Comments for A Startup A Day

Comment on Five Ideas for Turkey Day by Adam Loving

Adam Loving — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:57:41 +0000

hmm. I like #1 and #4. Is there such a thing as a Bluetooth cooking thermometer? That would be a killer app. #1 seems inevitable, and a great candidate for angel investment from Amazon.

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by astartupaday

astartupaday — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:23:01 +0000

Whoa, that’s awesome!

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by Winchell Chung

Winchell Chung — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:35:54 +0000

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

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by Robert

Robert — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:56:13 +0000

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.

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by oekofreak

oekofreak — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:46:13 +0000

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.

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by Evan

Evan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:28:47 +0000

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!

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by Matt

Matt — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:15:47 +0000

Is that dishwasher for sale?

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by astartupaday

astartupaday — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:09:06 +0000

Ha, thanks Robert. I admit that the nanobots part of the solution is maybe a little bit out there.

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by astartupaday

astartupaday — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:08:02 +0000

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.

Comment on Why Washing Machines Suck by Frank Schmitt

Frank Schmitt — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:32:49 +0000

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.