Wow! Now alkaline ionized water to wash your clothes!

An environmentally-friendly washing machine that cleans clothes without detergent will be launched next year.

	The WasH20 should be in UK shops early next year

The WasH20 passes an electric current through the water used in the cycle to create acid and alkaline atoms that take over the role of washing powder, liquid or tablets.

Researchers at the Chinese company Haier claim their invention is greener and cleans around 25 per cent more effectively than current models.

Petroleum-based chemicals in traditional washing detergents pass via sewers into rivers and seas.

They do not completely degrade, causing pollutants to build up and damaging the natural habitats of many animal and plant species.

Some 200,000 of the detergent-free washing machines have been sold since their launch in China last year.

It is due to be in the shops in France in November, and then in the UK - priced around £500 - early next year.

It works by electrolysing water before the wash cycle begins so that by the time it comes into contact with clothes it contains OH- and H+ ions - electrically charged atoms that have lost electrons.

Gilles Montrichard of Haier France said: "The electrolysis process causes a separation of the water into OH- ions and H+ ions.

"The OH- ions remove the dirt. The H+ ions acts like bleach. They acidify the water, sterilising the clothes."

Alkaline OH- ions will penetrate the clothing more effectively than ordinary water and that H+ ions will sterilise the material - killing off bacteria.

Ian: In a Sunday paper reporting on this new use for ionized water, a chemist was quoted as skeptical because he 'couldn't understand how water could be changed this way." Take a look around, Mr Chemist. The same process is now in use in water ionizers, air ionizers and now washing machines. Get ready for the detergent free dishwasher!