Comments on: Why Washing Machines Suck http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/ Each day I'll post an idea for a new Web 2.0 startup Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: astartupaday http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4043 astartupaday Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:23:01 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4043 Whoa, that's awesome! Whoa, that’s awesome!

]]> By: Winchell Chung http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4042 Winchell Chung Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:35:54 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4042 Some researchers have been experimenting with applying silver nanoparticles to clothing to make them "self cleaning" http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2008/04/self-cleaning-clothes-what-to-wear-this.html http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=15558 Some researchers have been experimenting with applying silver nanoparticles to clothing to make them “self cleaning”

http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2008/04/self-cleaning-clothes-what-to-wear-this.html
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=15558

]]> By: Robert http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4040 Robert Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:56:13 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4040 I hope I wasn't unclear. Except for the part labeled as sarcasm, I wasn't being facetious. The nanobots part may seem farfetched, but as is often noted: Jules Verne was also probably seen as "a little bit out there" in his time, and look how right he turned out to be. So, obviously, you're idea won't happen soon, but I still like it. I hope I wasn’t unclear. Except for the part labeled as sarcasm, I wasn’t being facetious.

The nanobots part may seem farfetched, but as is often noted: Jules Verne was also probably seen as “a little bit out there” in his time, and look how right he turned out to be.

So, obviously, you’re idea won’t happen soon, but I still like it.

]]> By: oekofreak http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4039 oekofreak Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:46:13 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4039 Dryer? Are you mad? Either you should have a garden or have much too dry flat where you find a little space to dry your clothes on portable lines like me ;) If you walk into a cellar to dry wash clothes you don't seem to be limited by space... Try vodka or any clean, cheap alcohol in a spray pump to erase smell from your shirts. Dryer? Are you mad? Either you should have a garden or have much too dry flat where you find a little space to dry your clothes on portable lines like me ;)

If you walk into a cellar to dry wash clothes you don’t seem to be limited by space…

Try vodka or any clean, cheap alcohol in a spray pump to erase smell from your shirts.

]]> By: Evan http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4038 Evan Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:28:47 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4038 poke=). Joking aside you make great points here -- I really want the clothes-cleaning closet. In addition I must take the opportunity to mention my own pet peeve: washing machines start by pulling the settings nob, but the dryer starts by _pushing_ the on button. This inconsistency just blows my mind. And this one isn't even hard to change! poke=).

Joking aside you make great points here — I really want the clothes-cleaning closet.

In addition I must take the opportunity to mention my own pet peeve: washing machines start by pulling the settings nob, but the dryer starts by _pushing_ the on button. This inconsistency just blows my mind. And this one isn’t even hard to change!

]]> By: Matt http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4037 Matt Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:15:47 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4037 Is that dishwasher for sale? Is that dishwasher for sale?

]]> By: astartupaday http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4036 astartupaday Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:09:06 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4036 Ha, thanks Robert. I admit that the nanobots part of the solution is maybe a little bit out there. :) Ha, thanks Robert. I admit that the nanobots part of the solution is maybe a little bit out there. :)

]]> By: astartupaday http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4035 astartupaday Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:08:02 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4035 Lots of great points, thanks Frank. I think you're hitting on the realistic solution of approaching the problem from an evolutionary standpoint, slowly tackling each pain point until they're gone. From a business standpoint, that's likely to be the only way to really get traction on a problem like this. Lots of great points, thanks Frank. I think you’re hitting on the realistic solution of approaching the problem from an evolutionary standpoint, slowly tackling each pain point until they’re gone. From a business standpoint, that’s likely to be the only way to really get traction on a problem like this.

]]> By: Frank Schmitt http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4033 Frank Schmitt Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:32:49 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4033 Fisher and Paykel pioneered the solution to this problem for dishes: it's a pair of drawers that function as dishwashers. You use the dishes on their way from the "clean" drawer to the "dirty" drawer, run the "dirty" drawer when its full, and then use it as the new "clean" drawer. Until we have "cleaning closets", there are some things that can minimize the pain points 1. Have separate light and dark hampers 2. Put the laundry room on the same floor and close to the closet(s) 3. Use a washer with automatic water level and a dryer with a humidistat 4. Figure out a way to automatically measure and dispense detergent and fabric softener Next up on the complexity scale would be a closet that could dry your clothes. I've often wondered if you could do this with a dehumidifier rather than a heater -- after all you want your clothes dry, not hot. Another approach altogether is LaaS (laundry as a service) which has been around awhile, but tends to be too expensive for most people. Fisher and Paykel pioneered the solution to this problem for dishes: it’s a pair of drawers that function as dishwashers. You use the dishes on their way from the “clean” drawer to the “dirty” drawer, run the “dirty” drawer when its full, and then use it as the new “clean” drawer.

Until we have “cleaning closets”, there are some things that can minimize the pain points

1. Have separate light and dark hampers
2. Put the laundry room on the same floor and close to the closet(s)
3. Use a washer with automatic water level and a dryer with a humidistat
4. Figure out a way to automatically measure and dispense detergent and fabric softener

Next up on the complexity scale would be a closet that could dry your clothes. I’ve often wondered if you could do this with a dehumidifier rather than a heater — after all you want your clothes dry, not hot.

Another approach altogether is LaaS (laundry as a service) which has been around awhile, but tends to be too expensive for most people.

]]> By: Robert http://astartupaday.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4032 Robert Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:24:21 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/why-washing-machines-suck/#comment-4032 /sarcasm on "could use a combination of ultraviolet light, ultrasonic waves, micro lasers, and specialized nanobots to both remove odors and spot-treat any spots or stains." seriously?! I want clothes cleaned in a more eco-friendly manner too, but I don't want my clothes to come out glowing or potentially let the nanobots escape where they would then start eating my interplanetary vessel from the inside out! /sarcasm off Nobody else catch that Star Trek reference? Regardless! Your post was actually a good read. While reading it, I was trying to predict how you were going to solve the pain points. I thought you were going to come up with some magic machine to clean and fold your clothes all in one, but your solution was actually more innovative than I had anticipated. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense to simply put the clothes back where you found them and have them be individually cleaned there in place. I like it! I look forward to my super-tech closet that cleans my clothes using a combo of irradiation and microscopic spaghetti-stain eating mechanical vermin! /sarcasm on
“could use a combination of ultraviolet light, ultrasonic waves, micro lasers, and specialized nanobots to both remove odors and spot-treat any spots or stains.” seriously?!

I want clothes cleaned in a more eco-friendly manner too, but I don’t want my clothes to come out glowing or potentially let the nanobots escape where they would then start eating my interplanetary vessel from the inside out!
/sarcasm off

Nobody else catch that Star Trek reference?

Regardless! Your post was actually a good read. While reading it, I was trying to predict how you were going to solve the pain points.

I thought you were going to come up with some magic machine to clean and fold your clothes all in one, but your solution was actually more innovative than I had anticipated. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense to simply put the clothes back where you found them and have them be individually cleaned there in place.

I like it!

I look forward to my super-tech closet that cleans my clothes using a combo of irradiation and microscopic spaghetti-stain eating mechanical vermin!

]]>