The Washing Machine Project
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.
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.
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 in action — a gentle hand-cranked cycle that delivers clean clothes in 30 minutes using just 30 litres of water.
View full specifications →Muted preview — explore the full specifications for complete operating footage.
Key specifications
Essential performance data and deployment information. For the complete technical breakdown, explore the full specifications page.
Explore full specifications →More Than a Machine
The washing 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Washing Machine Project
The Divya Manual Washing Machine
A washing machine made with users, for users. Hand-cranked, no electricity, engineered to give time back to the people who need it most.
Why Divya?
Designed to remove the barriers of handwashing — time, water, energy and physical strain — with all-stainless-steel durability built to last.
No electricity required
Powered entirely by a manual crank, the Divya works anywhere — off-grid camps, remote villages and disaster zones alike.
Saves up to 50% water
A full 5kg cycle uses just 30 litres, with less detergent needed — vital where clean water is scarce.
Reduces wash time by 75%
A complete wash takes 30–45 minutes, giving back hours each week that would otherwise be spent at the riverbank.
Less physical strain
Gentle cranking replaces bending, scrubbing and wringing — protecting the backs and hands of those who wash most.
Built to last
All-stainless-steel construction in 304 steel resists corrosion and wear, delivering a long, dependable service life.
Sustainable & recyclable
Fully recyclable materials and a repairable design keep the Divya in service and out of landfill.
Engineered, component by component
Every part of the Divya earns its place. Select a point on the machine to explore how each component works.
The Stainless Steel Drum
A 5kg-capacity 304 stainless steel drum holds up to 10 T-shirts and 3 pairs of jeans, plus sheets and bedding. Its rotation tumbles clothes through water and detergent for a thorough, gentle clean.
Tip: tap each numbered point to learn more.
Key specifications
Everything a procurement team needs, at a glance.
Built for the field
Designed with users, for users
The Divya was developed alongside the women who would use it daily. Every decision — from crank height to drum size — reflects real-world washing in camps, settlements and rural communities.
User-centred design
Co-created with communities to fit how people actually wash, store water and live.
Humanitarian-ready
Deployed in refugee settlements and displacement contexts where infrastructure is limited.
Field-serviceable
Simple mechanics and replaceable parts mean the Divya can be maintained locally.
Feature highlights
A close look at the innovations that make the Divya quietly remarkable.
Effortless manual cranking
A balanced, ergonomic crank turns the full drum with ease. No electricity, no fuel — just dependable hand power that works in any conditions.
A drum built to clean and last
The 5kg 304 stainless steel drum tumbles clothes gently yet thoroughly, washing everything from T-shirts to bedding using far less water and detergent.
A frame engineered for the field
The welded steel frame keeps the drum stable and at a comfortable height, with integrated wheels for easy transport across difficult terrain.
The Divya in the world
Procurement
Procurement information
Clear, transparent details to help organisations, governments and procurement teams plan deployment with confidence.
What's included
Each unit ships in a single box (73×69×68 cm, 30 kg) containing the drum, frame, crank and wheels ready for assembly.
Maintenance
Minimal upkeep — rinse the drum and check the crank mechanism periodically. No electrical servicing required.
Spare parts
Simple, replaceable components keep the machine in service. Spare parts can be supplied with bulk orders.
Assembly
Straightforward, tool-light assembly with clear instructions — ready to use in minutes on arrival.
Warranty
Backed by durable 304 stainless steel construction and supported by our team throughout deployment.
Support
Our team works directly with NGOs and partners on logistics, training and ongoing support at any scale.
Bring the Divya to your community
Whether you're an NGO, humanitarian organisation, government or procurement team, our team is ready to help you deploy the Divya at scale.
Request a QuoteOr get in touch with the team at thewashingmachineproject.org