Clean Tech of the Week: Wash Clothes Without Water
Not exactly washing without water, but with less than 2% of a normal washing machine. That’s only 1 cup of water for those sweaty gym clothes, grubby kid-wear, and foul socks.
Washing with soap and water has been THE WAY to clean most clothes for so long, it’s hard to imagine reducing H2O by 98%. What this technology lacks in sexy bells and whistles, it gains in implications. Billions of gallons of clean water could be conserved every year simply by adopting this dry cleaning technology. Less water also means less drying, which can add energy savings to those with energy-hungry clothes dryers.
The process uses plastic granules, which tumble with your laundry and a little water and detergent. The plastic absorbs the dirt or grit and can be reused for up to six months.
“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.” (Source)
The company bent on developing this technology is called Xeros, which started out of the UK’s University of Leeds School of Design. Professor Stephen Burkinshaw is the founder of Xeros, and hopes to use £500,000 in funding to bring a product to market as soon as 2009.
Dry cleaning companies have already shown interest in the technology, especially in areas with growing concerns over solvents involved in some dry cleaning techniques. Let’s hope this technology is affordable and spreads like wildfire.
Image via GoodCleanTech.com
But does it leave the clothes clean or does it just save water?
This machine is a great way of conserving water, it is very critical that we conserve water in our homes. It’s even more critical in developing countries where one out of six people lack access to safe drinking water. The Blue Planet Run Foundation supports water projects worldwide.If you would like to learn more contact:
Sabrina@blueplanetrun.org or go to
http://blueplanetrun.org/
Thank you!
What happens to all the plastic waste?
[...] Wash Clothes without Water [...]
Khurt: it does leave your clothes clean. You still put detergent in your wash. The difference is that instead of using water to scrub stains out, you use these chips. That means ultimately you need less water.
Alan: That’s one of my questions. I believe they can be recycled, but there’s always the question of implementation. Not everyone who can recycle does.
Renee: Thanks for the link! It never ceases to amaze me how precious water is as a resource and commodity. With growing concerns about water around the globe, in both developed and undeveloped places, one hopes we’ll take every opportunity to conserve.