Inventor Of New Foot Powered Washer/Dryer Discusses Innovation
The stars do not always align when it comes to conventional camping and laundry. While some RVs offer the luxury of laundry on-the-go, these appliances can occupy prime realty and often require access to electrical hook ups leaving many campers resorting to regular visits to public laundromats. YiREGO, a Toronto based start-up that coins itself on providing environmentally sustainable solutions to ordinary household tasks, may have a happy medium for mobile laundry needs.
Inspired by his own laundromat experiences, YiREGO founder Yi Jiang created Drumi, a compact, electricity independent washer that minimizes water usage and environmental impact. The idea first struck Jiang while living in his high-rise apartment in downtown Toronto. Like many urban dwellers, Jiang made a weekly trek to his local laundromat where he would spend almost four dollars for each load.
“On average, people using public laundromats spend approximately $150 per year on laundry alone,” stated Jiang while further adding that seven percent of a normal household electricity bill is due to laundry.
Powered entirely by a foot pedal, Drumi’s spherical interior drum can hold up to 12 liters of water translating to roughly five pounds or five to seven articles of clothing per cycle. It’s petite stature takes up approximately one square foot of space, stands 20 inches tall, and weighs just over 20 pounds, a fraction of the size of traditional washers.
After heeding customer feedback and adjusting several generations of Drumi, YiREGO is currently manufacturing the globular design washer in production today. “The original idea was top load,” explained Jiang, “but throughout our research and development, we found that the front load design provides better washing performance.”
Drumi’s clear, dome shaped lid has a textured grip handle for easy portability and can also be used to measure water capacity. The lid also features a detergent tray with built-in measuring cups for up to three different detergents. According to Jiang, Drumi uses 80% less detergent and water than conventional washers and significantly reduces carbon emissions. If combined with an environmentally friendly detergent, Jiang asserts users can have a completely renewable laundry experience.
According to YiREGO, standard washing machines use anywhere between 35-70 liters of water per load and an average of 500 watts of electricity. In comparison, Drumi emphasizes smaller, more frequent cycles using 5-10 liters per load and consumes only the physical energy exerted through the foot pumping action.
“Based on our research, a normal washer consumes about 12 pounds of carbon per week for a full size washer,” stated Jiang. “If you use Drumi, for 50% of your laundry, you can save six pounds of carbon per week.”
Water can be added through either a facet or a hose using the lid to gauge the water level. When the foot pedal is engaged, detergent is released and a spinning mechanism initiates causing Drumi to rotate and wash the clothes. After the wash cycle, the water is then drained out the back hatch with a detachable hose by turning the twist valve. Fresh water is again added to rinse out the excess soap and the clothes are spun damp-dry, taking the transformation from dirty to clean between 5-10 minutes. The clothes can then be hung to dry completely.
Drumi’s unconventional design is constructed with a combination of aluminum, stainless steel and engineered plastic allowing it to be discreetly stored in wet or dry conditions or left out to be utilized as a laundry hamper when not in use. Although Drumi self-cleans by simulating an empty wash cycle, it is also easily deconstructed so the interior drum can be removed to wipe clean any built-up residue.
Jiang expressed Drumi’s intrinsic design has a focus on user experience and a use less attitude. The company aims to enhance every day living by providing conveniences through time and energy savings, but also has a passionate focus on green initiatives and reducing carbon footprint.
“There are many electronics and consumables on the market that solve problems, but they’re not all super eco-friendly,” conveyed Jiang when asked about the passion behind developing Drumi. “Our intention is to create an unconventional product for everyday living experiences.”
Jannie Schaffer
A graduate of the Fashion Institute Of Technology in New York City with a degree in Interactive Marketing, Jannie has worked both for FOX and ASA Electronics. She enjoys traveling and whitewater rafting.