Technology helps wash clothes without washing powder or any bleach

Saving costs, but reducing environmental pollution. An arrow hit several targets.

The world is shifting, towards more environmentally friendly products and technologies, when the climate change threat is on the rise. We have been looking at solar energy, electric cars and clean energy in general with a different eye. But those are big projects, the environmentally friendly living products used in each household are still not seen much.

And that's what this startup from Sweden wants to change. Scandinavian Water Technologies, or Swatab, has licensed a filter system to help wash clothes without washing powder, washing water or any chemicals. As long as cold water is working, this system works.

Per Hansson (on the left) is standing in front of his Diro device.

This idea came to them three years ago, when investor Per Hansson and his wife, Katarina Klöfverskjöld were still running a paint company.'We bought an environmentally friendly exterior cleaning system. And when I found it very effective in cleaning up moss and dust, I realized that this technology could also be applied to contemporary washing machines , 'said Hansson.

He himself had a passion for chemistry, Hansson was determined to pursue what he believed. Two years after the Swatab company was founded, he and his wife received valuable patents across Europe, recognizing their water filtration systems .

'Water itself has a high solubility. For example, your clothes are bloody, you can erase those blood stains with cold water, ' Hansson explained. 'Our filtration system makes tap water become super clean by eliminating their ions, salts and contaminants that are also filtered. This super-clean water is not in a chemical equilibrium and so that it can balance itself again, the water has to be added to dirt and smudges. '

And so, this ultra-clean cold water can remove stains without the help of detergents or detergents.

Swatab's water filtration system, called Diro , is a small device with a bedside cabinet, placed between the water line and the washing machine. This device has been verified by Swerea IVF Research Institute in Sweden and EU research center in Sevilla, Spain.

'Tests show that the device has the right criteria. We have achieved EU EU clean washing standards applied to other laundry detergents'.

Swatab's water filtration system, called Diro, is a small device with a bedside cabinet, placed between the water line and the washing machine.

Currently, Swatab is trying to prove that their washing method is less expensive, emitting less pollutants than products on the market.

'This technology is extremely promising. For every 5kg of clothing, our machine can reduce 1kg of greenhouse gas emissions , ' said Hansson, based on one of the tests that were done. The next success that Swatab achieved was in England, where they got the attention of many large companies. However, Mr. Hansson did not want to stop there.

He wanted his Diro device to reach millions of houses, not every big company, where they washed a hundred pounds or a ton of things a day. Hansson and his wife are developing a device that can be conveniently used in the household, expected to be released next year.

At the program to support environmentally friendly projects Cleantech Forum Europe, held in Helsinki last May by San Francisco-based Cleantech Group, Swatab is one of six Northern European companies awarded received the award 'addressing climate issues' , an annual award for 'companies that can lead to bringing clean technology to everyone'.

Good news like this makes our Earth a little happy.