Science

Skip the Wash Cycle — These Clothes Are Cleaned by Sunlight!

Scientists Develop Fabric That Is Cleansed by Sunlight

(Photo: Qualityclothes.net)

Some people still pin up cotton garments on the line to dry in the sun after washing. But what if you could skip the washing machine step and go straight to the line?

Researchers at Hubei University for Nationalities in Hubei, China, have developed a cotton fabric that gets cleaned and deodorized with just sunlight — even stains and bacteria are ousted.

According to the release appearing in the American Chemical Society’s Applied Materials & Interfaces, Mingce Long and Deyong Wu say their fabric uses a coating made from a compound of titanium dioxide. ACS reports that titanium dioxide is the white material used things like white paint and sunscreen. The compound is known to break down dirt and kills microbes when exposed to certain types of light, and has already found been used things like self-cleaning windows, kitchen and bathroom tiles and odor-free socks, according to ACS.

Popular Science reports that other research has shown titanium dioxide to clean fabrics, but it required exposure to ultraviolet light. Long and Wu’s material uses ordinary sunlight. Here’s how they modified it to work:

[...] they doped some TiO2 with nitrogen, which had been previously shown to work as a light-activated catalyst in visible light. They developed a new method to put this nanoparticle solution in liquid form, dunked cotton in it for one minute, then pressed the cotton, dried it and re-rinsed it. Then they added some silver iodide nanoparticles, which were intended to improve the fabric’s overall light sensitivity. The researchers stained the fabric with orange dye, and then exposed it to sunlight. The cotton broke down the orange, and also sterilized bacteria.

But what happens if you want to wash these fabrics the usual way with a washer and dryer? Long and Wu’s fabric reportedly will still be fine and the compounds allowing sunlight to clean them will not break down.

Comments (81)

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  • joe magarac
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 11:36am

    Maybe they should hang these sheets over the OWS encampments.

    Report Post » joe magarac  
  • sbenard
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 11:34am

    Wow! It’s drip SKY!

    Report Post » sbenard  
  • The1stDave
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 11:14am

    I wonder if they can manufacture the car interior out of that stuff or if the coating means the fabric is always white. Would be nice to just hit an old stain with the shop vac.

    Report Post » The1stDave  
  • ObserverOnTheHill
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:54am

    Technology has great benefits for mankind, but there are also the unintended consequences that are unforseen – TIO2 = cancer ? No thanks. Then we have mandated “low flow” toilets that don’t do the job and now I have to flush twice – wasting 50% more water. However, please realize that fresh, potable water is becoming a very scarce commodity and anything that reduces its’ use needs to be considered. The amount of clean, fresh water wasted in our country is incredible as most people still take it for granted – turn on the faucet and voila- all the water I need. Not for long people. There are still California Delta Smelts and other species the whacko EPA are putting ahead of mankind.

    Report Post »  
    • SychinLegacy
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 10:08am

      TiO2 is already considered very safe. In fact it’s already widely used in sunscreen, as mentioned in the article. You don’t have to fear every chemical in existence…

      Just don’t eat it.

      Report Post » SychinLegacy  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 11:00am

      It would be EXTREMELY difficult to send our fresh water to where it is needed in the world. The majority of the available fresh water in the world is located on the border of the USA and Canada… The Great Lakes.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 11:07am

      .
      “These Clothes Are Cleaned by Sunlight!”
      If that were true, all the homeless would look spiffy.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 11:51am

      Where I live we have fresh water falling from the sky. You should move.

      Report Post »  
    • FlyoverConservative
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 11:54am

      France uses Nuclear Reactors to desalinate sea water. I don’t think we are short on ocean water. If for some reason you are too afraid of nuclear technology then there are many ways to filter and clean water. If you want God to miraculously put in you pipes for you then you are probably out of luck.

      Report Post »  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:21pm

      Well with the lack of an EPA in China they need some way to reduce water use by their population. They have more than one river system that is totally polluted and useless as a source of potable water. All you need to do is Google “polluted rivers in China” and you can see the results.

      And their dirty air washes ashore in WA and the west coast just like dust storms in Africa fuel the Hurricanes that hit the Caribbean Sea every year. As a planet we ALL should do more about pollution not just the US. Since the air we all breathe is affected by events around the world. But with the Progressive Elites like Al Gore trying to scam the world out of money by scare tactics at the UN it is no wonder that third world countries have a hard time dealing with Environmental issues.

      God should just remove mankind from the Earth and start fresh with a better educated human race.

      Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
    • AngelAuthor
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:31pm

      I’m sorry, but this is a statement born out of ignorance. You realize that these agencies classify ALL PRODUCTS AND FOODS AND CHEMICALS in the world, right? And do you realize that they classify pretty much everything as a possible carcinogen? There‘s only ONE ITEM on the list that they have definitively said doesn’t cause cancer – pure water. Everything else, because they cannot be 100% sure, is listed as a possible carcinogen.

      Report Post »  
    • ChartreuseMuse
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:31pm

      A better educated human race would have to be one with an education system and rational, thinking people, all of which we have here and now, if we didn’t have the misinformation and the greed-mongers. The world‘s scientists are the actual source of info behind Al Gore’s message.
      A new and improved human race would likely though have listened years ago and not gotten artificially stuck for decades on polluting technology that only serves to make one segment of the society rich at the expense of all others and a possible bright future.
      This agnostic thinks we owe it to this God to try to fix ourselves in the here and now and stop being lazy excuse-makers. Those who oppose efforts to move toward clean tech and actually use some human muscle too are actually lazier and more full of excuses than those on welfare they excoriate.

      Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:15pm

      Nobody has been stuck on one technology for decades, progress takes time. If you do what the ******** want and block technology that works, well actually make it so expensive nobody but them can afford it and they just get even richer, those that actually have the ability to invent the next technology won’t be able to afford to use the current technology to develop it, so we are doomed.

      Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:44am

    If it comes from China, it won’t be good for you. My wife and I have sworn off buying anything from China if we can help it.

    Report Post » ares338  
  • G-WHIZ
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:41am

    Hmmmm. Let’s see…Stream….rocks….hang on nearest tree…keeps fingernails short…strenghens hand and arm musles. Don’t mess wit my woman…she’s stronger than mee. :-]

    Report Post »  
  • Jackie Rogers, Jr.
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:26am

    Why are you bashin’ Newt? He just wants to be fair to all the ladies and spread that yummy-good Newt lovin’ around.

    Report Post » Jackie Rogers, Jr.  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:18am

    OWS scented clothes? No thanks..

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • hi
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 10:50am

      I know!! That’s what I was thinking. It‘s for all of the scuzzies who stink and don’t take showers. I bet the Euros like it too.

      Report Post » hi  
  • randy
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:16am

    “Titanium dioxide has recently been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen ‘possibly carcinogen to humans’… It accounts for 70% of the total production volume of pigments worldwide. It is widely used to provide whiteness and opacity to products such as paints, plastics, papers, inks, foods, and toothpastes. It is also used in cosmetic and skin care products, and it is present in almost every sunblock, where it helps protect the skin from ultraviolet light.

    You’re brushing your teeth with this CR@P every day unless you read the label and pick a brand without it. Anything manufactured today that is “White” has this CR@P in it.

    Report Post » randy  
    • SychinLegacy
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 10:10am

      “Titanium dioxide dust, when inhaled, has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen possibly carcinogenic to humans.[43] The findings of the IARC are based on the discovery that high concentrations of pigment-grade (powdered) and ultrafine titanium dioxide dust caused respiratory tract cancer in rats exposed by inhalation and intratracheal instillation.” -Wikipedia.

      In other words don‘t be doing lines of TiO2 and it won’t harm you….

      In fact anything you snort is going to be very bad for you health.

      Report Post » SychinLegacy  
    • TROONORTH
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 12:22pm

      Seems to me, with all those products being used by all those people over all those years, that if this chemical was a dangerous carcinogen then two things would have happened;

      1 – their would have been a cause / effect relationship identified by now, accompanied by huge numbers of identified, associated deaths.

      2 – activists would have secured huge grants for further studies, educational programmes, T-shirts, and government sanctioned ‘occupation’ sites.

      Just like the ‘voo-doo science’ used to justify the banning of herbicides, similar ‘science’ will be used to justify the banning of numerous consumer products for our safety.

      Report Post » TROONORTH  
  • tharpdevenport
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:56am

    I‘m sure adding chemicals to clothing won’t make them more expensive. Heavens, no!

    And I‘m SURE such chemicals wouldn’t make all clothing or apperal that usesd it, come under even further obstructive environmental regulations.

    Report Post » tharpdevenport  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:42am

    .
    I don’t think Sunshine is gonna remove a “Skid Mark”………….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • MrMagoo
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:33am

    Wash it ,dry it….as long as its clean and dry….who gives a flying efff .My Maytags work perfectly.Water/Natural gas.Perfect combination.

    Report Post » MrMagoo  
    • charleyrocks
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:40am

      Lets see how many buy of all men get to hang the laundry, think things are equal?

      Report Post » charleyrocks  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:26am

    Uh – no thanks.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • Crazy Times
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:23am

    Newt? Is that you Newt? or Bill?

    Report Post » Crazy Times  
  • DD313
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:18am

    I hope this isn’t another way to sell us their hazardous waste like that drywall business a few years back.

    Report Post » DD313  
  • Flyingfish
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:04am

    They’ve, and by they I mean people all around the world not just China, been fooling around with titatnium dioxide for a while. If you mix it in with the concreate of a building or road, when the sun shines on it, it eats smog and other air polution as well as break down oil that spills out of car. You can mix it in with paint to get the same result. The coolest ones one was as a coating for glass, you get the same polution benefit but all the bugs, grime, and dirt sloth off as the coating works it’s magic.

    As far as the clothing goes that would be wonderful for clothes you go camping in, just hang them up in or things like boat tarps that tend to get a little moldy.

    Report Post » Flyingfish  
  • Jackie Rogers, Jr.
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:02am

    I don’t want my bacteria sterilized. I want them dead. The last thing I need are clean bacteria.

    Report Post » Jackie Rogers, Jr.  
  • saewle2
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:02am

    The problem is: We have two generations that do not know HOW to hang clothes on a clothesline. AND some subdivisions do not allow clotheslines. Sad day for you youngsters.

    Report Post »  
    • MammalOne
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 12:53pm

      Are you seriously trying to make the argument that kids can’t figure out how to hang clothes to dry? If kids can text or drive a car, they can surely figure out how to hang up some clothes…

      Report Post » MammalOne  
  • 3katmomma
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:56am

    Didn’t we have the same thing in the Alec Guinness movie “The Man in the White Suit”?

    Report Post »  
  • skippy6
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:54am

    A lot of food now comes from China even though it is not printed on the container!!! Also, I believe less than two percent is checked when it arrives here…Why are we buying so much food from them?? I try to buy domestic but they falsify the labels!!!!

    Report Post » skippy6  
    • JUDGEMENTDAY
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:22am

      How do you know this?

      Report Post »  
    • Darla_K
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:32am

      I have seen cans of food from china at the grocery stores and I DO NOT buy it. I don’t trust them sending food to us.

      Report Post » Darla_K  
    • skippy6
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 4:49pm

      @judgementday The generic apple juice says on the label “contains concentrate from china or Argentina”. The generic honey usually says product of USA, Argentina even though it is actually from China, it is shipped from China to Argentina in bulk then packed there and shipped here….It really is deceiving to the consumer in a roundabout way…..For more info go to consumer reports.org… Watch your labels closely….

      Report Post » skippy6  
  • BBReggie
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:44am

    I think I will stick with my washer and dryer.

    Report Post »  
  • MrMagoo
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:43am

    Who cares??????????????Our President SINGS okay….

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6uHR90Sq6k

    Report Post » MrMagoo  
    • randy
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:19am

      I‘m surprised he isn’t playing his fiddle while Washington Burns

      Report Post » randy  
    • DD313
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:38am

      But that’s a good thing, right?

      Report Post » DD313  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:32am

    Sounds too good to be true…. while I believe in GOD’s sunlight as the great healer, chemicals leave me quaking in my boots…. remember the stamped-in tags that caused reactions in humans? remember the dog food and now dog treats made in China that killed pets? remember the tainted toys and paints from China?

    I think I’ll not purchase clothes for me or for my family “made in China”, thank you very much.

    I prefer, no matter the cost, MADE IN THE USA on my clothes, on the containers of my food products, etc.

    Report Post »  
  • grannyrecipe
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:30am

    Them Chinese fellers sure know the laundry business…hey that’s a racial stereotype!

    Report Post » grannyrecipe  
  • loriann12
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:29am

    Makes one wonder if it’s a carcinigen…have there been studies? I can’t imagine coating material in titanium dioxide.

    Report Post »  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:33am

      Indeed…. what a wonderful way to get rid of lots and lots and lots of enemies….. *sigh*

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:38am

      I would rather do laundry … the old fashioned way.

      Report Post »  
    • ThePostman
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 7:58am

      Titanium Dioxide is the white stuff in the sunscreen that surfers typically put on their noses. The reason it is messy is that the manufacturers put it in a grease to make it stick to oily sweaty people.

      Pretty sure it is not harmful, just as I am pretty sure that air isn’t either. Titanium is one of the very few compounds that the human body tolerates inside the body. The body will reject copper, plastic, wood, iron, brass, and almost every other metal. The titanium is sometimes mixed with nickel (extremely toxic) and still accepted in the body, and not treated as a foreign body, and indeed not even toxic when mixed. Go figure.

      Report Post »  
    • Ookspay
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:49am

      Further proof that environmental whackos and hippies smell bad.

      Report Post » Ookspay  
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