Pedal-powered washing machine to make a splash in poor communitites

Published August 15, 2012 5:31pm

It’s cheap. It’s easy to use. And it could help you keep fit and your clothes clean.

No, it’s not an exercise machine —it’s a pedal-powered washing machine that could make quite a splash in poor communities that have no access to electricity.

The contraption, nicknamed GiraDora, is a portable tub that promises easy-to-use, electricity-free and affordable washing, according to an article posted on Springwise.com.

Designed for poorer areas without electricity, the machine comes with a plastic tub with a foot-powered spinning mechanism and costs less than $40 (P1,690.80) to make.

“Users can fill the container with soap and water, load their clothes and place the lid on top before sitting on the device and powering it with the foot lever. The sitting position is a much more natural posture and helps avoid back problems associated with leaning over a bowl,” it said.

It added the machine also uses less water and cleans clothes faster and with less effort than traditional methods – it also frees the users’ hands to do other tasks.

Even in winter, when clothes may take up to three weeks to drip dry, GiraDora’s tub can be used to spin the clothes quickly.

The bad news, however, is that the contraption is not yet available in stores – it is still in the prototype phase, with its makers continuing to work closely with communities in Peru that could benefit from it. — TJD, GMA News

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