The Drumi Off Grid Foot Powered Washer

This is one of those fund me things like the beehive but I thought it was interesting. You cannot do too much laundry at one time but light weight, easy and you get exercise while doing the laundry.

Yirego Drumi washer swaps electricity for a foot pedal



I always figured if the grid went down I would be doing washing by hand or with a homer bucket and plunger but this is an interesting invention for those that like gadgets. Worth $120 or not?

 

Some where in my stuff I've got an antique 20 gallon butter churn I plan on using as a washing machine.

 

Considering the cost of low-volume production, that looks like a fairly reasonable cost.

 

I saw it as the latest mush have prepper gadget. On the products main page they show a picture of a smiling family camping. Who is going to lug that camping? Part of camping is to get dirty. The Drumi also comes in many colors, this is to appeal to the female consumer that is a more materialistic. I have read enough blogs to know that most women who do live off grid would not give a hoot if it came in purple or blue.

 

don't waste your time on toys - plastic toys at that. Get a real washing machine
Lehman's Own Hand Washer

 

Lehman's does have some nice stuff. Once I climb to the "off-gridder top 1% list" I might buy something from them. Until then it's the galvanized tub and washboard. And I've found out that a clothes wringer is mandatory since clothes don't like to be twisted and wrung out by hand. Wringers aren't cheap anywhere if you want a good one.

 

You don't need a wringer if u used the spin option on the one motomom34 posted. 120 is a lot cheaper than 500 plus 200 for a wringer. plus.... laundering delicates and using a wringer.... not a good idea

 

How in efficient is a washing machine?
I know the traditional top loaders suck. I have read that they can use 40 to 50 gallons of water.

My front loader uses about 0.2Kwh of power (not counting heating the water) and 12 gallons of water. Peak power is during spin cycle it peaks at about 500w which drops down to 300w once its up to speed.
That front loader cost $900 new in 2006, but thats cheap compared to getting stabbed and robbed at the local ghetto laundry mat.
I didn't use the manual to look up those numbers, it's what I measured going into it with a Kill-a-watt meter and the water was pumped in my precision magic marker graduated 15 gallon trash can at the end of each cycle.
If I really wanted to I could reuse the rinse water as wash water.
When I get back state side I am going to try power my front loader with this:
Home made solar generator hybrid | Survival Monkey Forums
(using solar and battery power only)

 

What are delicates?

 

@Meat use your imagination

 

I'll have to remember that next time I launder my sheer nighty/panty set...

 

try this
How to Build a Cheap Washing Machine That's Powered by the Wind

 

Oh yeah. Delicates are what Trump was chasing. Hillary too.

 

lol TMI !!!! I DO NOT want to know about your private cross dressing lifestyle!

 

Maybe @UncleMorgan can figure a cheap way to build a wringer or what can substitute as one. All I could think of was a slanted board and a rolling pin. Something to squish the water out.

 

Two boards connected at one end by two door hinges. Place a wet piece of clothing between the boards and have someone step on them.

EZ Squeeze-y.

 

ok until the boards mold

 

Put your wet things in a net laundry bag and swing it around , same principle as the centrifugal force of the washing machine spin cycle.