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In developing countries the simple act of doing the laundry is a lot of effort. The major problems are bad ergonomics (in washing and transporting), distant water supply areas and the burden to carry the heavy laundry to and from the water source.

Swirl is a human focused design that simplifies washing in developing countries. The overall design resembles a ball containing a swirled sphere shaped basket and lid, connected to a steel tube handle. Washing is accomplished through the rotation of the “washing ball” – using long distance travelling to and from water supply to wash the clothes. The user can also wash by just rolling it back and forth in slow rotation cycles. At home, after the basket is filled with clothes, the lid should be screwed and the handle locked in. Transportation can easily be done by pulling or pushing the handle. At the water source, the basket should be filled with water and the product is ready to wash.

Swirl aims to enhance a social cultural relationship between women and children, making washing a fun and easy experience. The spherical design allows it to become a playful object which stimulates the user´s imagination on how to play with it. With Swirl doing the laundry becomes easier and fun with just a few steps.

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70 comments to... “swirl”
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Daniel Pera

Excellent idea, outstanding design! No doubt a great asset for many countries. Here is a successful solution to a real problem, and the union of it´s true functionality with appealing design and fun makes this product even more positive. Congratulations on your idea and design.


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Richard

Just superb. Like Daniel said, a successful solution to a real problem.

You should manufacture this.


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Fernando Figueroa

Great Idea!!!!!!! congratulation


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uberVU - social comments

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by richardcassidy: What an awesome non electric washing machine solution http://studioblog.designaffairs.com/?p=264 #fb…


[...] | swirl Tags: designaffairs STUDIO, ボール, 洗濯 blog comments powered by [...]


[...] — hauling the clothes, washing them at the water source and then lugging them back. ‘Swirl,‘ a new concept for a non-electric washing machine, designed by German-based designaffairs [...]


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Refinance & Mortgage

Is it possible to be allergic to water?


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Finance Info

What causes the sound of air swishing inside your head?


[...] Designaffairs/Designboom February 5th, 2010 in Design, Other | tags: concept, laundry concept, lifestyle, [...]


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Ethan

Has anyone tried hooking this up to the back of their bike yet? How will it stand up to being pulled on concrete? Generally speaking – awesome!


[...] Designaffairs/Designboom CONDIVIDI QUESTO [...]


[...] References: studioblog.designaffairs, [...]


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louis vuitton

This is a tremendous blog and I like reading it every morning show consonant’s gratefulness you
entirely sharing it!

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Ro Wyman

We could use this product as part of our rural primary healthcare delivery system we are developing and implementing in Rwanda.

Who do I contact about this?

Ro Wyman


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Pedro Gomes

Hello Mr. Ro Wyman,

I just sent you an email with our contacts through the contact page of your web site.

Looking forward to ear from you,

Pedro Gomes


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Amy Roche

Saw this on Inhabitat. Love the design concept. Is it being sold anywhere yet?


[...] o meio ambiente e criar um novo elo de relacionamento entre mães e filhos, o estúdio alemão Design Affairs criou a Swirl, uma bola que lava [...]


[...] de coude ont rapidement disparu. Mais tout comme la radio à manivelle peut faire des miracles, un cabinet de design propose un retour au lavage mécanique sans électricité, avec un concept assez épatant: une [...]


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Lucy

Amazing idea, fabulous design – congratulations!


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Li

AMAZING idea!! Please also sell these in the US! Children and child-like-adults (like myself) would love to use this! Especially if a portion of the proceeds went towards purchasing swirls for third world countries :)


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zma

why would someone push a ball full of water and clothes around instead of standing in one place, using a washbasin for a (same or likely faster) more effective wash?


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john vlahakis

We are a media outlet and would like to obtain images of the swirl laundry ball for an up coming article. Could you send a jpeg image for the article? Thank you.


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Andy

What would the final color scheme look like? Dirt and mud will fill up the ridges, dulling the current look.


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Brianna

I am concerned about the cost though..this does not look cheap by any means….

Can not work in developing countries unless the intended uses can actually afford to buy one…


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medea

what about the social aspect of washing? After all, washing becomes the part of the day when many women get to talk to others, an excuse to socialize.

But I love the idea of using it to haul water around, the washing seems like an added perk.


[...] This is “Swirl”: [...]


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Jörg Reiher

Was this device inspired by the Hippo Water Roller?

http://www.hipporoller.org/


[...] Der Swirl löst mehrere Probleme auf einen Schlag. Nicht nur verringert sich die Anstrengung beim Waschen, es werden Ressourcen geschont und der Transport von Wasser und Wäsche erleichtert. Zudem dürfte die Maschine recht erschwinglich sein. Leider handelt es sich bisher nur um ein Konzept des Designaffairs Studio. [...]


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Myatu

Do you honestly think people in poor countries are willing to shell out an entire month’s wage to purchase a ball in which you can… wash your clothes? This will definitely fall into the “luxury” category for these people. Unless you are giving them away for free, like the Hippo Water Roller project someone else pointed out.

What you should think about instead of laundry is the water instead. Specifically, the quality of the water. I mean, when you wash your clothes in the same water someone else defecated in 2 meters upstream, there are some heath concerns – especially if you’d also carry that water back home.

So, put that rotating motion into a better use for the water: filtration / sanitation – so the water becomes safe(r) to drink. Make that ball do something useful for the money, like safe a live.


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Debbie

Does the swirl rinse clothing as well? By the time you get home, your clothes might be washed, but what about the rinsing?


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Jon Ritz

Can we please see it in action? How’s it going to hold up on those cobblestone streets? Is it easily repairable? The handles in the drawings look a bit flimsy, and what about a locking handle at the top? It looks like they just slip together like tent poles, but if one gets dinged, then what?


[...] 点击这里进一步了解。 [...]


[...] Sources : SlyDnet, designaffairs [...]


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GhostZodick

This is pretty cool


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Holger

Yes you might develop it for the first world countries as there asses are getting bigger and bigger.


[...] Swirl: Laundry Made Fun So, the folks over at Design Affairs Studio have shared an amazing idea from their minds – the Swirl laundry ball. [...]


[...] reklama anvee przed chwilą Swirl – alternatywa dla pralki #dom #design studioblog.designaffairs.com/?p=264 [...]


[...] digging Design Affairs’ Swirl concept, which is similar to Project H’s Hippo Roller except that rather than transporting water, the [...]


[...] esta necesidad, “desingaffairs STUDIO” ha diseñado esta magnífica idea: “El Swirl”  Una canasta que sirve para [...]


[...] Swirl Washing Machine gives me hope for design. via Core77, invented by designaffairs [...]


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Kayama Bliss

I love this idea for many reasons.

One is that it gives me the idea of doing my (small bits of) laundry while enjoying a few hours in the park with the family.

Also wondering like Ethan about pulling/pushing it on concrete.


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dan tomberlin

Great idea!


[...] digging Design Affairs’ Swirl concept, which is similar to Project H’s Hippo Roller except that rather than transporting water, the [...]


[...] digging Design Affairs’ Swirl concept, which is similar to Project H’s Hippo Roller except that rather than transporting water, the [...]


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ich

waschen die inder echt ohne waschmittel?
was passiert, wenn ihr waschmittel in das
konzept integriert? spart es dann wirklich wasser? ist euch bewusst, dass man heut ohne wasser waschen kann?

http://www.pressebox.de/pressemeldungen/inline-sales-gmbh/boxid-105355.html


[...] the Swirl — used for clothes-washing AND fun! Calfinder points out that this product probably has the [...]


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constance

this is so cool!!

how can i get or buy it?!


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ich

echt jetzt, fun!

3-5 kg wäsche plus wieviel liter wasser nochmal? …wird durch die gegend gekickt… sehr lustig, wenn ein kleines kind von ner fliegenden walze umgeknockt wird, wirklich…

schon mal n fussball, volleyball, basketball im schulsport aus versehen ins gesicht bekommen?


[...] mas en: http://studioblog.designaffairs.com Enjoyed this article?WordPress [...]


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Gabriele Primavera

I would immediately buy one! If I know how to get it…


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Luisa Amaro

Great idea and an excellent project,specially when you go camping!
Simplicity is hard to achieve and you DID IT!
Congratulations and thanks for making a better World!


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GIUSEPPE

Yes…. al fantastic !!!!
BUT WHERE I CAN BUY IT ??!?!?!?!?!


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Joshua Dance

Having lived in Africa I love the idea, but will others use it? Will it puncture if it hits a rock? How will they feel about the colors? Will boys look past the idea that washing clothes is “supposed to be a girls job”?

Hope this project keeps going!


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Eric

C’est une belle idée, vraiment géniale !
Mais je suppose que l’on utilise du savon (le sujet n’en a pas parlé).
Le matériau de fabrication doit être assez spécial donc le coût d’acquisition assez élevé (le sujet n’en parle pas non plus).


[...] 设计:designaffairs 订阅到:Google   QQ   鲜果   抓虾   九点   有道   Yahoo   更多 » [...]


[...] the Swirl — used for clothes-washing AND fun! CalFinder points out that this product probably has the best [...]


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roumyu

좋은데…


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Oscar Gonzalez

The soccer picture is ludicrous. The concept is awesome otherwise. They can haul the thing with clothes to their water source… fill it with water (and soap presumably) and using the handle push it back to their village all the while the clothes get washed. But then you have the rinsing part. maybe a second trip to rinse it will complete the wash cycle. The soccer thing is just a bad attempt at being sensationalist.


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maurizio

Connecting the handle to a bicicle may be interesting…


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leveque

hello,
I wan’t to buy a swirl machine?
WHERE AND HOW CAN I HAVE THIS MACHINE IN FRANCE OR IN AN OTHER COUNTRY?
THANK YOU
BENOIT


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leveque

[...] over zo’n handig stukje witgoed. Dan wordt het echt afzien. Om dit probleem op te lossen is de swirl [...]


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dietrich

why do the poor countries ever have to be the
replacement character for sensless ideas.
i guess they could need the same fuctionality like us and not those funny ball games.


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Aurea Aharonian

Please let me know where the Swirl can be purchased. Thanks.


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Fre Flintstone

do any of you know how much water weighs? 8pounds a gallon! Think those kids in the pictures(which are definitely Photoshopped in) would be able to kick around over 10 pounds?
Neat Idea otherwise!


[...] GalleryBlogEco-ListsEco-Concepts     ConceptsFront Page ShareBe nice! BookmarkCtrl + D Select Category Aircraft Airships Bicycle Boats Buildings Cars Cities Computers Electronic Music Electronics Fashion Furniture Gadgets Healthcare Technology Home Appliances Homes Kitchen Laptop Lights Living Mobile Phone Motorcycles Ships Shops Skyscrapers Super Car Toilets Towers Vehicles Watches Wind Turbines     Swirl – Electricity-Free Washing Ball (..or Football) [...]




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