Waterless washing: The wave of the future

What might the future hold in the way of cleaning clothes? A waterless washing unit that uses negative ions, compressed air and deodorants.

When Stockholm-based Electrolux asked leading design schools to come up with the most outstanding new home appliance concept for the year 2020, more than 3,000 students in over 88 countries entered the competition.

The winning design was created by students in Singapore. Their Airwash appliance does away with the need for detergent and water. The unit’s design, inspired by the waterfall, uses pressurized air and negative ions – a natural cleansing agent – that deal with dirt and bacteria.