The Washing Machine Project (TWMP) seeks to ease the burden of unpaid labour by delivering sustainable, practical solutions. The project was born from the experience of Nav, an aerospace engineer who was moved by the challenges faced by his neighbour in South India, who spent up to 20 hours a week handwashing clothes. This inspired Nav to create a prototype washing machine, a small step that would later grow into The Washing Machine Project in 2019. Since then, TWMP has distributed its washing machine, Divya, to more than 13 countries, impacting over 30,000 people.
Divya is a manually operated, off-grid solution that is said to reduce water consumption by half and cut laundry time by 75%. Originally inspired by the mechanics of a salad spinner, the Divya machine evolved into a flat-pack manual washing machine, which can be assembled with tools like a spanner, screwdriver and hex key.
One of the main challenges in creating the Divya washing machine was ensuring it was durable, easy to manoeuvre, and affordable. The machine needs to be long-lasting and low maintenance as it is shared within communities and used in various environments. Elesa’s Cylindrical Revolving Handle and the Bridge Handle helped address the key requirements of durability, user comfort, and mobility.
According to Elesa, the Cylindrical Revolving Handle was chosen because it is comfortable to use, durable, and affordable. As the main touchpoint for users, this handle had to be able to withstand regular use while still being easy and comfortable to grip. Elesa’s Bridge Handle, meanwhile, helps with the machine’s portability, allowing users to lift and move it easily. Given that many communities share the Divya machine, portability is a key feature, and Elesa’s components have made this both practical and reliable.
The Cylindrical Revolving Handle is claimed to allow users to operate the machine with ease, reducing the time spent on each wash cycle to about 30 minutes, with only six minutes of active effort compared to the 2.5 hours typically required to handwash a five-kilogram load of laundry. The handle’s ergonomic design ensures that even during extended use, it remains comfortable, which is especially important for users washing larger loads. Similarly, the Bridge Handles attached to the drum makes the machine easy to tilt and transport, which is vital for community members who share the machine or use it to generate income by offering laundry services to others.
