Hand-Cranked Washer Divya Reaches Off-Grid Users
The UK nonprofit The Washing Machine Project is distributing Divya, a washer that runs without electricity.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Home Cleaning
The Washing Machine Project, a UK nonprofit, began distributing Divya, a hand-cranked washing machine with no electronic components, in October 2026. The device was devised by UK-born aerospace engineer Navjot Soni.
Why it matters
Divya is designed for places where power infrastructure is scarce, offering an alternative to hand washing for households without reliable electricity. For readers worldwide, it illustrates how low-power appliances may ease household labor in underserved regions.
Divya washes up to 7 kg of laundry per load and cuts labor time by 75% and water use by 50% compared with hand washing. The figures are manufacturer-reported, and the source does not describe independent testing.
The players
The Washing Machine Project
A UK-based nonprofit that is distributing the Divya hand-cranked washer and plans to partner with the UN Refugee Agency and Oxfam.
Navjot Soni
A UK-born aerospace engineer who devised the Divya washing machine.
The details
Clothes are placed inside a large metal cylinder supported by four thin legs, and a bicycle-pedal-style handle at the center is turned to rub items together and scrub out dirt. The machine has no buttons, dials or electronic parts, and the project says it can be used where power is unavailable.
Timeline
October 2026: The Washing Machine Project reports beginning distribution of Divya.
2030: The project's target for one million people to be using Divya.
Off-Grid Living
Divya replaces hand washing with a mechanical alternative that requires no electricity, placing it among low-power household tools meant for areas without reliable grid access.
Households without reliable power may find a non-electric washer useful for reducing laundry labor. Buyers and aid groups should check the manufacturer's stated capacity and cycle time before relying on it.
The takeaway
Low-power appliances can reduce labor and water use where electricity is limited. Anyone considering a manual washer should weigh its capacity and cycle time against their household's needs.
Further reading
Explore more about Home Cleaning for context on household laundry tools.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 경향신문.
