From: Merilee Karr <merilee@merileedeborahkarr.com>
Subject: Making .rtf
Date: August 21, 2025 at 6:56:19 PM PDT
To: "Merilee D. Karr" <merilee@MerileeDeborahKarr.com>

How to Set Up the Handwashing Station
 
WHERE TO SET IT UP
·      Table level or higher, so people can wash their hands in the water falling from the spigot.
·      Is water falling on the ground at this location okay? 
o   If it’s indoors, probably not. But a bucket on the floor to catch the water. 
 
SETTING IT UP: THE SPIGOT
·      The spigot piece has 2 silicone washers, and a nut, on its screw-threaded stem. 
·      There is also a string tied to the spigot handle. Ignore that for now.
·      Remove the nut, and one washer, from the spigot. Leave one washer on the spigot stem.
·      Insert the spigot, from the outside, into the hole near the bottom of the bucket.
·      Reach inside the bucket, slide one washer onto the stem, and push it close to the inside wall of the bucket.
·      Screw the nut onto the stem, from inside the bucket.
·      Tip: If you don’t have wiggle room to fully tighten the nut from inside the bucket, hold the nut in place with one hand; and with the other hand on the outside, turn the spigot clockwise.
·      Run the twine attached to the spigot straight up, over the first drapery hook, then over the second drapery hook.
 
SETTING IT UP: KEEPING IT STABLE
·      When the bucket is full, the water’s weight keeps it stable.
·      When the water runs low, the bucket can tip forward on the user.
·      Two solutions:
o   Tie a cord from the bucket handle to something behind the bucket.
o   OR, Put something heavy on top.
 
SETTING IT UP: THE FOOT PEDAL
·      The front of the pedal needs to hang a few inches above the ground, with the back of the pedal on the ground.
o   Take a ~2-inch ring, made of cord, small zip-tie, or metal craft ring.
o   Tie the spigot twine, and the foot-pedal twine, through the ring with sliding friction-hitch knots like the Taut-Line Hitch, so the length can be adjusted to keep the foot-pedal just above the ground.
o   Knot instructions: https://knots3d.com/en/taut-line-hitch-knot  
READY FOR USE
·      Fill the bucket with water. Put the lid on the bucket.
·      Tie a bar of soap in a nylon stocking to the bucket handle.
 
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
Instructions for making it at Instructables.com, search for “Merilee Karr”
Merilee Karr, phlush.org 
 
This Handwashing Station Kit includes
 
·      Bucket, one drilled hole near the bottom
·      Bucket lid
·      Foot-pedal, with twine tied to it
·      Spigot, with twine tied to it
·      Both the above are tied to a zip-tie ring, with sliding friction knots
·      Bar of soap, in a nylon stocking
·      Cord, for tying bucket handle to something behind the bucket
·      These instructions