The German Focus magazine reported yesterday about a new technology that means that clothes made with it no longer would have to be washed – they clean themselves.
It sounds like science fiction – remember the jacket in Back to the Future II that dried itself?
Or maybe it’s April Fool’s Day and I didn’t notice?
No – it’s serious. The textiles are treated with titanium dioxide, which reacts with sunlight to set off nanoparticles that remove dirt and bad smells, and this has more far-reaching implications that just not having to wash your clothes.
Firstly, the titanium dioxide is considered non-toxic to the environment, and secondly, by not having to wash the clothes the amount of detergent released into the water supply would be reduced.
Great news for the fashion industry and the environment – not so good news for makers of washing machines and washing powder!
Clothes that clean themselves
About GrahamGraham Tappenden is a British ex-pat who first came to Germany as a placement student in 1993, returning in 1995 to live there permanently. He has been writing for AllThingsGerman.net since 2006. When not writing blog posts or freelancing for the Oberurseler Woche and other publications he works as a self-employed IT consultant and online community manager. In 2016 he gained German citizenship.
Trackbacks
-
[…] Clothes that clean themselves A new textile treatment allows clothes to ward off stains and smells – simply by reacting with sunlight – and it’s environmentally friendly, too! Submitted: 1 minute ago Category: Science Submitter: RssFeed Website: http://www.cymeradwyo.com Report this link: Click here to report Comments: 0 […]
-
[…] off stains and smells – simply by reacting with sunlight – and it’s environmentally friendly, too!http://www.cymeradwyo.com/index.php/technology/clothes-that-clean-themselves/Berkeley Parents Network: Removing Food Stains from Baby&39s ClothingA different remedy for stains […]
Kleider, die sich selbst reinigen
Eine neue Technik erm