With the characteristic flair only a Cuban can muster, young actor Androx Rodríguez took to social media to showcase what he called a "third world laundry routine," featuring a domestic survival tutorial with a Soviet-era treasure: the iconic Russian Aurika washing machine.
"I'm going to show you how a third world person does laundry. This isn't my home; I don't own a washing machine. I usually use a laundromat, but the dryer is broken, so I come to a friend's house to wash," he explained in an Instagram video @mal_androx, smirking slightly and shirtless, as he introduced his makeshift "laundry center."
Beside him, the Aurika stood in its rusty 80s glory. "You probably have one too, but in worse condition than this because we Cubans hold onto everything," he commented.
But that wasn't all. The washing session also involved rinsing clothes in two buckets of water, using sheer muscle. For drying, another washing machine was used solely for spinning. Quite ordinary in Cuba, some would say.
With a mix of humor and Cuban sarcasm, Rodríguez shared "Cuban-level" laundry tips, which are learned only by surviving the everyday challenges of a country where creativity is a necessity.
The grand finale? A classic Cuban twist: a power outage. Just as it seemed he would complete his alternative laundry day, the electricity went out. The video concluded with a memorable line: "Energy is neither created nor destroyed, we just cut it. Electric Company," followed by the Union Eléctrica logo in meme form.
In Cuba, even doing laundry can become a spectacle.
Cuban Laundry Challenges and Solutions
What kind of washing machine is used in the video?
The video features a Soviet-era washing machine known as the Aurika, a common sight in Cuban households.
How do Cubans handle laundry without a dryer?
Cubans often rely on manual methods, such as rinsing clothes in buckets and using other machines solely for spinning to dry their laundry.
What challenges do Cubans face when doing laundry?
Cubans face frequent power outages and often lack proper laundry facilities, which requires creative solutions and the use of outdated machines.