Washing Machines

From
Project: Washing Machines
Designers: Jenny Hu
Radu Raduta
Jessica Vechakul
Timothy Schmidt
Mentor: Allen Armstrong
Materials: Water, Soaps, Detergents, Surfactants, Fabrics
Transformations: Washing, Rinsing, Spin drying
Tools: Wrenches
Parts: Frames, Nuts, Bolts, Plates, End caps, Barrels, Bicycle bottom brackets, Axial bearings, Wheel hubs, Keyed shafts, Gears, Chains, Crank arms, Pedals, Motors, Wires, Electrical connectors, Controllers
Techniques: Shelf joints, Tri joints

Introduction

A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, or washer) is a home appliance used to wash laundry. The term is mostly applied to machines that use water as opposed to dry cleaning (which uses alternative cleaning fluids and is performed by specialist businesses) or ultrasonic cleaners. The user adds laundry detergent, which is sold in liquid or powder form, to the wash water.

Challenges

Many people worldwide wash clothes manually, but the detergents are chemically harmful, and the repetitive motion of scrubbing is straining to the muscles and joints.

Approaches

Gently wash clothes using pedal or solar electric power.

Pedal powered

Electric powered

Wash cycle

  • first fill
  • second fill
  • detergent release
  • wash
  • rinse / sanitize
  • spin

References