Abstract: A contra-flow washing machine comprising preferably a horizontal drum, driving means for rotating said drum, for oscillatory motion alternatively in one direction and in reverse direction, and for driving and conveying motion in a single direction only, a plurality of partition means for subdividing the interior of said drum into a plurality of zones of washing and for conveying the washing from one of said zones of washing into the next adjacent one, a plurality of partition means within each cross section part of said drum, each of said partition means including a flat partition part transverse to the axis of said drum and a following guide part spirally inclined to the partition part inside the drum, of which at least one part is disposed within the range of oscillatory motion of the drum for the washing process.