Ask anyone in the housing industry where the future is headed, and they will tell you “sustainable living.”
That’s right; living in trash-free luxury—or “Zero Waste” (if you want to get technical)—is the millennial answer to creating a healthy, productive environment.
But minimizing waste and reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources is a process that takes time, along with a committed effort from those willing to get off their asses and do the right thing.
So, grab a mirror and ask yourself: How far am I REALLY willing to go to live a sustainable life?
If you answered “all the way,” then “The Bike Washing Machine” might be right for you.
The concept, which first appeared on Tuvie, combines a woman’s two favorite (not favorite) activities: riding a bike and doing laundry.
Yep, you heard me right.
Designed by students at Dalian Nationalities University in China, The Bike Washing Machine is a human-powered washing machine that conserves water while encouraging fitness.
Sounds like a dream (if you’re single and wear the same thing three days in a row), but what if you’re married—with kids?
How the hell is a mother supposed to “do laundry” when she can’t even find time to brush her teeth? And what happens when the baby starts crying mid-cycle? Are you just supposed to LEAVE IT THERE and pray that you’ll find time to “bike six miles” before making dinner?
Lucky for Mom, this “all in one, do it yourself—literally” machine still hasn’t made it to market.
Why? One can only speculate. Perhaps the designers—still living at home (or in a dorm room without a washer and dryer)—were derailed with questions about loading capacity, draining or drum rotation and simply gave up.
Or maybe they realized that their audience (otherwise known as Mom) was actually too busy folding their laundry to ride a fucking bike. Either way, it didn’t happen—at least, not yet—and some of us are grateful.
Still, it would be nice to live trash free. Maybe the garbage man would rather ride a bike to work.