Could you wash your clothes in just one cup of water?
@owlwings (43897)
Cambridge, England
June 13, 2008 8:48am CST
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/media/press_releases/current/washing_machine.htm
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?
2 people like this
9 responses
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
13 Jun 08
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.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
13 Jun 08
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.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
15 Jun 08
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.....
1 person likes this
@nannacroc (4049)
•
13 Jun 08
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.
@tammyr (5945)
• Etowah, Tennessee
13 Jun 08
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!
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
15 Jun 08
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.
1 person likes this
@Jemina (5770)
•
13 Jun 08
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.
1 person likes this
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
10 Aug 08
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
@izzuyasha (348)
• Malaysia
13 Jun 08
With just a cup of water?!I would like to have this machine as soon as possible!
1 person likes this
