This Hand-Crank Dishwasher Can Replace Your Drying Rack

We've seen foot-operated washing machines and washing machines that can fit inside your purse, but we've never seen a manually operated dishwasher. When you think about it, though, it makes sense.

The Circo dishwasher requires zero electricity and less water per wash than a standard dishwasher. (That means it's also more efficient than hand-washing your dishes.) It uses a mere 0.7 gallons of water per load, compared to the 2.2 gallons used by a typical dishwasher.

Here's how it works: You fill the base tray with water, then add a sodium acetate tablet to help heat the water up, and finish it off with some soap. A hand-cranked centrifuge sprays the water throughout the interior of the machine, cleaning your dishes. According to Gizmag, a full load of dishes only takes a minute to clean.

As to the efficacy of the actual wash, your guess is as good as ours. We imagine it's not going to do much against baked-on protein stains like you'd find on a casserole dish. For that, nothing can match the power of good old-fashioned elbow grease.

{{amazon name="Seventh Generation Dish Liquid, Free & Clear, 25-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6)", asin="B001FA1NTG", align="right"}} Dish capacity is also a concern. The Circo isn't exactly counter-depth, so you shouldn't expect the thing to outright replace your installed dishwasher.

That said, the concept should work well with small batches of everyday items like cereal bowls and glassware. Circo also points out that the machine can actually replace your drying rack, too. Once a cleaning cycle is finished, you can let your dishes sit there to air dry.

The Circo is currently in the final prototype stage, and its designer, Chen Levin, is actively looking for investors to bring the nifty little gizmo to market.

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