Wash your clothes without water

Wed, 04/16/2014 - 08:17

Almost every homeowner is constantly looking for ways to save money in his or her day-to-day life. Radiant heaters provide a cheaper and more efficient alternative to convection heating methods, but there is more you can do than installing the best heating system. The water bill is another steady cost making its way into every home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average washing machine uses 41 gallons of water for every load of laundry. For larger families who require numerous cycles and loads, the cost of such can add up fast.

However, a company called Xeros in the U.K. has developed a new kind of washing machine that looks to improve on this wastefulness with a more sustainable solution. The Xeros machine uses up to 70 percent less water than other washers, reported Jetson Green. This washing machine still retains the appearance of its predecessors, but the manner in which it cleans clothes is very different.

Instead of merely pumping in copious amounts of water and mixing with detergent, the Xeros washer does its job primarily with beads. There are 50 pounds of lentil-sized polymer beads stored in the machine and dropped in to begin cleaning, where they rub against the fabrics to remove stains. Though a special type of detergent is still used, only half the amount of normal detergent is needed for each cycle. The polymer beads attract dirt in the washer to prevent it from spreading and sucks in loose dyes while the weight of the beads holds clothes down to prevent wrinkles.

Not only will innovations like the Xeros washer help people save water and money on their monthly bills, it will give houses a much more sustainable option for cleaning clothes while extending their life. As technology continues to develop more conservative methods for everyday tasks, the average person will be able to make a larger eco-friendly impact on the world.

e-mail icon