Laundry

Years before Samsung and others started tackling microplastic from machine washes escaping into the environment, there was Slovenia-based PlanetCare. Now the company has announced its second-generation external filter.

At CES 2023 in January, Samsung hatched a plan to stem the tide of microfibers shed during washing cycles from entering seas and oceans via a special wash program and an external filter. Now that Less Microfiber Filter has launched.

A large percentage of microplastic pollution takes the form of synthetic microfibers, shed by our clothes as they're being washed. Gulp lets homeowners filter those fibers out of their wash water, keeping them from reaching rivers or the sea.

Laundry cycles see our clothes shed huge amounts of microplastic fibers into the wastewater and scientists have now made an effort to quantify this, estimating that millions of metric tonnes of synthetic fibers have entered waterbodies since 1950.

The microfibers shed by loads of laundry are a big problem, as they can be ingested by aquatic life upon entering waterways. New research indicates that short, cool washing cycles minimize the generation of those fibers – and keep clothes colorful.

The Sonic Soak is designed to act like a tiny, portable washing machine, using sound waves to clean clothes – including your delicates – as well as jewelry, toothbrushes, cutlery, baby items, fruit, veggies and basically whatever else can be thrown into a tub of water with it.

​Aimed at off-grid tiny home dwellers, campers and city folk looking to reduce their environmental impact, and their utility bills, the Drumi originally went up for pre-order back in 2015. Now, the foot-powered mini washing machine is in production ahead of shipping in the coming months.​

Most of us use a washing machine to do our laundry, instead of washing it by hand. Well, effie is an ironing machine. According to its UK-based creators, you just hang damp clothes up in it – straight from the washer – and they come out dried, pressed and wrinkle-free.

There's no such thing as laundry day in space because there's no economical way to wash clothes there. To make things a bit less manky, a University of Arizona undergraduate is developing a new system to clean astronauts' clothes and make them last longer while conserving water.

Last year, ORNL scientists revealed they were working on ultrasonic clothes drying technology. At the time, they said they planned to implement the technology in a press dryer and a clothes dryer drum. A new video shows they've been true to their word.

​Samsung has unveiled a new washer-dryer combo that should help laundry day pass more quickly. Along with the main front-loading compartments for washing and drying, the FlexWash + FlexDry boasts smaller separate compartments on top, for washing small loads and drying your delicates simultaneously.

Scientists are looking at how ultrasound can be used to dry laundry. They've already developed technology that they say could make clothes dryers 70 percent more energy-efficient than they are now. ​