Scrubbed clean – and green

New-wave washing tech

Today, about 60 per cent of our clothing contains synthetics: think yoga pants, fleece coats, workout gear and even dress shirts. That’s because synthetic fibres enhance the look and the performance of these garments. But this comes at a potential environmental cost, says the developer of a trio of groundbreaking technologies designed to shrink washday’s impact on the environment – and simply get things cleaner.

Describing itself as a developer of polymer technologies to radically improve sustainability and performance in waterintensive consumer and industrial processes, Xeros Technologies says recent research highlights the environmental cost of microfibres shed during washing. A 2016 study pioneered by Patagonia Outfitters and conducted by the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management found that a single fleece jacket can shed up to 250 000 microfibres during a single wash. The fibres are so small that they pass through wastewater treatment facilities and enter our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans where they make their way into the food chain. Typically, we’d consider dealing with that downstream at wastewater treatment plants. But that could involve huge expense.

Xeros says its filtering innovation, Xfiltra, greatly reduces microfibres from entering the environment by addressing the problem directly where the microfibres are created: in the home washing machine. Said to be compatible with any home washing machine, Xfiltra is described as having a clever and elegant design for easy cleaning and hassle-free DIY maintenance. It consists of an integrated pump, filter and dewatering device. Unfiltered

Ordinarily, to get your soiled washing really clean, the traditional home washing machine method has been immersion in chemical-laden water that’s then heated.

water enters the Xfiltra where the microfibres are trapped and are spun dry into a solid disc. The disc is easily removed and can be deposited in everyday trash.

Xfiltra was just one of three technologies Xeros announced At this year’s CES in Las Vegas. At the heart of this home laundry system is Xorb polymer technology. Allowing washing machines to work more efficiently while using just a fraction of the water traditionally needed, Xorbs combine cold water washing, powerful stain removal, easier ironing and garment protection that keep clothes looking newer for longer. Xorbs last for many hundreds of washes before needing to be replaced and recycled.

The third member of the trio, Xdrum, is an inexpensive system that enables the manufacturers to incorporate Xorb technology into home washing machine designs. For the first time, manufacturers will be able to offer consumers the many benefits of washing with Xorbs that have until now only been available to commercial laundry operations.

In this harsh environment it’s no surprise that the clothes get stressed. Their appearance deteriorates and their lifespan shortens.

To get around this problem, Xorbs are introduced at the start of the wash cycle and gently massage the garments, loosening dirt and stains while reducing the tendency for the garments to crease. They are added from inside the Xdrum to mix with the clothes along with a small amount of water. The minimal cold water required for the wash cycle is filtered with the Xfiltra, reducing microfibres that go down the drain. When the wash cycle is completed, the Xorbs automatically return to a holding area inside of the Xdrum and are ready to be used again for the next wash. Clothes can then be removed like a traditional washing machine, but with cleaner and better results.

“Our core purpose at Xeros is to give washing machine manufacturers and home laundry customers a washing solution that delivers unparalleled cleaning results and garment care, at the lowest cost, and with the greatest sustainability for our planet,” says Xeros CEO Mark Nichols. ( Source: Xeros)