Leeds University spin out Xeros raises funding for environmentally friendly washing technology

Researchers at the University of Leeds have raised GBP500,000 to commercialise a new way of cleaning clothes that uses less than 2 percent of the water and energy of a conventional washing machine. The inventors claim the technology, which is based on the use of plastic chips that are tumbled with the washing, will provide alternatives to both domestic washing and dry cleaning.

Xeros Limited, a spin-out from Leeds University, is commercialising the technology with backing from companies involved in the washing and dry-cleaning industries.  The company has raised up to GBP500,000 from the university’s commercialisation partner, IP Group plc, which is conditional upon certain milestones being met.

According to Waterwise, a UK organisation that focuses on reducing water wastage, the use of washing machines has risen by 23 percent in the past 15 years, up from 3 times a week in 1990 to an average of 4 times a week per household today. The average UK household uses almost 21 litres of water daily on clothes washing, 13 percent of daily household water consumption.

The Xeros technology uses as little as a cup of water in each wash cycle, and could also bring benefits to other industrial processes such as wastewater treatment and metal degreasing.A wide range of tests have been carried out according to worldwide industry protocols to prove the technology performs to the standards expected in the cleaning industry.

These show that the process can remove virtually all types of everyday stains as effectively as existing processes, whilst leaving clothes as fresh as washing in water. In addition, the clothes emerge from the process almost dry, thus reducing the need for tumble-driers.

Further tests are underway in dry-cleaning, with a view to replacing certain solvents that are currently used.  Xeros says its technology would eradicate the need for these solvents, improving safety and reducing costs. The technology could be on the market in the UK as early as 2009.

Stephen Burkinshaw, the inventor of the Xeros technology and a founding Director of Xeros, commented: “The performance of the Xeros process in cleaning clothes has been quite astonishing. We’ve shown that it can remove all sorts of everyday stains including coffee and lipstick, whilst using a tiny fraction of the water used by conventional washing machines.”

“The investment from IP Group will help us to accelerate the commercialisation of the technology and I look forward to seeing new washing and dry-cleaning machines that use the Xeros technology.”

A typical washing machine uses about 35kg of water for every kg of clothes that are washed, on top of energy to heat the water and to dry clothes afterwards.