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The Future of Laundry: No More Water | Popular Science

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The Future of Laundry: No More Water | Popular Science
Description

The Future of Laundry: No More Water

Well, at least 90% less of it, thanks to a new technique using dirt-busting plastic pellets

Clean your clothes without putting them—or your utility bills—through the wringer. Xeros’s prototype washing machine uses 90 percent less water than ordinary models, which also eliminates energy-intensive spin cycles and dryer blasts.

The machine replaces all but one tenth of the usual water and about one third of the usual detergent with 0.1-inch plastic beads, reusable for hundreds of washes. The beads are made of the same nylon as many carpets, because the properties that make nylon easy to stain also make it a great scrubber: Its polarized molecules attract soil, and in the humidity created by a little water, the polymer chains separate slightly ...

Original URL
http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2009-10/clean-your-clothes-plastic

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  • Public Comments

    • David Day David Day
      3 weeks ago


      That's pretty clever. Do you think they could invent a machine that cleaned your clothes without having to take them off? :)

    • cinboo
      3 weeks ago


      Yes, David, it has been invented. It's called Showering with your Clothes on. LOL.

    • Tony Wang Tony Wang
      3 weeks ago


      Cutting the use of water by 90 percent and reducing the use of detergent as well? Sounds like a real winner!
      Environment

    • Darron Raw Darron Raw
      3 weeks ago


      This makes a lot of environmental good sense... as long as there isn't a hidden cost.

    • Rara Avis
      3 weeks ago


      Great idea - what they really need to add to that is a proprietary recycling program whereby they recycle all of the plastic they produce for their product, at no cost to the consumer. Otherwise it's one environmental disaster traded in for another. Anyone seen or heard of the Pacific Ocean Gyre? 300 ft. deep collection of plastic debris the size of Texas, floating in the ocean of the coast of Santa Cruz. Ouch.
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