DIY Cardboard Kids' Washing Machine

You can easily put together this DIY cardboard kid’s washing machine together. When you have created it, they can use it for pretend play or as a part of exploring a learning concept. We created it to be used in a Kuffle Bunny color exploration activity.

How to Put the DIY Cardboard Kids’ Washing Machine Together

Building Supplies

Three Sides of a Cardboard Box
Black Tape
Scissors
White Paper
Markers
2 Clear Plastic Lids
Brass Fasteners
Lid from a Food Pouch or Another Lid
Pipecleaner
Square Shaped Object
Small Plate
Small Laundry Basket
Jar Lid
Black Construction Paper

Directions for Creating the DIY Cardboard Washing Machine

Creating the Door and Window

You will start by tracing the top, bottom and right side of a square object onto the center panel of the box. This square will be the door of the washing machine.

Then you will trace the circular object in the center of the door. This will become the window for your DIY cardboard washing machine.

Finally, it is time to cut out the door and the window. We used scissors to do the cutting. If you have an X-Acto knife available, you can use that instead.

Creating the Dials

You will then trace the jar lid onto white paper that is folded in half. When you cut it out, you will have two white circles. You will need to create a border along the edge of each of the circles with a marker. Then you will draw lines dividing each of the circles into thirds.

One circle will have the words warm, cold, and hot written in one of its sections. The other circle will have the words delicate, perm press, and regular written in its thirds. Then the circles can be glued in the space under the door. Finally, put a hole through the center of your paper dials.

After placing a hole in the circle of the plastic lids, you can put a brass fastener through it. Then you can attach it to the washer through the center of each of your circles to the box. You will want the sides of the lid facing up so, your children can turn the lid.

Finally cut out two small black arrows and attach them to each of the lids. Your children can use it to select the water temperature and wash cycle.

Adding the Door Knob

After creating two holes in the door, attach the food pouch lid to the door with pipe cleaners. Twist the pipe cleaners together behind the door.

Adding the Laundry Basket

After creating a small hole to each of the outside sections of the box, thread a pipe cleaner through them. Wrap the ends of the pipe cleaner through the sides of the laundry basket to hold it in place.