The Divya Manual

Washing Machine

Proven in the field. 75% faster than hand-washing. Repairable with two tools. Built to last 5–10 years. The Divya Manual Washing Machine delivers measurable impact with minimal deployment risk. NGOs, governments and humanitarian organisations can confidently integrate it into WASH, gender and livelihoods programmes.

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How Does it Work?

Stats Component

75%

Less washing time

50%

Water savings

Zero

Electricity required

5-7kg

Load capacity

Why the Divya Manual

Washing Machine?

Washing clothes by hand takes up to 20 hours per week in many communities. For women and girls across low-income and displaced settings, this steals time from learning, earning and caring for their families.

The Divya Manual Washing Machine is proven to cut washing time by up to 75%, freeing hours every week. It's built for remote and under-resourced settings, designed to last 5–10 years, and repairable with just two tools.

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A young girl bending over a large black basin doing laundry outdoors, with colorful laundry baskets and clothes scattered around on the grass, and two other children in the background near wooden structures and trees.

Features Component

Proven in the field

Proven to reduce hand-washing time by 75 turning 2.5 hours into 30–45 minutes per load. Gives communities hours back every week to spend on school, work, and family.

Water efficiency

Uses 50% less water than traditional hand-washing - just 30 litres per cycle. Essential in communities where water access is limited or costly.

Built to last

Stainless steel construction resists corrosion and wear. Designed for 5–10 year lifespan in challenging environments.

Easy to repair locally

Repairable in-country - dissembled with just two tools. Simple mechanics mean minimal downtime and sustainable long-term operation.

Built for longevity

Built for a minimum 5-year lifespan, with expected use closer to 10 years in most settings. Proven durability across diverse climates and deployment contexts.

Fully recyclable

End-of-life components are fully recyclable. Stainless steel and simple materials mean minimal waste and environmental impact.

How it Works

Watch The Divya Manual Washing Machine in action, a gentle direct drive cycle that delivers clean clothes in 30 minutes using just 30 litres of water.

View Specifications

Key specifications

Essential performance data and deployment information. For the complete technical breakdown, explore the full specifications page.

Specifications Component

5-7 kg

Drum capacity (10 tees + 3 jeans)

30 L

Water per cycle

30 min

Wash time per cycle

304 Steel

All-stainless construction

2 tools

Needed for in-country repair

5-10 yrs

Expected service life

73×69×68

Box size (cm)

8450 1900

HS code

More Than a Machine

The machine is the starting point, not the end point.

While the Divya is designed to reduce the time, water and physical effort required to wash clothes, we've consistently seen its impact extend far beyond laundry itself.

A Platform for Broader Development

Laundry is often overlooked as a development issue, yet it intersects with health, education, livelihoods, gender equality and economic opportunity. The Divya is not simply a product—it is a platform that enables wider social and economic change. By reducing the burden of unpaid domestic labour, it creates opportunities for individuals, families and communities to invest their time, energy and resources in activities that improve quality of life and support long-term development.

Explore a few areas where The Divya Washing Machine can fit into your programme below.

For more information, see our Theory of Change.

Woman in traditional Indian saree operating a washing machine outdoors with clothes hanging on a line behind her.

Young man with dark skin and short curly hair stands outside holding a round, metallic object with a label. He wears a black jacket over a graphic T-shirt and smiles. Background includes a dirt pathway, eco-friendly street furniture, and yellow buildings with white windows.

Strengthening communities through local skills

Wherever possible, we work alongside communities to build local ownership of the technology. By training local technicians and users to assemble, maintain and repair the machines, we increase long-term adoption and ensure repairs can be carried out in-country with simple tools. This creates local skills, reduces dependency on external support, and complements programmes that promote women's empowerment and community resilience.

A sewing workshop with multiple workers using sewing machines; a man assists a woman at the foreground, and two women are working at sewing machines in the background, with colorful fabric and wall posters of various clothing designs.

Creating economic opportunity

Access to a washing machine can unlock new economic opportunities. We've seen users establish laundry services for neighbours, generating income to support household expenses or pay school fees. In Uganda, community laundrettes have enabled operators to significantly increase their earnings while providing an essential service to others. Laundry shifts from being unpaid domestic labour to an opportunity for entrepreneurship.

Photo of a person holding a report card with grades and comments, sitting at a desk with another person nearby, and a folder labeled 'End of Year Examination 2025' visible in the scene.

Supporting education

The time saved from washing clothes has a ripple effect throughout households. Children who would otherwise spend hours helping with laundry have more time to attend school, complete homework, play and learn. For adults, additional time can be invested in income-generating activities, training or childcare.

A man with black hair and a serious expression standing near a washing machine with a "the washing machine project" sticker.

Encouraging shifts in gender roles

Although changing social norms takes time, we're beginning to see encouraging signs that reducing the physical burden of laundry can also change who participates in it. In some communities, husbands who previously never washed clothes have started using the machine themselves. By making the task faster, easier and less physically demanding, the Divya Manual Washing Machine can help challenge traditional assumptions around unpaid domestic work.

For procurement teams

Deployment support

Speak with our team about how we can help your organisations plan, train and maintain Divya Washing Machine deployments in your programme. If you are NGO without funding, see our Impact Partner Page.

Group of people, mostly women, smiling and gathering around a cardboard box labeled "the washing machine project," supported by Whirlpool, in front of a thatched roof hut.

Procurement & Deployment Features

Complete specification

Detailed specification sheet, repair guides, lifecycle documentation, spare parts pricing and sourcing, case studies and lead times everything you need to confidently justify procurement and plan deployment.

Simple maintenance

Minimal maintenance; rinse the drum and check the turning handle periodically. Machine can be dissembled with just two standard tools.

Spare Parts

Simple, replaceable components keep the machine in service and support long-term deployment.

Ready to deploy

Ships partially assembled in one box, ready for deployment. Straightforward setup with clear guides; no complex installation needed.

Long service life

5-year design life. 10-year expected lifespan in most deployments. 304 stainless steel and recyclable components mean Divya Washing Machines continue delivering value long-term.

Ongoing support

Depending on your need we can source monitoring and evaluation one distributed. We work directly with NGOs, governments and procurement teams on training, logistics, implementation support and long-term monitoring.

Deploy a proven,

life changing innovation.

The Divya Manual Washing Machine is now available to purchase. Whether you’re launching a new initiative to reduce the burden of hand washing clothes, or looking for a tool to support your existing programmes in education, health care setting or broader development goals.

Book a call with the team today.