Mass production is ongoing. Production lead time has improved significantly since our initial production run.

Average production defect rate in 2018 was 1.5%. Our engineering team and manufacturing partners continuous to optimize the production procedures and QC standards. We aim to reduce the defect rate down to 0.5% by the 2nd quarter of 2019.

Many of our earliest customers have received the Drumi and shared their feedback with us. We love seeing the Drumi in action.

We have the good news you’ve been waiting so eagerly to hear: Drumi delivery has begun!

Shipping Address Confirmation email has been sent to our earliest adopters. Ocean freight generally take 3 weeks to arrive. If you didn’t receive the confirmation email, it is likely because we are still processing your pre-order. We are preparing the next container now and will reach out to more of you in the coming weeks. Production is ongoing and we are working around the clock to get you Drumi to you as soon as possible.

Drumi is now in fulfillment stage. We will notify you when your pre-order is being shipped.

Here is a quick update on what we’ve done to ensure that happens. In Q1 2018, we moved from the product development stage to the mass production stage. Our engineering team and seasoned suppliers faced many unexpected challenges because they’ve never experienced a new product like Drumi before.

After many sleepless nights, we’ve accomplished the following:

Improved stamping tooling modification for better production stability.Optimized Aluminium alloy coating for better anti-corrosion result.Reinforced base structure.Standardized quality control procedure.Optimized material selection.Special ordered raw materials from US, China, Taiwan and South Korea.Strengthened supply chain and inventory management.

In Q2, we continue to push forward with production. Meanwhile, Drumi passed the following certifications:

CE: European standard for health, safety and environmental protection.RoHS: Restriction of Hazardous Substances.CPSC: US Consumer Product Safety Commission.REACH: European Union Regulation for protection of human health and the environment from chemical risks.WEEE: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

We are proud to announce: Drumi contains 97.85% of reusable/recyclable materials and 97.8% recoverable materials (WEEE)!

In addition, we made a lot more progress in this quarter:

Material inventory, including special orders that took over 6 weeks to deliver.More than half million individual and pre-assembled parts.Increased on-site quality control staff and expanded engineering teamCustom-built testing devices and special tools for production.Continuous to test individual parts, pre-assembled parts and full units on its quality, material safety, and performance etc.

Our dedicated quality control team is conducting full-inspection on more than 500,000 parts before approving them for assembly. The defect and rejection rate has significantly dropped from 60% to 4% due to production technique improvements.

Right now, we continue to work on optimizing the standard operation procedure for mass assembly. Final assembly will begin when all the parts have been approved.

As the result, we will start packaging and shipping in July!

Showering to Savings

In an average home, showers are typically the third largest water use after toilets and clothes washers. The average American shower uses 17.2 gallons (65.1 liters) and lasts for 8.2 minutes at average flow rate of 2.1 gallons per minute (gpm) (7.9 lpm).

Shower Water Saving Tips

1: Pay attention to the length of time spent in the shower. Try taking a shorter shower of around 5 minutes.

2: If you shower is equipped with an on-off switch use it while you are soaping and shampooing.

3: If you have to wait a period of time for the hot water to reach the shower, try collecting the normally discarded cold water in a bucket for watering plants.

An additional method to reduce water use in showers is to turn off the water while lathering and shampooing, often called a "navy shower". The method requires three steps:

1) turn on water to rinse body and hair;

2) turn off water while shampooing hair and washing body with soap and washcloth;

3) resume water flow and rinse off all shampoo and soap. Using this technique, the total duration of water flow can easily be reduced to 5 minutes or less.

January has been an incredible month at Yirego. We are managing multiple manufacturing lines and have made a lot of progress. All die-casting parts, including the drive units have passed 100% inspection and demonstrated a manufacturing ability in excess of 1000 sets per month. Salt spray tests were performed on the stainless steel drum with 4 different types of protective finish, a winner was selected base on the corrosion resistance result.

To date, our primary production constraint has been with our bearing supplier. The combined complexity of one-way design and high corrosion resistance requirement has taken these bearings longer to produce than expected.

We have redirected our energy and focus to address this issue and confident the right solution has been found. Shipping arrangements have been made for February we will send out an update when its been handed off to our shipping partners. We expect a gradual ramp up through Q1 as we continue to focus on quality and efficiency rather than quantity and speed, likely ending the quarter at a monthly rate of about 500 Drumi units. We intend to achieve 1000 units per month by the end of Q2.

Using Too Much Laundry Detergent

It’s easy to assume that more soap means cleaner clothes but residue from too much laundry detergent can make your clothes look dingy. It also wastes soap and can require extra wash or rinse cycles, which wastes water, energy, and money.

Overloading the Machine

You may feel good about cramming clothes into the washing machine, thinking you’re saving time or conserving water but the detergent needs space to move around. When you overload your washing machine, they turn into one large mass and it does not get cleaned properly. You may even notice damage on your garments because they are packed too closely and latch on to each other during wash.

Not Taking the Time to Sufficiently Separate Fabrics

Yes, we all know to sort our laundry by colour, but do you also sort by fabric type and dirtiness?

Me neither.

Leaving Your Wet Clothes in the Washer for Too Long

As soon as a batch finishes washing, transfer it to the dryer. Otherwise, in just eight to 12 hours, mold and mildew will start growing on your freshly cleaned clothes, turning them into sour smelling laundry. If a batch of clothes or towels slipped your mind, rewash it. Wondering how to get sour smell out of towels? Just add a cup of white vinegar to the batch along with the detergent you normally use.

Tumble Drying All Your Clothes

Yes, tumble drying is the fastest option, but this method also causes clothes to wear out prematurely. For the best results, continue to tumble dry towels and jeans so they don’t become crispy. Hang dry everything else you can, especially if the care instructions on the tag suggest “line dry” or “dip dry.” You’ll save money by helping your clothes last longer!

Earlier this month, we dropped off a Drumi prototype with our Research Partner in Ontario. They are testing the Drumi’s cleaning efficiency and will help develop instructions and operating procedures to ensure you achieve the optimal results.

They are planning to test the effects of load size (i.e. normal and ½ mass of fabric/water ratio), detergent level (i.e. low & high, soap nuts and Tide) and temperature (i.e. 40C and ‘cold’).

The testing cloths used contain a variety of stain samples and a whiteness swatch to test for stain redisposition. An additional evaluation of water alone will be included to evaluate soap nuts performance as well as a common liquid detergent.

In addition, a separate bacterial removal test will also be performed. We look forward to updating you with their findings!

Yirego was named a 2017 Bronze Edison Award Winner for Water Conservation! Being recognized with an Edison Award is one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements changed the world, garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name around the world. In addition to the Awards Gala, the annual Edison Awards program encompassed a full-day “Meet the Innovators Forum” and the “Innovators’ Showcase,” which offered guests a "foot-on" experience with Drumi. We are honoured to be recognized by a panel of more than 3,000 leading business executives. Amongst these are past award winners, academics and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medical. Thank you for all your support!

We’re happy to announce that we have just finished four stress tests on the Drumi and are now onto our next stage of product development.

We ran the Drumi through four stress tests on different areas of how the washing machine would be used. They included lifting the handle of the Drumi with the lid off, lifting with the handle and the lid being on, picking up the Drumi with the lid, and performing stress testing on the washing machine while its operating. All tests proved that the structural integrity of the Drumi was perfect for day-to-day use.

Stay tuned to our blog posts and the progress page to stay up to date on our current stages.

It looks like spring is finally here, just in time for the May long weekend! It’s the time of year when the trees are budding and nature comes to life again after a long winter. We decided to share a list of our favourite things to do this long weekend!

1. Picnic in the park

Now is the perfect time to pack a picnic and head out for a day at the park. Take the dog, throw a Frisbee, or initiate a game of tag, there is something for everyone to do.

2. Hike a Trail

This one may seem trickier for some if there are no trails nearby, but you can get out and explore without them! Become an urban explorer in your city or town if nature trails are not readily available.

3. Find and outdoor movie viewing, or hit the Drive In

If you still have a Drive in Theatre near you, now is the time to take advantage and go and check it out. Outdoor movie showings are becoming more and more popular, even as the use of Drive Ins might be on the decline. Check your local listings to see if there are any movies playing in a park near you.

4. Go camping

Find a Provincial, State, or National Park this weekend and camp out under the stars. Most parks have campsites that will accommodate various types of camping equipment, from tents to RVs. Some even provide cottage-style huts and yurts for those that aren’t keen on sleeping on the ground but don’t own and RV. If trekking to a park is not your style and you have a backyard, set up a tent and pretend!

5. Plan a backyard BBQ

Nothing says “summer is almost here” like a backyard BBQ. Invite family and friends, set up the patio furniture and break out the BBQ goodness! It’s a fun, inexpensive way to gather everyone outside.

6. Plant something

It’s not too late to plant something! This weekend is a great time to get the last of your garden plants into your backyard garden, or to plant flowers in a bed or pots. Start an herb garden on you balcony, or plant vegetables in a backyard bed. Growing plants is very rewarding and kind to the earth!

7. Go for a bike ride

This is an activity the whole family can get in on. It’s great exercise and it gets you outdoors with a minimum of planning. Don’t own a bicycle? No problem! There are many places that you can rent bicycles for all or part of a day.

8. Find a patio

We know not everyone has their access to a backyard or balcony. Whether it be a favourite local café or restaurant, many places will have their patios open this weekend. This is a great opportunity to hang out with friends, or just sit and watch the world go by.

9. Visit a Farmer's Market

There is nothing better than fresh produce from local farms near you. Local produce tastes great, is as fresh as you can get without growing it yourself, and it supports local farmers and businesses near you. Pick up carrots, potatoes, asparagus and corn that you can cook on your BBQ!

10. Fly a kite

This time honoured activity is still something that can be fun for everyone, even in our technological age. It’s challenging, fun, and appeals to the whole family!

Whether you choose one of the above activities, or discover one of your own, make the most of the long weekend by choosing to get outside and have some fun!

It was a pleasure meeting all of you who made it out to see us at the Cottage Life Show this past weekend! We had a great time meeting people and showing off the latest version of the Drumi.

The Cottage Life Show featured LOTS of amazing companies and vendors! We were thrilled to be amongst such great company and that despite all the choices people had, so many took the time to stop and chat with us.

For those of you who missed the show, we have other events coming up very soon! To stay in the loop about all things Drumi, join our mailing list at www.yirego.com.

There are few things more rewarding than growing your own fruits and vegetables. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and well-being knowing that you had a hand in providing food for yourself and your family. Also, if you grow things from seeds, you know that it is 100% organic.

Why Start Seedlings Indoors?

Besides the pleasure of watching seeds sprout and grow, starting seedlings indoors give future plants a critical head start. It is easier to start seeds indoors where you can control the amount of light, heat and sun the seedlings get, thus creating hardier plants to transport outdoors. It is recommended that you start seedlings inside about eight weeks before the last scheduled day of frost in your area.

Choosing the Right Seeds

To make sure that the process is organic from seed to table, it is important to know where your seeds are coming from. Growing plants from seeds that are non-organic certified will defeat the whole purpose of organic growing. Try choosing heirloom and organic certified seeds. This is an important first step. Going to your local garden centre and buy seedlings to plant is more expensive and most garden centres will not have as much variety as the suppliers. To make sure that the seeds are viable, place them in a glass of warm water and leave overnight. If the seeds sink to the bottom they are still viable, if they float to the top, don’t plant them.

Getting Started

There are lots of containers that can be used to start your seedlings. Commercially available plant starting kits are a good start. You can also purchase biodegradable planters that will decompose as the growing season progresses. Try reusing yogurt containers, or milk jugs cut in half length-wise to reduce your waste consumption. Be sure to clean and sterilize containers to prevent mould and rot in your seedlings.

The Medium

It is important to start with a good quality, seed-starting soil with natural coir such as coconut husks to provide the right mix of slow-release nutrients and that will retain the right amount of water.

Water

Making sure your seedlings get the right amount of water is often the most challenging thing about starting seedlings. Too little water and the seeds won’t sprout, but too much and there will be rot and your seedlings will be spindly and won’t transplant well. Start with moist soil and create a humidity dome (think greenhouse). You can either use the plastic domes that come with your container kit, or if using reusable containers, attach a plastic bag loosely over your containers.

Light

Most people underestimate the amount of light that seedlings need. It is recommended that your seedlings get 12-16 hours of light per day! That is far more than you will get with even the sunniest south-facing window. Most garden experts recommend purchasing plant lights that can be set on timers to ensure the correct amount of light for your plants. An ideal alternative is fluorescent lighting which will achieve the same effect.

Heat

New seedlings require warmth to survive and grow. Plant heating mats provide the necessary warmth without drying out the soil. For a DIY heat pad, you can place your seedlings on a radiator, but remember if doing so, to keep an eye on the moisture level of the soil as this form of heat has a drying effect on the soil.

Attention

This one is the most often overlooked and often the most beneficial to successful seedlings. Make sure to check on your seedlings daily. When the seeds sprout, be sure to take off the greenhouse dome. As the seedlings get bigger, move them around gently with your hand to encourage strong stem growth.

Acclimate Seedlings Before Transplanting

Before transplanting seedlings into your garden, they must be acclimated to the harsher outside conditions. Gardeners call this hardening off the seedlings. This can be done over three days. Start by placing them outside for a few hours in the morning on the first day, and gradually increasing their time outdoors until they are hardy enough for transplantation.

The long weekend will soon be here. We wanted to share some of our favourite tips on how to get the most out of your weekend so that you are ready to face the world when you do have to go back to work. Here are our five top tips to get the most out of your long weekend.

Make a Plan

We all say that we want to do “nothing” on the long weekend, but without a plan you could end up doing a bunch of unconsciously chosen random things and then wonder where the weekend has gone. Having an idea for what you would like to get done on a weekend will give it a sense of purpose. Plus the anticipation of all the fun things you have planned will make for a more exciting weekend. Saying this, don’t plan out every second of the weekend, you don’t want it to feel like an extension of your work week. Choose a few activities that you would like to do and then let the rest happen.

2. Do Something Outdoors.

The compulsion to stay inside binge watching Netflix in your PJs can sometimes be overwhelming, but spending your whole weekend indoors will leave you feeling more tired and worn out. Take your dog to a new park, go for a walk around your neighbourhood, or discover a new trail!

3. Be a Tourist in Your Own Town.

Particularly if you live in a large city, you can get used to just going to places within your own neighbourhood and you can start to ignore what else is going on outside of it.Most cities and towns have lots to offer even to people who have lived there for year. Go to a new art gallery, take in an event in a new part of town. You don’t have to stray far from home to gain a new experience. Having a daycation in your own town can have its hidden rewards!

4. Don’t Spend All Your Time Doing Chores.

We all know how easy it is to get mired in all the things we feel we need to do around the house. Chores add up during the work week and we want to get them all done on the weekend. Spending the whole weekend just playing catch up on household chores can leave you feeling even more drained for when you go back to work. Make sure to take some time for things that you enjoy doing so that you don’t feel like the weekend has been wasted.

5. Get up at Your Usual Time.

Sleeping in on a Sunday may sound like bliss, but it can actually make you feel more tired and less rested when you go back to work. Sleeping in puts your sleep cycle out of sync and will make you feel exhausted and unprepared for the work week.

Remember, the weekends are meant to be a way for people to rest and recharge! Make sure you give yourself some time to do things that make you feel relaxed and happy so that when you go back to work, you are ready to tackle anything.

Follow these eco-friendly tips to prevent getting sick this winter season!

Wash your hands often.

Doctor’s agree that frequent hand washing can ward off more viruses and illnesses than any vaccine or other medical intervention. Hand washing prevents the spread of germs from surface to surface and prevents the spread of viruses and bacteria. So lather up, and avoid being down and out this winter.

Avoid using antibacterial products.

Companies love to tell us that their antibacterial products will help kill more germs and keep you healthier. The problem is, these products also kill the good germs that would help ward off disease carrying germs, making the bad germs stronger. Using natural, organic soaps and cleansers will leave your home healthy and happy!

A clean home is a healthy home.

This one seems obvious, but even the cleanest of homes can be harmful if you are using harsh, chemical-based cleaning agents. The idea is to clean your home without leaving chemicals in the air, in fabrics, or on household surfaces. Be sure to wipe down surfaces often with natural cleaning products, and be sure to wash linens, stuffed toys and other fabrics frequently.

Eat well, live well.

We have all heard the benefits of a healthy diet. But eating right is about more than just eating more fruits and vegetables. Eating, fresh, organic meat and produce, as well as avoiding processed foods and sweets, will help boost your immune system and keep the flu at bay.

Drink to your good health!

Beyond eating healthy, you can also drink to your good health as well. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and has many other health benefits. White tea is said to prevent cancer. All teas are naturally caffeinated which can help your brain stay alert. Add a bit of fresh ginger to your tea to help alleviate lung afflictions caused by bronchitis and the flu.

Get plenty of rest.

Busy, commitment-filled schedules can sometimes leave us over stressed, over tired and run down. Committing to a sleep schedule and getting 6-8 hours of sleep a night give your body the time it needs to repair itself.

We launched our Indiegogo campaign for the Drumi on Monday and the response has been fantastic! We are already at 35% of our goal thanks to our wonderful supporters. It's been a whirlwind couple of days and we have heard a lot of great feedback from all over the world. We have also received a lot of great questions about the Drumi and the pre-order process on Indiegogo.

We have already sold out of our early bird promotional price of $239USD, but due to the success of the campaign, we are offering 50 more units only at the early bird price. To order the Drumi through our Indiegogo campaign, please click here.

Q. Why is the Drumi more expensive than it used to be?

A. When we initially launched the Drumi, it was our first version. We have since received some great feedback regarding additional features and product improvements. We took this feedback into consideration and have improved our product and have released a newer version.

Some of the features include built-in measurements, an engraved lid and an improved drainage system. This is our first product and we want it to be made with the highest quality possible, which has resulted in an increase of price.

Q. What will the shipping costs be to my country?

A. Shipping costs for the Drumi will vary depending on which country it will be shipped to. Shipping costs will be a flat-rate for each country. To find out shipping costs please visit our Indiegogo campaign at http://igg.me/at/yirego-drumi. The rate will be added to your order when you add your country of residence.

Q. Why is the Drumi only available for purchase in U.S. dollars?

A. We chose to run our Indiegogo campaign in U.S. dollars is because it is an international campaign and the U.S. dollar is more universal.

Q. I have pre-ordered my Drumi through Indiegogo. When can I expect my Drumi to be shipped?

A. If you ordered through our Indiegogo campaign, your order will be shipped in October, 2016. If you choose the “Get a Drumi, Give a Drumi” charity perk, you will receive your Drumi in September, 2016.

Q. I am an exisiting Drumi customer who ordered before August, 2015. Do I have to wait until October, 2016 for my Drumi?

A. Customers who ordered their Drumi before August, 2015 will still receive their orders in either July or August, 2016, depending on their purchase date.

Q. I am an exisiting Drumi customer who ordered before August, 2015. Can I get my order shipped to me outside the U.S. and Canada now that the orders have been opened up Internationally?

A. Our international orders will be processed through IndieGoGo, which is separate from our online store. The first batch of the Drumi's will be shipped only to Canada and the US.

There are two options that you can do:

- Keep your initial order with the Canadian address and have your friend/relative ship it to you privately

or

- We can refund that order and you can order through our Indiegogo campaign and have that Drumi ship to your home address.

The first batch will only be shipping to Canada and the US, but it will be an earlier delivery date.

Q. What happens if you don’t hit your Indiegogo campaign goal? Do we still get our Drumi?

A.Yes. Since we are running a flexible Indiegogo campaign, we will be able to use whatever funds we get to deliver you your Drumi.

Q. Where can I pick up the Drumi without having it shipped to me?

A.Unfortunately we do not have retail space for the Drumi at this time. We require a shipping address to deliver to.

Q. What do I do if I need to refund my Drumi?

A. All refunds for Drumis purchased through our Indiegogo campaign will be refunded through Indiegogo. To receive a refund, please email us at info@yirego.com

Q. What is the warranty policy on the Drumi?

A. We offer a standard, one year warranty on the Drumi. Our return policy is 30 days with an unused Drumi complete with original packaging. The buyer is responsible for return postage.

Q. What is the capacity of the Drumi? What kinds of things will I be able to wash in it?

A. While the Drumi was originally made with personal items and delicates in mind, we have been able to wash 1 pair of jeans at a time. The Drumi can hold 5 pounds of clothing - that measures to around 7 personal items (t-shirts, boxers, socks, etc), or 3 sweaters. We do not recommend bed sheets or towels as they are a bit too heavy.

Q. Will the Drumi be available in different colours?

A. For our first batch, the Drumi will only be available in green and white.

Q. How big is the Drumi? How much does it weigh?

A. The size of the Drumi will be 18” x 16” x 16” and it will weigh around 20 pounds when empty.

Follow our tips to help you decide what to keep in your closet and how to get rid of what you don't need!

Water is such an important component in the products we produce, consume, and in our daily functions -- a natural resource that we often take for granted. According to the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (2013), per capita Canada is one of the largest consumers of fresh water. To sum it up, the average person consumes 343 litres of water per person per day! At YiREGO we are geared towards finding the most sustainable solutions while adding convenience to our consumer’s lives. Here are a few tips and tricks to conserving water and curbing potentially wasteful habits.

On May 20th, 2015, the YiREGO Team was featured on Fairchild TV's Timeline Magazine! We were able to introduce others to the Drumi and the experience was great! We compiled some clips of the Drumi in action, watch some of the highlights from the show here: