Samsung brings SilverCare sterilizing washer to US

If you've been waiting for a chance to use the power of silver to sterilize your laundry in cold water (and we know you have), Samsung has your number. The company will be bringing its SilverCare washer to the US this month, at a price of about $1,399. The washer uses silver ions to sterilize laundry, and Samsung claims that it kills 99.9% of bacteria on clothing. Once this catches on, we suspect Samsung will spring an even more upscale version on us, which will use gold or platinum to wipe out the other 0.1% of bacteria, and impart a metallic sheen to our clothes in the process.

[Poopmaster @ Mar 23rd 2006 1:33PM]

Does it come with the washing machine babe? If so, that thousand dollar price tag doesn't look so steep. Heh.

[SKR @ Mar 23rd 2006 1:49PM]

This is all bunk..... I got slippers from Sharper Image with supposed silver technology embedded in the foam cushion to prevent bacteria and odors; after 3 months of wear, they are already developing a funk. Alos agree with others comments......it is foolish to try and live in a completely germ-free environment.

[Damian @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:08PM]

Engadget you overlooked one other feature. It not only kills bacteria but it may be a persons saving grace should a warewolf enter your home.

[etane @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:10PM]

I clicked the picture hoping it would lead me to an enlarged picture of the washer but to no avail. Samsung has the best models... of electronics.

[Peter Kruger @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:11PM]

Well, i try not to wash my hands to keep my immune system on alert at all times. Funny how i never get sick. i get sick about once every 1-2 years, for about a day. I give credit to the fact that i live in a disgusting, germ ridden apt, and i dont have "hygene" although i do shower daily, and shave um.. weekly. But either way, i'd rock that washing machine. my socks need the bacteria killing.

[NY @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:27PM]

Try this if you want to see the model little closer:
http://img.etnews.co.kr/photonews/0603/060309013115b.jpg

[mhh5 @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:07PM]

do you need to add more silver to the machine periodically? Why not just sell one of those washing detergent balls, but made out of silver? Turn any washing machine into a bateria death trap. Patent office? I have an idea...

[JCA @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:15PM]

@ #2 (SKR)

I'm sure the Sharper Image Technology is very similar to that of this technology. That being said, it only claims to kill 99.9% of the bad stuff. Its quite possible that the .1% of the stink that YOUR feet leave behind are 10,000 times more ass-tastic than that of a normal, clean human being. Thus it only SEEMS like it doesn't work but in reality if it wasn't working, all of your family and friends would not be able to stomach your presence and unconsciousness would set in immediately.

Wash ur ass chuck!









You've got to admit you walked right into that one :-D

[John Stracke @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:26PM]

Wait a minute--does the 99.9% figure assume you're using detergent as well? If so, how many does the detergent by itself kill?

(Not that I *approve* of antibacterial everything; bacterial evolution means we're just making trouble for our next generation.)

[Peter @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:35PM]

If this really works well it is cool. I don't use anti-bacteria anything. Heck I seldom use soap when washing dishes. I figure any new dangerous bacteria will have to fight it out with the whole eco system living in my kitchen. So I am not a germ free freak.

But if this gets the stink out of my sweaty workout clothes I am all for it.

[Leo @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:39PM]

At their showcase store in New York, i noticed that Samsung has this sweet model that handles your washing and drying within the same unit, which is pretty bad ass. I wonder if this does the same.

As for the 99.9% of bacteria that are killed, everyone knows its the .1% that we should be worried about, what are they doing about them?

holla

[Lee @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:46PM]

I'm seeing a few folks here who agree with my view -- too much "anti-bac" (as I remember it being called when I travelled in the UK) is a very bad thing for the immune systems of smaller children. So... they have a tidy little boy-in-a-bubble world at home, then they travel someplace, maybe to go vist Grandma, and get really sick because their immune systems simply haven't had to respond to normal household germs thanks to well-meaning parents.
Hopefully, before there's too much more of a proliferance of this anti-bac "craze" there will be more public discussion of the risk/benefit of all this hype.
As for those Sharper Image slippers -- all I can say is to do what I do and wash them maybe once a month, depending on use... and switch to Axe in the shower... the "hot babes" will beat a path to your door, and maybe wash your slippers for you. ;)

[SuperDuperLoser @ Mar 23rd 2006 6:24PM]

Now there is a topic I know something about! I say this as a microbiologist, so I do know what I�m talking about, the terms use here are WRONG. Specifically, this is NOT a sterilizing washer, since it only eliminates 99.99% of �germs�. Sterilization is (as defined by Brock) is �treatment resulting in the death of all living organisms and viruses in a material�. I looked up the definition in some other micro books just to see if it was put any better, but it was not � and they same the same basic thing. The point is this: sterilization is the absence of ALL, not just 99.99 or 99.9999 or what ever number they quote.

[granny down east @ Mar 23rd 2006 11:31PM]

I really like bacteria, esp the ones that ferment juices ;P
This means war!

[scargo @ Mar 24th 2006 12:36AM]

From the australian Samsung site:

A Delight for Your Delicates
With 400 billion silver ions delving into your fabrics, the Silver Wash�s ionising function plays the same disinfecting role as hot sanitary washing cycles, but in cold water. Silver Wash�s 99.99% sterilisation effect allows you to purify items such as babys� clothes, extra delicate blouses, shirts or even lingerie that can�t be washed with hot water.

Anti-Bacterial Protection for Up To 1 Month
The anti-bacterial coating on your clothing inhibits the growth of germs for up to one month. No longer is there a need to worry about the blankets that cannot be washed everyday. Moreover, Silver Wash actually protects sensitive skin and helps prevent dermatitis.

Minimisation of Body Odour
Genuine sweat is originally odourless. However, when bacteria meets sweat, it produces a fatty acid which emits an unpleasant odour. With Silver Nano technology, the silver ions kill the bacteria. Without the bacteria, sweat can�t decompose to emit an unpleasant odour.

Maximum Energy and Time Savings
With no need to heat the water to boiling point for sterilisation, the Silver Wash is able to substantially reduce conventional washing time and save approximately 75% of energy costs!

[Wifiguy @ Mar 24th 2006 12:47AM]

"Why not just sell one of those washing detergent balls, but made out of silver?"
Because the silver has to be ionized and dispersed in to water as a colloid. It's not as simple as chunking in a ball-o-silver.

Silver is a pretty effective anti-bacterial agent,but their is no way they can recycle all the silver used. Which means two things. One at some point it will have to be refilled(not a big issue as only a relatively small amount is needed for laundry purposes). And two there is the issue of silver build up in clothes which could lead to argyria a disease caused by silver exposure. It is usually casued from ingestion over long periods of time but who knows what could happen after a few years of silver clothes.
Just looks like a gimik to me anyway.

[John C. Randolph @ Mar 24th 2006 2:05AM]

Silver-ion systems for swimming pools and spas have been on the market for quite a while. At these prices, you could save quite a bit by just buying one of them and run the supply lines to your washer through it, for the same benefit.

BTW, the bit about body odor ignores the fact that the bacteria in question live on your skin, so sterilizing your clothes won't help much. If you take a shower with hydrogen peroxide, though....

-jcr

[Gandalf Wite @ Mar 24th 2006 2:59AM]

Silver Ions are indeed quite effective at fighting off bacteria. A couple years ago when I bought water purifier drops for my trip to central America, I was surprised to find that it contained only silver ions. Yes it is 99.99% effective....in other words just about all the bacteria get killed off. More so than with other sterilizations systems safe for humans. In fact, chlorine is much less safe and much more harmful for the environment and your body than silver ions. I think it's a great idea.....I'll just dip my cup into my washer and have purified water. ;-)

And creating the colloidal silver is extremely easy. You don't need a special detergent or suchlike. I'm guessing there will be some sort of silver rod or other replacable cartridge, and the ions will be obtained off that cartridge simply via electrolysis. Some friends of mine did that years ago. It doesn't take much current at all. They were just using a simple 9 volt battery and very pure jewelry silver wire. Try it! It's very easy. Regulating how much silver ions you create so that you don't ingest too much....that's another story! And I don't recommend that you ingest it anyway because you'll also wipe out the probiotic bacteria in your digestive system which are essential for your health.

So.....yeah I think a deoderant with colloidal silver would be much more effective provided you don't develop any allergies....and unless you plan on washing your shoes in the washing machine, it won't take long at all for your feet to smell again either. It does sound like a marketing gimmick to get the ueber-clean housekeepers convinced that their loved ones will die if all the bacteria is not erradicated. We've already bought into the hype that all soap must be anti-bacterial, this is just the next step.....I'll be damned though if bacteria are so malevolent why they keep getting used in water treatment plants! I for one hope we DON'T succeed in this silly notion of erradicating all bacteria.

But I must conclude. There is a delicious bacteria-infested yoghurt calling my name from the fridge.

[Kjell Elster @ Mar 24th 2006 3:42AM]

These machines were withdrawn from the Swedish market after the people in charge of wastewater quality complained about the increase of silver ions into the enviroment that the washers would cause.

Apparantly they are not harmless and the levels were decreasing with the decline of chemical photography.

[Grand Poobah @ Mar 24th 2006 7:10AM]

You toy with us! Engadget seems to have a habit of putting up thumbnails of babes, but when you go to look at them, there is nothing there! Post the image, dagnabit!

[ET @ Mar 24th 2006 8:09AM]

Soo, what about nasty grass stains, and that blob of mustard/ketchup on my pants? Will this waterless rig get those stains out?

Didn't think so. Nothing to see here, move along kids.

[seafoam suds @ Mar 24th 2006 3:16PM]

http://www.time.com/time/europe/html/040719/gdi/kim.html

this was the early test of it.

"In summer of 2002, I asked everyone in the office to take off their socks...I took one sock from each person and placed it in a regular washing machine; the others were washed in a machine with the Ag+ Nano System. The next day, I asked everyone to check the odor of their socks one began to stink, the other was odorless"

[John @ Mar 25th 2006 10:21AM]

Forget the washer, where can I get one of those rectangular boxed see thru dresses the model is wearing? I need to get ready for this year's engadget halloween contest and I want to start early on my see-thru computer case.

[sudo @ Mar 26th 2006 10:12PM]

$$ Bling Bling, my Washing is clean

[Gary Morris @ Apr 25th 2006 10:50AM]

Mr De-bunker...the foam has silver-ions, not the material that touches your feet, duh. If anyone wants mustard/ketchup stains removed, use whatever method you normally use! this machine doesn't prevent you from using Bleach (which ruins a lot of fabrics) nor hot water (which uses a lot of energy). It's an "alternative" It doesn't kill 100% of bacteria so it's not an official "sterilizer" but 99.9% is better than 30%. Please don't knock something you haven't tried and don't understand.

[Ted Carvin @ May 7th 2006 2:13AM]

Aw come on. Let's be real. Chlorine in your drinking water (as someone said above)? What for? Most of the guys here figure the more germs the better. So hey guys, why not get your drinking water from your bath tub next time you have a bath with those stinky socks on that you can't get clean in your regular washer. Store some up in a container then leave it out in the sun on the hottest day of the year. When the natural yeast in there starts to ferment then boom, you got one potent "self-immunizing" drinking water.

Sounds pretty stupid huh? "Let's not kill any germs at all because it will make us stronger. In fact, let's expose ourselves to more deadly germs!"

Tell ya what. Talk to a real scientist and figure out what it means to be a) simply exposed to bacteria, b) exposed to an over-abundance of deadly virii, and c) how your immune system plays a role in whether or not you get sick. Quit watching CNN and reading slashdot for all your so-called medical information. Then go wash your hands.

And to think I have to stand in line with you infected sick-o's at the grocery store. Don't sneeze on my produce!

[SmellsLikeMoose @ Sep 6th 2009 1:12AM]

Antibacterial products suck! Even the CDC says so:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no3_supp/levy.htm