How to Make a Manual Washing Machine

Building the Machine

• 1

  Fasten the lid on an 18-gallon storage tub. Mark a spot close to the center of the lid with a marker.

• 2

  Set a small circular object, such as a spool of thread, on the lid and center it over the mark. Trace around the circle with a marker.

• 3

  Switch on the rotary tool’s power, then plunge the cutting tip of the tool through the center of the circle. Push the cutting bit through the plastic toward the edge of the circle, then cut around the circle outline. If you do not have a rotary tool, cut out the circle carefully with a utility knife.

• 4

  Trim off plastic shavings that remain around the edges of the hole with a utility knife.

• 5

  Turn the tub on its side. It doesn’t matter which side faces up. Place the bottom of the drain stopper against the side of the tub, approximately 1/2 inch above the bottom edge, and trace around it with a marker.

• 6

  Cut around the traced outline with the rotary tool or utility knife, and trim off the shavings.

• 7

  Remove the lid, and push the drain stopper into the hole near the bottom of the tub from the inside.

• 8

  Punch or drill several holes through the rubber portion of the plunger with the rotary tool. The number, spacing and size of the holes are your choice. Holes prevent the plunger from sticking to the bottom of the tub with suction.

• 9

  Stand the plunger upright in the center of the tub. Fit the hole in the lid over the plunger’s handle, then snap the lid in place on the tub.

Using the Machine

• 10

  Remove the lid.

• 11

  Add water, detergent and clothes around the plunger, then replace the lid.

• 12

  Raise and lower the plunger inside the tub quickly, as if you were plunging a drain, to agitate the water and clothes.

• 13

  Remove the lid and pull out the stopper to drain the water once the clothes are clean.

• 14

  Replace the stopper, refill the tub with clean water and repeat the plunging cycle to rinse out the detergent.