Lessons from River Washing

Today, following the prototype testing at Santa Mission, one of the community members, Eva, offered to demonstrate how she and other women wash clothes in the nearby creek. 

The process begins by placing dirty clothes into a bucket, filling it with water, and adding detergent powder. The clothes are then mixed by hand until the water becomes soapy and bubbles form. Once adequately soaked, the clothes are removed and placed on the steps shown earlier, where they are scrubbed using a hard-bristle brush. This targeted cleaning method mechanically agitates the fabric, helping to lift deep-rooted dirt, stains, and debris. Next, the garments are beaten, using in this case a baseball bat, which forcefully drives the soapy water through the fibres and further dislodges dirt and residue. The clothes are then rinsed again in the creek. This entire process is repeated for each individual item.

In an interview posted on the project's Instagram page, Eva shared that she spends one hour each day washing clothes for herself and her two children.

This washing method also has significant physical health implications. Much of the process requires prolonged bending over, both while scrubbing clothes on the steps and while rinsing or soaking them in the creek. Maintaining these postures for extended periods places strain on the lower back, shoulders, and neck, and can contribute to chronic musculoskeletal pain over time. Repetitive scrubbing and beating motions may further increase the risk of joint stress and fatigue, particularly in the wrists and arms. Over months and years, this kind of labour can lead to long-term physical discomfort or injury, especially without support or sufficient rest.

This demonstration provided valuable insights for the next iteration of TerraWash. While the current prototype includes ridges on the exterior cover to help scrape dirt from heavily soiled clothing, incorporating a brush-type attachment on the side may prove more effective and better aligned with existing user practices.