A British engineer developed a manual washing machine that saves up to 50% of water and 75% of the time compared to hand washing.
The innovation reaches communities without access to electricity and represents a sustainable solution for 5 billion people who wash their clothes manually.
It is Divya, the world’s first compact washing machine designed to operate without electricity.
How the manual washing machine changes the lives of millions and is sustainable
It consists of a drum made of stainless steel, a crank mechanism to agitate the clothes, and an easily accessible drainage system.
The device was developed by The Washing Machine Project and is designed to work with limited water and standard parts that can be found in local hardware stores.
In its latest version, it is presented as “flat-pack”.
This allows the device to be disassembled, transported, and reassembled on site, reducing logistical costs.
The impact of the manual washing machine on vulnerable communities
It is estimated that 60% of the world’s population, about 5 billion people, wash their clothes by hand.
This task involves long hours of physical effort and a burden that falls mainly on women and girls.
Several reports indicate that the Divya washing machine allows saving up to 50% of the water used in traditional washing.
It also reduces 70-75% of the time spent on this activity.
Due to its simplicity, it is already used in more than 13 vulnerable countries.
Today, Divya reaches tens of thousands of people in rural contexts, displacement camps, and areas without stable electrical infrastructure.
The advantages for the environment and society
The reduction of water consumption is key in communities where manual washing requires large volumes of water.
Often, this water is drawn from contaminated or unreliable sources.
Thus, freeing hours from manual washing means more time for education, work, or rest.
In many households, the burden of washing prevents other development opportunities, making this device crucial in helping to free up that time.
The design has been co-created with the users, listening to their real needs. Larger opening for large fabrics, wheels for mobility, and local spare parts ensure it is an adapted, not imposed, solution.
Circular design and reparability
The fact that it is made with robust components means that communities can repair it locally.
When it reaches the end of its useful life, many metal components can even be recycled or reused.
This reduces the environmental impact and favors the circular economy.
The use of stainless steel, the possibility of disassembly, and the ease of repair indicate a path consistent with the principles of sustainable design.
Despite its benefits, it should be noted that the capacity of this device is less than that of a standard electric washing machine.
This is because the volume of clothes must adapt to the limitations of the device designed for environments without access to infrastructure.
Additionally, it requires at least minimal conditions: available water, space to operate the crank, and the ability to distribute the device.
Therefore, in extreme environments, logistics can be complicated. However, it is crucial in vulnerable settlements.
The potential for sustainability of the manual washing machine
By not requiring electricity, Divya is useful in areas without stable access to the grid or with frequent outages. This reduces the energy footprint of laundry in vulnerable contexts.
A community could install several units for shared use.
Also, recycle rinse water for irrigating gardens and train local technicians for maintenance.
With this, the washing machine ceases to be an isolated item and acts as a lever for social and ecological transformation in communities that need it most.
