Low-water laundering
Trading detergent for nylon beads will cut energy and water use.
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A British textile and color chemist has developed a way to clean clothes using just 10% of the water conventional laundering requires.
Instead of detergent, a string of special nylon beads is added to slightly wet laundry. In medium heat and high humidity "the beads open up like a one-way trap-door and absorb stains and dirt and they don't come out again," said Tim Maxwell, president of GreenEarth Cleaning, which is partnering with Xeros, the British developer of the process, on the venture.
The beads will require a special machine to work -- you won't be able to use your current Maytag -- and that won't be available until sometime next year.
The beads themselves can be reused hundreds of times. After a while, when their molecular structure can't hold any more of the dirt, consumers can send them back to be recycled.
Even though cold water can't be used, the system will still save energy, about 30% to 40% less than conventional laundering. That's because so little water is necessary that it's not a big strain on heating costs and the laundry comes out only slightly damp, which decreases dry time and saves power.
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Last updated September 08 2010: 5:19 PM ET
