Blogging Gizmodo: The (Nearly) Waterless Washing Machine

Do you think this washing machine could possibly get clothes clean with only one cup of water?

The diagram above tells the story. We'd like to know more about how the plastic chips grab on to dirt and stains—and what happens to them at the end of their 100-wash life. We also wonder about the practicality of tossing 44 pounds of plastic chips into the washer along with the laundry. Is that something those of us with bad backs could handle on a regular basis?

Assuming those limitations could be overcome, the potential water savings are tremendous, especially as more and more people every year around the world buy washing machines to end the drudgery of washing clothes by hand.

via Gizmodo; original story at The Daily Mail

Comments (5)

Wouldn't the clothes just absorb the one cup of water?

weird

Seems like the impact of throwing away the plastic chips would offset any reduction in water usage.

So the plastic chips are made from petroleum right? Replacing water for petroleum doesn't sound like the best idea to me.

How on earth does it ensure that all the plastic chips are removed from the clothes at the end of the cycle, and that you don't end up with loads caught up inside pockets, and duvet covers and pillow cases? or will you just have to give everything a thorough shake?