As far as washing machines go, the pedal-powered GiraDora and the Laundry Pod are pretty small – but the new ultra compact Petit Laundry Swoosh can fit on a countertop! Designed by Japanese company King Jim, the washer uses just over a gallon of water to clean 250 g of clothing in 18 minutes. The device measures in at 29 x 29 x 44 cm and it’s perfect for small space living as it can easily fit inside a cupboard or cubicle for emergency laundering.

Read the rest of Ultra Compact ‘Petit Laundry Swoosh’ Washing Machine Cleans Clothes With Only a Gallon of Water

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Compact, cubicle, efficient, giradora, Japan, king jim, laundry, laundry pod, petit swoosh, tabletop, washing machine, water issues

As Eric Clapton says, “travelin’ light, it’s the only way to fly.” Whether it’s a weekend business trip or a month-long trek into the jungle, the less stuff you have to carry the better. Finding a washing machine can be quite difficult on the road, especially if that road is a long way from civilization. The Scrubba, a crowdfunded product out of the UK, aims to put clean, fresh-smelling clothes into the hands of every nomad, whether they’ve got electricity or not. Scrubba is a portable wash bag made of lightweight material that can be folded and fitted into a large pocket or average backpack. Add just a little bit of water, laundry soap, and some elbow grease, and clean clothes are shake-and-bake away!

Read the rest of The Scrubba is a Lightweight, Virtually-Waterless Washing Machine in a Sack!

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: off-grid, The Scrubba, travel gadgets, washbag, washing machine, water conservation

Four Turkish university students have developed Washit, a shower unit that collects and filters used water for washing clothes or showering. Ahmet Burak Aktas, Adem Onalan, Salih Berk Ilhan and Burak Soylemez first started Washit as a university assignment, but they recently brought their project to a whole new level, winning the iF Concept Design Award 2012: Hansgrohe Special Award for their water-saving design.

Read the rest of Washit: A Washer That Washes Your Clothes While You Shower!

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: "grey water reuse", Eco-friendly Washing Machines, Green Appliances, shower water use, student design, sustainable appliances, turkey, washing machine, washit, water use, Winner iF Design Award

In developing countries that lack electricity or the funds to buy expensive machines, taking care of laundry the old-fashioned way requires an enormous amount of time and effort.  That’s why Alex Cabunoc and Ji A You created the GiraDora – a combination washer and spin-dryer that is powered by a foot pedal.  At only $40, this ingenious contraption is an inexpensive way to help break the cycle of poverty in many disadvantaged communities.

Read the rest of Pedal-Powered GiraDora Washer Needs No Electricity and Costs Only $40

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: alex cabunoc, Clothes, dell social innovation challenge, developing countries, dryer, Electricity, ergonomic, gira dora, India, international design excellence awards, ji a you, peru, Poverty, south america, washing machine, water issues

Want a washing machine in your home, but worried that it’ll take up more space than you have to spare? Well, Electrolux Design Lab debuted some awesome new pint-sized conceptual designs for washing machines called SHINE at Milan Design Week that might be just the solution. These small, sleek laundry units are designed with an awareness of our movement towards more compact living spaces. One is designed for integration into a bathroom, and the other is so mini, it can be hung on a wall!

Read the rest of Electrolux’s Tiny Washing Machine Can be Hung on a Wall!

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: compact appliances, dryer, eco design, Electrolux, Green Appliances, green design, laundry machine, Milan Design Week, Milan Furniture Fair, Salone del mobile, shine, sustainable design, wall hung washing machine, washer, washing machine

Imagine if you could kick, bunt and play your way to clean clothing. Well Swirl, an innovative new concept for easy laundering on the go lets people do just that. This colorful ball (which we wish had been entered into the Greener Gadgets design competition) designed by German-based designaffairs Studio lets people fill it up with dirty clothes, water and soap and then the rotational motion of soccer and play does all the work. This could be especially effective in developing nations where water sources are located a far distance from homes making hauling and washing clothes a real drag. Just be prepared to fend off the mobs of kids lining up and begging you to help you with the laundry!

READ MORE AT INHABITOTS >

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: ball, Design for Health, developing nations, eco play, humanitarian design, non-electric washing machine, swirl, toy, washing machine, water barrel