackets: Remember, we are in a tiny apartment. Our double kitchen sink is the best location for us to do laundry, as my back doesn't enjoy kneeling next to the bathtub. A dedicated washtub setup isn't an option in our space right now. The brackets can be moved to several configurations, so we were able to easily attach it to the center metal divider of our double kitchen sink. I use dish tubs inside the sinks as our wash tubs, and can easily switch the drip tray to slant toward the wash or rinse side as needed. Set the wringer in the dish tubs and slide it all under the kitchen sink for storage. Easy peasy. One minor complaint: The mounting bracket discs that are in contact with the attachment point, a metal sink in our case, would work better if they had rubber flanges on them to provide better grip and to protect the sink. I'm going to stop by the hardware store this afternoon to find a hose length or something that will work to rubberize them, but adding flanges would be a minor upgrade with a major impact for Northwoods Calliger to consider! I 100% recommend this product. Just read the instructions, know that it needs a sturdy base, and then read the instructions again.

The wringer works fine and is easy to setup for first time use. I like that the tension knob is easy to access so I can loosen and tighten it as necessary for the clothing. From very tight on socks to very loose getting jeans through. For big guy clothing, Folding stuff in half is required making things like jeans harder to process. I found the wringer width a bit restricting for my shirts and pants. It functions as designed, is solid, adjust quickly during use, and is easy to mount and dismount. The first problem I encountered was mounting. I have a plastic tub and it didn't support the wringer. I built a wooden platform to sit abutted to the tub. That created the 2nd problem. The drain ledge is quite short and dumped wash water on the tub edge, not in the tub, losing half. If it was about 1" longer, it would provide more mounting options. A plastic sheet taped to drain ledge solved this and all the water now runs down the sheet back into the tub. The wringer is a good tool that can be adapted to your work area. I adapted it with a mounting frame and plastic water guide. After a couple of wash loads, I can see a need for transition table space and a handy basket before the clothes go on the line. The wringer is a good way to get the clothing from dripping wet to just wet.

The Calliger Wringer is a joy to use, it makes car washing vastly more enjoyable now. The mounting system is superb, extra heavy duty. Once this is mounted securely, it will stay mounted unlike any other wringer I have tried. And the spring tensioner on this unit is superior, it features a large type spring tensioner unlike other units with coil springs. Coil springs are difficult to adjust and do not provide even pressure on the roller. The drip tray on this model is much better also. It is larger and actually works. The Calliger is an absolute pleasure to use, wringing out the chamois is so easy. And with one pass through the Calliger not one more drop can be extracted. The Calliger squeezes 95 to 98% of the water out of the chamois. I can't say enough about this model. Highly recommended. For mounting I cut a 2x6 as shown in the photo. 11" x3" is the part that goes into the bucket and that gets secured by 2, 3" screws on each side through the bucket walls and into the wood. The top part of the 2x6" is 17" across where the wringer is attached. Once the wringer is tightened down it doesn't budge because I put 1 bag of quick setting concrete into my bucket to weigh it down. It is heavy but I wheel it around with a hand truck. Update: I found a much better mounting system using a sawhorse. Since the included photo of the sawhorse was taken, I added a cross-brace (2"x4"x36") from one set of legs to the other. This is lighter, easier to move and elevated higher making it easier to use while washing the cars. I have included photos of both setups with this review. By the way, if you use the inexpensive sawhorse brackets available at Lowe's or Home Depot or Amazon, I recommend using wood or drywall screws to secure the brackets to the 2x4's. This will make the sawhorse considerably more solid. The sawhorse is lighter and easier to use than a bucket filled with 60 lbs of concrete. It is also the perfect elevation for loading the items into the wringer. I the pleasure of dealing directly with the marketplace seller of this item and they are the best! Very customer oriented and helpful. I had a slightly defective part which they replaced immediately. I have to say 5 stars because that is the highest rating available but they deserve more stars. Buy this wringer, you will not be disappointed..

Exactly what I wanted. I've only used it once so far but seems well built. Heavy

Nice and heavy duty. To be honest I was expecting something with thinner metal. Highly recommended. I live off grid. Do my laundry in a little hand crank washing machine. This Calliger wringer is very will made. Yes they apparently use China to make it. But still feels like a good American made product. Calliger, don't ever change it.

UPDATE: Well, I can't say enough about this company. Very shortly after I posted my review I was personally contacted by a member of staff. The employee was very apologetic and asked me more questions based on my review. We discussed every flaw and improvement that could be made in their product because it's clear it was very important to them to have a stellar product. Being a USA company, I'm very happy to see such service and concern for their customers. Once we discussed all the ideas I had for improvements (not that I'm an engineer or anything, but they obviously took my concerns to heart) they set to fix every problem - and mailed me a new one free of charge! It was extremely generous as I had already returned the previous item! It took a few months, but they really worked hard on it and I am extremely satisfied! The clamps, rollers, and plate have been improved as needed. They even included a wax piece to insert during installation to help with the squeaking (idea they got from other customers they listened to!). They even included better instructions with a proper warning about how to use with certain garments and other instructions of use. The packaging is also greatly improved. I'm very impressed and so glad to have this wringer. As many of you reading this know, having to wring out an entire load of laundry by hand is killer on your hands and wrists, so an item like this is a must! This company has proven itself in my book! I would be very happy to purchase other products from them and I plan to brag on them in all the hippy/off grid/natural living groups I can :). Thank you, Northwood Calliger, for being a great company who cares about your products and especially your customers!!! OLD REVIEW: Flawed, Broken, Returned. The item was very wobbly because of how loosely the clamps are attached to the actual wringer, so it doesn't matter how sturdy a tub you have to attach it too, you still have to hold it steady while you crank, leaving no hand to catch the wrung garment as it exits. Also, the drain plate underneath flops either way, which is not good because if you are wringing a pair of pants and the weight of the pants tips the plate (because there is no free hand while you crank and hold the wringer in place!) the water will then spill onto the newly wrung pants, leaving you very frustrated. All of this may seem livable, but for the price you pay, you could expect not to have such obvious problems. The final kicker - it BROKE after the second use, and we were NOT forceful. The rubber roll detached from the shaft connected to the handle from a pair of jeans, which were not being wrung out properly in the first place and needed repeated wringing. I would expect such an expensive part ($30 each to replace!) to be built a little smarter. I would think making a series of small protrusions or ribs in the shaft that the rubber roll could be molded around would prevent detachment in the first place; but then, how would they keep making money if the product were actually superior? We were very excited to receive this item in our endevour for "clean living", but thoroughly disappointed. It seems clearer every day that modern companies only set goals for immediate profit and have no pride enough in their products to try to keep them OUT of land fills. We are returning it now.