Indian girl invents pedal-powered washing machine

Remya Jose invented her pedal-powered washing machine to address the laundry needs of her rural community. Image Brit + Co

Doing the laundry and exercise are two of the least loved activities on the planet. But a girl from India managed to combine the two activities with her pedal-powered washing machine.

Remya Jose, who hails from Kizhattoor Panchayat in India, gathered together various bicycle parts to create her first invention at age 14. This idea came about to address the need of families that did not have access to electricity. Instead of washing clothes in the river by hand, the pedal-powered washing machine saved them a lot of time and effort.

The machine, according to a report from Inhabitat, is made of an aluminium cabin with a cylinder inside to hold the laundry. The cylinder is then connected to a bike chain and pedal system. Hot water and detergent is placed inside the machine and then left to soak for 10 minutes. The user can then hop on the pedal to get the cylinder spinning. Afterwards, the water can be drained via a small faucet on the cabin and then refilled for the rinse cycle. It’s a very simple solution for families who live in the rural areas and are far from the power grid.

Because of her brilliance, she was presented the National Award by former Indian president Abdul Kalam. When she reached the age of 18, Remya applied for a patent for her device. Remya is now in her mid-20s and works as a serial innovator at the National Foundation in India. She continues to create new inventions for the rural communities of her country.  Alfred Bayle