60% Of World’s Population Washes Laundry By Hand

The Washing Machine Project (TWMP)  is a U/K.-based  grassroots social enterprise. A social enterprise is a business that maximizes its primary purpose. In general, the goal is to maximize both profits and benefits to society and the environment. In the case of TWMP, they have honed in on a glaring underserved niche….. the fact that 60% of the world’s population is still washing laundry by hand.

The burden, opportunity cost, of time spent fall disproportionately on women and girls. TWMP determined that roughly 20 hours per week is  dedicated to the need  to hand-wash. And, they determined that their hand-crank washing machine, the Dyvia, could cut this time by 76%. 

The Dyvia is considered an off-grid laundry solution targeted to low income and disadvantaged communities. It doesn’t require electricity and is the first flat packable washer. This eases the challenge of delivery to remote areas. It is easy to assemble.  The time saved frees up women and girls for both work and learning opportunities. And, use of the Dyvia saves precious water resources.

So far 30,000 families in the Philippines, Uganda, the United States, Iraq, Lebanon, India and Mexico have been positively impacted. And their water usage for laundry has been reduced 50 percent. In April, 2024 TWMP announced a collaboration with the Whirlpool Foundation with the goal of reaching 150,000 people in the next 5 years. To learn more, participate in their machine building challenge, or to donate visit

thewashingmachinechallenge.org