Shared washing machines debut in Shanghai

Along with shared bicycles, shared washing machines also appeared in the streets of Shanghai on May 18. Customers can use cash or mobile payments to rent the machines.

The machines themselves, equipped with capacities of up to 18 kilograms and special dryers, are recommended to clean big items like curtains, thick clothing and down jackets that cannot be washed in household machines. However, the cost of using the shared machines with a capacity of 18 kilograms is 40 RMB ($5.8) per load, much higher than the cost per load of household machines. The shared machines with a capacity of 8 kilograms can be rented for 20 RMB ($2.9) per load.