Mar. 29, 2006 - If you're a stickler for cleanliness, it sounds like a dream
invention -- a washing machine that destroys bugs in the weekly laundry. Its
designers at Samsung claim the technology will remove or kill 99.9 percent of
odor-causing bacteria, including e.coli.
And they say the system will keep the clothes fresh for up to 30 days. Called
the Silver Nano Health System, it works by bombarding clothing with jets of
cold water primed with tiny silver ions. Users do not need to add hot water,
bleach or other chemicals. As a result it saves energy and treats delicate
items, such as lingerie, more gently, giving them a longer life.
There is research dating back many years showing that silver has cleaning
properties. For example, water treatment facilities that service hospitals use
silver ions, which act directly on bacterial cell walls, preventing
reproduction. There are suggestions that one form of the precious metal,
colloidal silver, can even be more effective than antibiotics when applied to
wound infections.
With the Samsung machine, water passes through two pure silver electrodes
before entering the drum. Electricity pulses through these electrodes,
generating nanosized silver ions. The resulting ions latch onto and destroy any
bacteria.
Samsung says that modern fabrics cannot cope with being washed at high
temperatures, which means it is more difficult for consumers to disinfect their
clothes. Samsung says its machines kill bacteria at low temperatures. The
machine bombards the clothes with silver ions for a second time in the final
rinse cycle. This coats the items and for up to 30 days prevents any bacteria
they come in to contact with from reproducing.
So, in theory, clothes need to be washed far less frequently. The machine is
priced at just under $1,400 in the U.S. The UK price has not yet been decided,
but it is expected to launch in April.
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