Washer-Dryer

Low-cost washer-spinner

Due to a lack both of power supply and washing machines in poor mountainous areas, villagers are forced to laboriously wash clothing by hand. This clothes washing and spinning device offers a simple and sustainable solution. It can be built with just a single bamboo barrel and a rope. The inspiration comes from a swiveling button toy I played with as a child. The device uses the power of inertia to wash and spin clothes. When you pull on the wound rope, it charges elastic potential energy. Because of the inertia of the bucket, the elastic potential energy of the rope and the kinetic energy of the bucket complement each other, so as to achieve the motion needed to wash and spin-dry clothes.