DesignChill

Hand powered portable washing machine

Is this a greener solution? Saving electricity and wasting other resources - is it a solution for greener environment? Does the product manufacturer browsed history of evolution of washing machines? The earlier models were of hand powered mechanical machines. Mechanical washing machines date back to at least the 19th century and their basic principles of operation have remained largely unchanged. Virtually all contemporary washing machines are powered by electricity, though hand-powered or even steam-powered machines were common in earlier times. Are we trying to reinvent the wheel?

At least if the same product is made better, it would prompt people, who are highly social conscious to buy. Maybe this product is meant for caravans - I don’t see that there has gone some thought, how to use it in caravan. If they plan to promote this product as caravan-centric, portable, probably they should have studied the situations in detail and modified the design to suit the same. I’m surprised to hear that this product is made of plastic, yet they haven’t utilized its capabilities. (Hope it is not made of FRP).

There are many simple configurations to cater to the requirements. I’m not sure why the manufacturer chose this configuration. Did they brainstorm for possible configurations? My advice would be - It you want to re-invent the wheel, at least go couple of steps further and make it much more user friendly, contemporary.

 Excerpts form the manufacturer

If you’re looking for a greener alternative to washing your clothes, it doesn’t get much greener than our hand powered laundry machine (well, laundry washer, it’s not really a machine if you crank it yourself!).

This portable washing machine requires no electricity, which saves money in energy bills. It is also portable, which enables you to use in places that don’t have electricity.

When you’re in a hurry to wash a few items, this washing machine easily solves the problem of having to wait around for your electric or gas washing machine to complete a full load of laundry or feel bad about only washing a few items at a time.

Made of plastic with no mechanical parts, the hand powered washing machine comes assembled. Just attach the handle and go! It can last a lifetime and requires no maintenance.

Because this washing machine is so small, it’s easy to store and move from one place to another. This is an ideal washing machine to have with you in an RV, on road trips, at weekend sports tournaments, in apartments, especially those with limited access to laundry areas, on camping trips and those who want to make their lifestyle more energy efficient.

This small washing machine uses less water and powder detergent per load of laundry. The washing cycle is also extremely fast (from 10 seconds to 2 minutes)saving you an extraordinary amount of time.

If you work in the yard or outside frequently and don’t like to put your really dirty clothes in the wash with your other clothes, this washing machine allows you to easily separate them and get them thoroughly clean without staining other clothes.

How it works:

  Insert your dirty laundry along with a measured amount of water and soap (instructions are included that list the appropriate amounts and temperatures)

  Secure the lid, but do not overtighten

  Turn the handle approximately one turn per second

  Once the washing is done, release the pressure of the lid by slowly turning the knob

  Rinse your laundry either in the portable washing machine after draining the dirty water or in the sink

  Then hang the clothes to dry!

How much it holds:

Five pounds of clothes is equal to approximately 10 shirts or 2 pairs of jeans.Avoid overloading the washing chamber and only tighten the screws a moderate amount. The washing machine is durable and sturdy, and it will last for a long time if you exercise common sense while using it.