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Could you wash your clothes in just one cup of water? email this discussion to a friend?

myLot reputation of 89/100. owlwings (2385)   ranked 26 out of 622 in science4 months ago

Researchers at Leeds University in England have come up with a washing machine that can use as little as one cup of water to wash clothes as clean as in conventional washing machines.

"A typical washing machine uses about 35kg of water for every kg of clothes that are washed - as well as large amounts of energy to heat the water and to dry the clothes afterwards. With environmental concerns becoming increasingly urgent and water becoming an increasingly scarce resource, there is an urgent need to reduce the amount of water and energy used for washing clothes.

"The [newly-developed] process is based on the use of plastic granules (or chips) which are tumbled with the clothes to remove stains. A range of tests, carried out according to worldwide industry protocols to prove the technology performs to the high standards expected in the cleaning industry, show the process can remove virtually all types of everyday stains as effectively as existing processes whilst leaving clothes as fresh as normal washing. In addition, the clothes emerge from the process almost dry, reducing the need for tumble-dryers.

Xeros' technology uses as little as a cup of water in each wash cycle and could also bring benefits to other industrial processes such as wastewater treatment and metal degreasing."

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/me...

Do you think that we currently use too much water in washing clothes (and dishes)? This new process could be on the British market as early as 2009. Would you be among the first in the queue for such a machine?

 
 
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polachicago (6169) response was accepted on 7/22/2008.
denotes best response.
tags:  washing machine, water, conservation, invention, technology
 
1. myLot reputation of 86/100. rjscott (2301)   ranked 516 out of 622 in science   4 months ago

I don't know if I'd be among the first in line for such a unit, but I'd sure be interested once the price would become affordable. I'm sure it would be expensive at first.

With the drought we've had for several years in Southwest Florida, such a machine would be a boon!

Yes, I'd be extremely interested!

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2. myLot reputation of 67/100. izzuyasha (263)   ranked 515 out of 622 in science   4 months ago

With just a cup of water?!I would like to have this machine as soon as possible!

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3. myLot reputation of 94/100. tammyr (3353)   ranked 512 out of 622 in science   4 months ago

That sounds like a great thing! I love the concept!
I would love to have a machine like this but finances won't allow one until they come cheaper.
I think something like this would be wonderful and should be a great new product if they really work like they claim!

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4. myLot reputation of 97/100. Jemina (2239)   ranked 517 out of 622 in science   4 months ago

Wow! Another revolutionary washing. It would be good if this product will available in the market soon before our water reservior gets empty.
Necessity is the mother of invention really and now that we are in the peak of technology things get better in the silicon valley but the environment is depleting on the other hand.
Thanks to our modern inventors who never cease to make things better and to be able to cope with recent crisis.

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5. myLot reputation of 95/100. p1kef1sh (3073)   ranked 456 out of 622 in science   4 months ago

My only concern is that the water must be recycled several times before eventually being expelled in the final spin. How effective is this recycling? But as someone who is convinced that my family take washing in for others; anything that reduces our water usage is very welcome.


myLot reputation of 89/100. owlwings (2385)   ranked 26 out of 622 in science  4 months ago

I have to confess that I don't fully understand how the process works. In normal washing we use water as a solvent and detergent as a means of getting insoluble stuff to bond to the water and detached itself from the fabric. (Clever stuff, chemistry. I have come to it rather late in life, but never mind!)

I can only assume that this cupful of water is behaving in a much more efficient way as a sort of carrier doing short trips between the dirty clothes and the plastic pellets (which fill up with all the grot and grime removed from the clothes). That, anyway, is the way that I can imagine it working, though I'm only a mere Cambridge man and not up to the clever stuff they do in Leeds.

The article says that the plastic pellets are recyclable, so I suppose that having done their job in one wash, you can somehow clean them and use them again.

Identifying whether or not your family actually do take in washing for others is similar in concept to the odd sock theory (which we discussed some months ago). It hinges on the 'rightness' and 'leftness' properties of clothing. In the case of socks, there is a confusion about valency because each sock can reverse valency (can be worn on either foot). Other garments are either 'right' [to put in your wash because they belong to a member of your family] or 'left' [behind by a friend or acquaintance and appropriated by a member of your family]. This is a subject more appropriate to Theoretical Physics and therefore more suited to Cambridge students than Leeds.


myLot reputation of 95/100. p1kef1sh (3073)   ranked 456 out of 622 in science  4 months ago

I hadn't realised that Physics was only theoretical at Cambridge. Still, someone has to dream up the new possibilities. LOL. I just wonder how they clean the pellets. Perhaps they wash them. Surely not!

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6. myLot reputation of 98/100. nannacroc (1698)   ranked 513 out of 622 in science   4 months ago

I would rather go back to using the old fashioned twin tub than pay more for something I don't know enough about. We do use far too much water to wash clothes now because the automatic washing machines take so much.

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7. myLot reputation of 88/100. Angelwhispers (4601)   ranked 247 out of 622 in science   4 months ago

Wow, i wonder if this machine is going to be affordable? heck yes I would want one. A machine like this will pay for itself in not time at all. That is if one can afford to buy it.

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8. myLot reputation of 96/100. polachicago (6169)   ranked 110 out of 622 in science   4 months ago

I love new technology. I would probably want to have new washer if I can afford to have it.
One cup of water sounds good for me.
In my town we have water limit and I am always over the limit.
I don't know why. 2 people taking showers once a day?
Washing laundry 2ce a week?
What about 5 people household?
Means they don't take showers to stay in limit?
I think I should invent one cup of water shower..... lol

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9. myLot reputation of 61/100. rocker21 (2114)   ranked 260 out of 622 in science   2 months ago

Innovation. thumbup

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10. myLot reputation of 95/100. hiddenwing (683)   2 months ago

Yeah, I totally agree with u. Every time, When I saw some people waste the water, it hurts. If the machine really works, it will relliever the burden of the earth. On the other hand, washing clothes will absolutly pollute the water as well. So what, it is so wise to work out a way to reduce the assumption of water

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