Bucket Washing Machine

Wash more comfortably

Done in	20mins
Skill level	basic

Did you know that you can create a washing machine using just a few buckets? This DIY solution not only conserves water and time but also saves your hands from the strain of hand-washing. The best part? It doesn’t require electricity.

Someone using the self-built washing machine

Published under CC:BY-SA by

dooiy

What you need

4 Buckets (20-25 liters)
e.g. cleaned paint buckets
They should all be the same size and fit into each other
1 Plunger
Metal rod & fire You need to make a number of holes in the buckets. An easy way to do that, is to heat a metal rod in a fire and melt holes into the plastic
Use a metal stick with 10-15mm diameter

Also good to have

Cutter Knife for cleaning out the holes
[optional]

How you make it

Make holes in one of the buckets

To heat the tip of the metal stick, create a small and secure fire. Be cautious to avoid burning yourself. Consider wrapping the end of the metal stick with a piece of fabric to provide protection while heating.

After about 2 minutes it will be hot enough to burn holes in plastic. Take one of the buckets and burn about 15-20 holes in the bottom. Heat the stick in between if it is too cold to burn more holes.

Now burn about 25-30 holes in the sides of the lower half of the bucket.

Holes in the inner bucket (here they have been drilled)

Chris from dooiy

Use a mask to protect yourself from plastic fumes. It is really bad for your health.

Clean the holes

Remove the plastic around the holes. All holes should be clean in the end. This protects your clothes and prevents injuries.

You can use the cutter to do this.

Make holes in the plunger

Using a cutter to make holes into the plunger

Take the cutter knife and make 10-12 round holes in the plunger. If you have, use a power drill - this makes it much easier. You can also burn the holes into the plunger, but this smells terrible and the smell sticks to the rubber of the plunger. Do not make the holes too close to each other.

Chris from dooiy

Awesome, you just made everything needed for a washing wachine. In the next part we show you how to use it.

How you use it

Fill Bucket

Putting some detergent into a half-full bucket

Fill one of the buckets without holes halfway with water. Add a table spoon of washing detergent to the water. Place the bucket with holes inside the water-filled bucket. Add around 4 pieces of clothing to the bucket with holes. Make sure to pre-treat and remove any stains from the clothing items before placing them in the bucket.

Plunge

Take the plunger and press it onto the laundry again and again. This creates foam and the clothes are thoroughly soaked. The plunger should be used for at least 5 minutes, depending how dirty your cloths are.

Rinse I

Slowly pulling out the inner bucket to keep the laundry water in the outer bucket

Fill the other two buckets to just under half full with water. You will need this to remove the laundry from the soap.

Now slowly pull the inner bucket with the holes and the laundry upwards so that the wash water remains in the lower bucket.

Put the bucket with the laundry into one of the fresh water buckets.

Use the plunger again to rinse the laundry well - approx. 3 minutes. In the meantime, you can already soak the laundry in the bucket of wash water.

Rinse II

Slowly pull the bucket with the holes and the laundry out of the water again.

Put the bucket into the fourth bucket with the clean water and rinse it with the plunger for 3 minutes.

Squeeze

Pushing a bucket onto the laundry in the bucket with holes

Slowly pull the bucket with the holes and the laundry out of the water again and let it drain over the bucket.

Place it on (clean) ground, put one of the other water buckets inside and press the bucket down. This will squeeze the water out of your laundry.

Wring & Hang

Now you have to wring out the laundry a little and then you can hang it on the line in the sun.

Reuse the washing water for your plants

Share your feedback

Tips

This hack could also work as a business for you:

you could wash laundry for other people as a service or
you can sell bucket washing machines in your community.

Check:

Is there a need for this product/service in your community?
What people are willing to pay for it?
What do you have to invest in time and materials?
Calculate what you could possibly earn.

Also checkout the hub4africa guides to start a business.

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On dooiy you find fun and easy hacks that make life easier. Just follow our simple step-by-step guides and create something for your home or community with little materials and tools. Want to start a business? dooiy might be the perfect starting point for you.

Chris from dooiy

You don‘ t have to be an expert to start making with dooiy. Just choose an easy hack and get going. After you made a few, I am sure that you will come up with your own ideas.