In a recent Amish Cook column, Lovina describes a birthday gift that her husband gave her:
My husband Joe gave me a large laundry spinner for my birthday. I was very happy for it and used it Monday for the first time. The clothes dried a lot faster than usual. It will be especially nice in the winter months when we dry our clothes in the basement.
Now here are some photos of this contraption. You can see from the outside it looks just like regular washing machine.  Even inside it resembles one, but it's only action is spinning. Lovina described it to me like this:
"it's like an electric washing machine, but only has a spin cycle.  It runs off of an inverter and a 12 volt battery.  After I put the clothes through the wringer I spin it on the spinner."
Some people roll their eyes and think things like this are a clever way to "get around rules" in the Amish church prohibiting electricity, etc. But this is an incorrect assumption. Â Most Amish churches are not opposed to electricity per se, they are more opposed to "the grid", being connected in a way that could bring TV, radio, the internet and the like into their lives. Â This is why solar-power is often acceptable and battery-powered items are generally permitted. Â More conservative Amish churches might take a stand against such things, but Lovina's church is actually very mainstream in this regard when it comes to Plain congregations and their use of technologies.
Robin Wyatt
I think this is great.
Jack Grant
Our Amish friends who live south of Rushville, In. own a small store on their farm. They use solar panels and generators for electricity to power the coolers & freezers.
Kevin
Hi, Jack, which store is that? Would be neat to go...I've driven past Troyers before but haven't stopped in, is that the store? Thanks!
Diane W
Why does she still need to put the clothes through the wringer first?