“Aircleaning” could join drycleaning and wetcleaning in the garment care vocabulary if a “concept appliance” designed by students in Singapore goes into production.
The waterless washing unit, called Airwash, won the Design Lab Award in a competition sponsored by Electrolux to develop appliances for the future based on satisfying consumers needs and trends.
The Airwash unit uses negative ions, compressed air and deodorants to clean clothes, eliminating the need for detergent and water. Inspired by the waterfall, nature’s negative ion generator, it is designed to be placed anywhere in the home, not only in the laundry area. A simple user interface “floats” to wherever on the appliance the user wants.
In selecting Airwash as the winner, the jury cited its intuitive and ecological design and noted that it “does away with the expensive, time consuming task of going to the drycleaner.”

The Electrolux Design Lab project challenges students to develop new appliance solutions, targeting specific research-identified consumer segments. Entries were received by more than 3,000 students from over 88 countries. A jury of international design professionals gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, to judge the individual design presentations.
The Electrolux Group produces appliances for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use, such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, vacuum cleaners, chainsaws, lawn mowers and garden tractors. There was no indication of when or whether Airwash will become part of its appliance line.