Whether only run on full load, and regardless of their Eco-credentials, washing machines are energy and water-thirsty devices. But now a cute new model is on the market, which could help us limit their use while cutting our energy and water bills in the process. And all it needs is some foot action.
According to its creator – household design company Yirego – the ‘Drumi’ is very green, as it “does not require any electricity, uses 80 percent less detergent and water than a standard washing machine, and reduces your carbon footprint by approx 10 pounds a week”.
So, the Drumi requires no electricity, only your own foot power, and approximately five to ten litres of water for a wash, plus an additional five to ten litres for rinsing. When compared to the average 50 litres of water and 500W required by a standard washing machine – as explained in their video below – then those resource and cost savings start clocking up pretty quickly.
And by also reducing trips to the laundromat, particularly for those who live in crammed urban settings and lacking built-in laundry facilities, it can help achieve further energy, money, time and environmental savings. Its compact design make it easy to carry and store, so it is ideal for small apartments but also camping and travelling, and for off-grid situations and/or whenever running water is a luxury.
The whole washing process takes between five and ten minutes: three minutes for a wash, two minutes for a rinse and one minute for a spin. Divide the time between your feet and you have a great fitness regime built in, too!
Its designer acknowledges that the Drumi is not necessarily a replacement for a washing machine: at five lbs of clothing (two kg), its capacity is rather small, nor is its use advised for large items such as bed sheets and towels.
Yet this cutie can certainly help diminish overall washing machine use, when all we need to deal with are a few items, such as delicates, or baby clothes. No doubt it would also help with hand-washing, an activity I sometimes question the effectiveness of, given that all I do is soak items in soapy water before rinsing – chances are by pedal-powering my clothes into a proper spin in the Drumi, they’ll actually come out cleaner.
The Drumi’s first ever model is out now and available to pre-order. Unfortunately I don’t have 200 USD to spare, but if I did, I would definitely get my hands, and feet, on one. See it at work in the video below:
