Time Magazine's "50 Best Inventions Of The Year" Washing Machine

[frigilux]

From the November 22nd issue of Time Magazine: The 50 Best Inventions Of The Year. Coming in at an impressive #2 is the Xeros, Ltd., "almost waterless" washing machine.

Here's how it works: During the wash cycle, an inner and outer drum spin, mixing nylon beads with laundry. Near the end of the cycle, the outer drum stops spinning, causing the nylon beads to separate from the clothes.

All but 1% of the beads are removed during the wash cycle; when you retrieve your clothes, you can shake out the last bits into a bin for reuse. If necessary, any errant beads can be removed with an attached vacuum.

There is also an article, in the same issue, about the new phosphate-free dishwasher detergents.

 

[l86810]

There's a great website and demonstration video for it here....

Domain parking page

www.xerosltd.com

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for the link, Adam! I think machines like this are fascinating, in that we'll look back on them as the prototype of radically different concepts in laundry.

How quickly it will catch on as a mainstream domestic appliance is another story. How well will it work with a full load of clothes? Will odors, etc., be removed using so little water?

 

[maytagbear]

One word:

YUCK!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[qsd-dan]

YUCK!

X2!!

 

[rapunzel]

YUCK

X3!!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

"We'll look back on them as the prototype of radical

And expect a lot of consumers went "YUK" when the new Frigidaire thumper first came out over the normal wringer agi!!!

More intregued as to what the "Yukers" find "Yuk" about it??

Would seem a perfect solution if it worked for commercial settings, given its portrayed water savings!!not sure what the detergent manufacturers would think!! It would drive me crazy with even a few beads falling on the floor...Lol and just imagine being in a board meeting and a few beads falling out your wash n wear jacket, "Dandruff....No... Its My new Washing Detergent!...LOl[this post was last edited: 11/17/2010-07:14]

 

[frigilux]

I certainly enjoy radical experiments in all things laundry, but here are my questions about this particular technology:

1) While the machine would definitely save water (good for drought-stricken or desert areas), but what about the energy needed to make the nylon beads? And I'm guessing they don't last for the life of the machine.

2) I wash kitchen rags and towels that have raw meat juices on them. We all (I trust) wash our undergarments. What happens to bacteria, etc., when those damp beads settle down at the end of the wash cycle? How do you prevent the growth and transfer of bacteria on them? I am able to use liquid chlorine bleach in my current washer.

 

[combo52]

BEAD CLEANING WASHERS

Interesting but I want to try my load of dirty, oily, muddy work clothes in it. I think its interesting that they only put one dirty shirt in the load and how that shirt ended up on top of the load along with the shirt with the beads in the pocket. I also don't see any actual figures for the total water use. Some new washers already use save 75% of the water used by older older top loading washers. We need one to test at Kevin's wash-in.

 

[toggleswitch]

For litres multipy gallons by 3.78

XEROS LTD.

UGH that meas "DRY" in Greek as XEROX also means dry, as in dry copies (no liquid).

If you really want to save water, stop buying the Sunday paper which I think tales 300 or 600 gallons to make or something stupidly high like that.

If drinking water ever becomes that scarce it should simply be distilled from the oceans and seas using waste heat from power generating plants, or by burning garbage. Isn't 3/4 of the Earth's surface covered with water?

Give me a royal break! I think people just like to be stingy and miserly for the pure hell of it!