Revolutionary Laundry Spray Coating

There might be a significant change in the laundry game thanks to a new invention.

Researchers from China have created a spray that prevents dirt and stains from adhering to fabrics, allowing clothes to essentially be cleaned with just a rinse cycle—no detergent needed.

This development was detailed in a study published in the journal Communication Chemistry, which characterizes laundry as a “daily chore that’s been around for thousands of years.” The authors suggest that these coatings could save time and be better for the environment.

The so-called ‘self-cleaning fabric coatings’ reportedly allow users to wash clothes in just 18% of the time typically required for regular laundry.

One major benefit is that washing machines are known to use a lot of water and electricity, making this solution environmentally friendly. Conventional washing releases “large amounts of detergent,” which can pollute water bodies and threaten aquatic life.

This new spray-on coating claims to “completely eliminate the release of wastewater containing detergents and microplastics.”

The researchers advocate that this coating completely removes the need for detergent while maintaining its self-cleaning abilities over 100 wash cycles.

This spray functions by applying alternating layers of two polymers that bond together. The first is PDADMAC (poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)), and the second is PVS (poly(vinyl sulfonic acid)), creating what’s known as a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM).

Essentially, the PEM can draw water from the surroundings to the garment’s fibers, creating a barrier that prevents dirt from sticking, which enables the removal of food stains, grease, bacteria, and fungi with just a tap water rinse.

The researchers assert that this method leads to an approximate 82% reduction in the overall consumption of water, electricity, and time needed for laundry.

Moreover, they found the process works effectively on both synthetic and cotton fibers, making it a “health-friendly fabric coating for direct skin contact.”

It’s suggested this discovery could transform laundry habits, moving from the traditional multi-step process—often involving one wash and several rinse cycles—to a straightforward single rinse cycle without detergent.