Kshovik — Nehi Modi

KSHOVIK

Ultrasonic Utensil Cleaning System

Cleaning small, intricate kitchen tools is time-consuming and often leaves hard-to-reach areas untouched. Kshovik explores ultrasonic cleaning as a way to reduce manual effort and improve cleaning consistency, translating the technology into a compact appliance designed for urban Indian kitchens.

My Contribution

· Research · Computational Form Development · CMF Development · 3D Visualization

Duration — 1 month | Year — 2026

Tools used

WE CLEAN WHAT WE CAN SEE.

NOT ALWAYS WHAT WE CAN REACH.

70%

of users prioritize cleaning large utensils first, leaving smaller tools for later.

58%

feel that these tools are “clean enough” visually, even when not thoroughly cleaned.

60%

users avoid detailed scrubbing of tools like whisks and strainers.

65%

report difficulty in removing residue from tools
with tight gaps, wires, or perforations.

Cook and Eat

🙂

Good

Utensils pile up

Soak utensils

😕

Reluctant, disgusted

Ick Factor

Clean utensils

😐

Tiring, time-taking

Time+Effort

Tackle hard - to - reach areas

😠

Frustrated

Hard to reach

Rinse and dry

😐

Almost done

Repetitive

Store

🙂

Satisfied

"Clean enough?"

Utensil washing can feel

like time you can't afford to lose.like a workout you didn't ask for.like a battle with grease & burnt-on food.like cleaning the places your hands can't reach.like touching what you'd rather not touch.like tomorrow's problem.

Reserach Scope

A broad range of everyday Indian kitchen utensils was studied from frequently used cookware and tableware to tools with more complex geometries.

What Research Revealed

Apart from the oily and masala stains, cleaning becomes more difficult when food residue settles in areas that are difficult to access manually.

Perforations

Fine mesh

Blades and corners

Grooves & joints

Design Brief

Design a utensil-cleaning system for urban Indian kitchens that simplifies cleaning small, intricate kitchen tools with hard-to-reach areas while reducing manual effort and direct contact with waste.

Automated. Effective. Hygienic.

Reduces manual effort

Targets complex geometries

ONE PEN. FIVE MINDS. 150 IDEAS.

A spinning pen selected each participant's turn to contribute an idea, which was then recorded through quick notes and sketches. By gamifying brainwriting, we reduced hesitation and overthinking, encouraging spontaneous thinking, unexpected ideas, and a few surprisingly useful concepts that helped shape our design direction.

After short-listing a few ideas based on majority,

we dived into field studies and mock ups to check for feasibility and practicality.

Low-fidelity mock-ups were built to test form, scale, and basic working.

A field visit to a jewellery store helped understand ultrasonic cleaning in real use.

Repurposed a vibration motor and gear from scrap and attached them to a rice cooker, to create vibrations and to evaluate vibration-based cleaning.

Variety of utensils tested in the ultrasonic cleaner at the chemistry department

What the ultrasonic cleaning trials REVEALED.

Tougher stains may require higher temperatures, longer cycles, and detergent.

Reaches Hidden Crevices — Cleans intricate geometries.

Severe burnt-on residue may require additional scrubbing.

Cleaning cycles typically ranged from 5–10 minutes, depending on the load and stain severity.

Wood, porous materials, soft plastics and silicone are unsuitable or less compatible.

Metal-Friendly — Hard metals are highly compatible.

Residue Accumulates — Food particles settle at the bottom.

Non-Abrasive Cleaning — Cleans without scratching surfaces.

Preheating was associated with improved cleaning outcomes in the tested setup.

Full Submersion Matters — observed that plastics were floating and hence received weaker vibrations.

THE TECHNOLOGY WORKED. NOW, WHAT SHOULD THE PRODUCT BECOME

Early experiments showed promising cleaning results, even on intricate utensils. The next challenge was to translate this potential into a thoughtfully designed appliance for everyday Indian kitchens.

Must Have

Minimal manual scrubbing and effort

Compatibility with Indian utensils

Time Efficient

Should Have

Safe, simple operation

Compact, space-efficient footprint

Easy maintenance and repair

Could Have

Multiple cleaning modes

Sustainable materials and construction

Built-in drying

Low-noise operation

Won't Have

A bulky, permanently installed appliance

App-dependent operation

AI-based utensil recognition and sorting

Fully autonomous loading and unloading

Scaled mockups of initial forms

1:1 Scaled mock up of the selected form

Mock-ups were developed to assess utensil capacity, inner wire-basket placement, and the positioning of ultrasonic transducers and motors.

Form Inspiration

KSHOVIK draws inspiration from the grounded proportions of traditional Indian vessels, translating them into a futuristic appliance form. Faceted surfaces, inward geometry, and a stable base create a compact yet technologically expressive presence.

WE WENT BACK TO OUR USERS

“The purifier-like form is appealing, the basket can double as a draining rack, and the square footprint makes room for more utensils.”

but,