No mess Laundry Detergent Cup Holder and Drainer

thingiverse

Our laundry dispenser uses a tap and cup method that works okay, but it has one major flaw compared to the bottle versions. In those, the cup is part of the lid, making it easy to use without any issues. However, our loose-cup system poses a problem: after filling up the cup and dispensing detergent into the washing machine, you're left wondering what to do with the cup next. Where do you put it? If you don't wash it regularly, it quickly becomes clogged with dried-out detergent residue. To resolve this issue, I created a funnel that feeds into the detergent container. This allows you to place the cup upside down on top of it, ensuring excess detergent drains back into the container and the cup serves as the lid for the container. The no-leak-no-mess features of our system include: • The funnel drains directly into a pipe that extends deep into the actual detergent container, eliminating the need for washers or tightening the nut too tightly. • Inside the detergent container, the pipe has a small nodule acting as a drip lip to prevent detergent from flowing along the bottom of the pipe and back towards the nut. • The funnel features 10mm high sides to minimize the risk of spillage. Other notable features of our system include: • If you accidentally over-tighten the nut and break it, replacing it is easy. Simply remove the funnel by pressing it off the pipe, print a new nut, slide it onto the pipe, and reattach the funnel. • If your detergent container has a different thread pattern, designing a suitable nut is a straightforward process. • A small lip on the inside of the funnel allows you to print a ring that seats on it for smaller cups or design a bigger funnel for larger cups. • The funnel also proves convenient for refilling the detergent container.