India

Method of Washing: Handwashing
Average Time Taken per Wash: 53 minutes
Average Amount of Water Used per Wash: 94 liters
Average Amount of Detergent Used per Wash: 50 grams of powder or a little over half a soap bar
Most Important Aspect of Washing: Cleanliness of clothes

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Anjali

Anjali is in her 40s, mother of two, and business owner of a trinket shop and tea shop that turns in to a restaurant.

Despite the demands of running her businesses and caring for her family, she tirelessly supports her local community by providing home-cooked style meals and is always open for new opportunities to learn and try new things, such as receiving the very first Divya Washing Machine in India for an initial pilot of three months in 2023, providing valuable feedback to The Washing Machine Project.

Previously Anjali would walk to the local pond and wash clothes every day for two to three hours, carrying heavy, waterlogged-clothes back and forth. Between this, family and business responsibilities there wasn’t time to properly rest.

Anjali is now a permanent owner of the Divya Washing Machine - the introduction of the machine has been slowly transformative, easing the burden of daily hand washing and allowing others in the family to take on the laundry responsibilities even her husband.
She told us that she thinks of the Divya Washing Machine as another son to help with chores - providing her time to rest and opportunities to keep the businesses open for longer.

Sarasu and Aishwarya

Sarasu and Aishwarya, from Tamil Nadu, India received the Divya Washing Machine in April 2024.

Balancing four jobs, Sarasu has only very limited time to see her children, support family and rest. Any remaining time is quickly taken up by household chores, including washing clothes.

As well as being the breadwinner in the family, she’s faced many health issues, however she’s left with no alternative but to work.

Her goal is simple - she wants to make sure her daughters achieve a good education, and that there is support and guidance for them so they can make the best opportunities for their lives.

With Sarasu spending so much time working, Aishwarya and her sister have taken on household chores.

The Divya Washing Machine has dramatically reduced the amount of time they spend washing clothes.

Being able to wash clothes between studying and homework, with enough time for both has been a huge relief both mentally and physically, allowing them time to focus on what matters and not be held back by labour intensive chores.

At 10 and 15 years old the sisters support each other, knowing that if they get good jobs in the future, they can help their mother so she won’t have to work so hard.

Aishwarya recognises the effort and struggle that her mum goes through - she wants to become a lawyer or a social worker, advocating for women’s empowerment and raising awareness about the issues rural women face. She hopes to create policies and systems that make a difference to women like her mother.

Both Sarasu and Aishwarya have told us they are hoping for more innovations to help both their household and the greater community for women like them.

To learn more about their experiences hand washing clothes, watch the video below.

Alamelu

Alamelu, now in her 60s, grew up in a village two to three hours from Pondicherry. She was raised in a joint family with seven siblings - six brothers and one younger sister - alongside many cousins. As the eldest, she had a lot of responsibility at home, including washing clothes.

She never had the chance to go to school. While education was valued, it wasn’t always accessible. She tried to attend but was never able to continue. Instead, she stayed home to help with housework.

One of her main tasks was washing clothes. She used to walk 30 to 40 minutes to a pond where people bathed, washed clothes, and took care of animals like goats and cattle. As a child, she didn’t see washing clothes as a problem. It was fun she would wash clothes for her parents and siblings, lay them out on the grass to dry, and spend the waiting time swimming and playing. It was also a major social activity. She washed clothes for eight to ten people every two days.

Now, as she has grown older and washes for her own family, she sees how difficult it really is. It’s no longer fun - it’s tiring and physically demanding, and she struggles with back pain. She can’t sit for long, and washing is a heavy burden.

Since getting Divya’s washing machine, things have changed for the better. It has reduced stress and made washing less tedious. Now, she can sit and spin the clothes instead of scrubbing by hand. If she is sick, the family can still manage without her having to do all the work.

Alamelu has come from a hard-working background, and seeing her daughter now using a washing machine is something she never imagined. She’s happy that her children go to school and that rural women have more options. She spent much of her life washing clothes, thinking there was no other way except taking them to the pond or river. Now, she is glad to see a different future - one where men also help with washing, something that was unheard of before.

Sangeetha

Sangeetha has been handwashing her clothes since she was 10 years old. She recalls her daily routine, which involved waking up early, soaking clothes in detergent, scrubbing them, beating them, and rinsing them all of which required significant time and effort. She often experienced hip pain as a result of hand washing heavy clothes.

With the washing machine, however, she can now sit while washing her clothes, eliminating the hip pain she used to endure. What once took her nearly two hours now takes just 30 minutes. She also appreciates the convenience of moving the machine to different locations, making the washing process even easier.

Another benefit she highlights is that machine washing allows her to clean clothes even after getting dressed, without worrying about water splashing onto her outfit. Her daughter also relies on the washing machine after coming home from work. She finds it both efficient and easy to use, allowing her to complete a wash cycle quickly, even after a long day of work.

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