Laundry Bag and Scale

This project is about creating a system to organize

the laundry of your flat-sharing community and deal with problems that occur during the washing process.

It includes a cheap concept for collecting your dirty laundry and a scale to check if you should wash your cloths.

The concept offers different ways to craft a laundry bag out of things you might have at hand.

The laundry bag:

• scissors
• coathooks
• a washable string
• yarn and needles

Option 1:

An old T-Shirt, shirt or pullover

Option 2:

fly screen, a piece of coarsemashed fabric (like a knitted piece of clothing or curtains)

Note that all materials should be washable and that you fit the material of the laundry bag to the cloths you want to wash with it!

The scale:

• a scale (that can approximately weigh the maximal weight that your washing machine can take)
• wire
• a lightweight basket

The tools and process will differ according to the scale you decide to use.

Cut off the sleeves of your shirt.

Sew up the sleeve holes and the neckline.

Poke holes in the hem of the shirt and thread the

string through it. Leave the string long enough so that it does not slip out, if you stretch the hem.

To create the loops cut off a 3-4cm piece from each the sleeve.

Sew the loops to the back of your bag close to the hem.

The upper seam should be slightly angled to fit the coathook you want to use.

Cut out a rectangle, which is twice the size of the bag you want to create and fold it in half. Consider the fabric you will need for the seam. Stitch up the sides and bottom of the bag.

Thread the string through the meshes in the upper rim of your bag. Leave the string long enough so that it does not slip out, if you stretch the hem.

Cut out two 3x30cm pieces of fabric. Sew up the ends

of each piece together to create loops.

Sew the loops to the back of your bag close to the open top. The upper seam should be slightly angled to fit the coathook you want to use.

Open the scale to be able to work with the cables inside. You might need to break it open. Watch out for the electricity and how it is connected to the casing.

The aim is to place the display and On/Off/Tare-Button on the side of your basket. Figure out how the parts are connected and carefully separate the display from the casing. If it is directly connected to a board, separate both parts from the casing. Do the same with the On/Off-Button.

Measure the size of your box. if the strain gauges are connected to the casing, the entire part will be placed in the centre on the bottom of the basket. If they are not directly connected to the casing you can place them symmetrically under the basket to create a more stable and balanced stand.

Most likely you will have to extend the wires that connect the parts you want to place on the side of the box to the parts that are left under your basket. Cut the wires and solder in a longer pieces of wire. Fit the length of the wires to the measurements of your box. Test if everything is still working.

Cut a hole of the size of your display to the side of your box. Figure out how you can place the Button on the side of the box.

Glue the part with the strain gauges to the bottom of the box.

Cut a slit to the edge of the bottom under the hole for the display. This is where your wires will go through.

Attach the display to the inside of the box. Attach the button next to the display. You can either cut a hole for it or place it on the outside. All the wires should be placed on the inside of the box. Tape the wires to the side. Cover up the side with a piece of cardboard or plastic to secure the electronics in place.

Tape the electronics (especially the wires) to the bottom of the basket. Cover them up similarly to the wires on the inside of the basket if needed.

Test, if everything is working.