Repsol YPF

From river water, to the first hand washing machines and then modern appliances, water has been central to washing textiles. However, it may be that in the future it shares its hegemony with other more innovative systems, which barely use water in washing processes. 

For years, companies in the sector have been working to implement systems which achieve lower water consumption per wash. Thanks to this innovation and development effort, ideas have emerged such as washing machines with water probes, which measure the dirtiness of the water and do not change it until it is necessary.

Nowadays, ‘intelligent’ washing machines, those which regulate water consumption in line with the characteristics of the wash, save up to 70% in water consumption per wash compared to traditional models. By way of guidance, the Department of Industry has implemented, along with the label which classifies the energy consumption of each appliance, another label which informs you how efficient your washing is and how much water is consumed.

Washing with a single cup of water

If technology continues to develop in this area, it is likely that governmental labelling will have to be redefined or broadened, since there are now models which promise to reduce water consumption by 98%. This is the case of a prototype designed by the University of Leeds (United Kingdom) which is being developed by a British company. Its promoters guarantee that it will need a cup of water per wash and that it will leave clothes almost dry.

The secret of this appliance, according to the researchers, lies in the use of plastic counters which are responsible for extracting and absorbing even the most stubborn stains. The counters can be reused up to 100 times, which is equivalent to six months’ worth of washing.

First waterless models

Other projects have opted to remove water from the washing cycle. A few years ago, industrial design students at the University of Singapore submitted a model which washed clothes by bombarding them with negative ions, compressed air and deodorants. According to the designers, the clothes come out completely dry and ready for ironing.

Another solution, with greater prospects of success, uses oxygen. In fact, there are already models available in the shops which are based on this element and which clean without using water. One of the systems used by these devices is the conversion of oxygen into ozone, a gas with a high oxidation power. The appliance pulverises the ozone into the drum and thanks to its action, the dirt, smells and bacteria are removed. All without using a single drop of water.

Another model based on the use of oxygen, this time produced in Spain, has just received ecological certification from the Institute of Textile Technology. At the moment, the development represents an option for washing jeans and T-shirts on an industrial scale. In addition to washing them, it also gives the garments a ‘vintage’ or ‘distressed’ look, which is currently very popular.

Moving towards self-cleaning clothes

What if your T-shirts could wash themselves? This is what scientists from Australia and Hong Kong are proposing, having developed wools and silks which wash themselves. You just have to expose them to light, and the nanoparticles of titanium dioxide which they contain do the rest.
  

Related articles:

- Ecological detergents

- Optimise your tumble drier use in the summer in order to save energy