Compact Foot-Powered Washing Machine Boon To Campers

While some RVers love the convenience of laundromats – allowing them to do multiple loads at one time – other travelers find them less than stellar.

For the latter travelers Drumi, a newfangled foot-powered washing machine, might be an alternative. According to the maker’s website, it’s expected to be released in early 2017.

Instead of the old school washing method of hand scrubbing and twisting clothes to get them clean, Drumi works with just taps of your foot.

No electricity required, Drumi is powered by you.

This small, compact and portable washing machine doesn’t require any electricity and uses 80% less water than standard washers. It’s quick and easy to use, taking only 5 – 10 minutes per load, and you can work out those leg muscles while you’re at it. Now you can do laundry wherever – and whenever – you want!

Drumi is made up of 4 separate parts: an outer lid, detergent tray, rolling Drumi (drum), and the outer shell.

The outer lid also holds 5 liters (1.3 gallons) of water, so it’s easy to measure and fill up the unit on laundry day. The detergent tray is where liquid or powdered detergent is poured into but it’s also a lid to the rolling drum.

Dirty garments and water are placed into the rolling drum, which is also referred to as the rolling Drumi. It will fit 5 lbs. of clothes – or 1 pair of jeans, 3 sweaters, 6 T-shirts, or 8 pairs of boxers. The downside to Drumi is towels and bed sheets won’t do well in there.

And the last part, the outer shell, holds the rolling drum and detergent tray in place. But it’s also where the foot pedal is located, which rotates the rolling drum, and where the handles are.

Drumi is easy to use. Open the lid and remove the detergent tray to fill up the rolling drum with clothes and water. Replace the detergent tray and fill with detergent. Close and lock the outer lid. Then step on the foot pedal to rotate the rolling drum.

Once the wash cycle is complete, twist the valve on the outer shell to release and drain the water from Drumi and then add additional water for the rinse cycle.

It takes 2 minutes for the wash cycle, 2 minutes for the rinse cycle, and 1 minute for the spin cycle. You’ll only need a total of 10 liters of water (2.6 gallons). And you don’t have to leave your campsite on laundry day!

At 20” x 18” x 18” and 20 lbs., it’s lightweight and portable enough to bring Drumi with you wherever you go and to find a place to store it.

Drumi is small and lightweight enough to travel with you.

Just remember to properly dispose of the laundry water while camping and RVing, and that some detergents (even biodegradable ones) are bad for the environment if dumped straight on the ground.