Leonardo Da Vinci would have been proud
Better then roses on Valentine's Day, a UK student designs an all-in-one machine that washes dries and irons clothes.....Design may be homeowners' choice . The BBC reports on a new machine which washes, dries and irons clothes.
Oliver Blackwell, who designed the WashDryIron, is exhibiting the machine at next month's Ideal Home Show.
The University of Plymouth graduate hopes the machine will become an object of desire because it saves about 10 days a year in ironing time.
"A friend's father said he wouldn't have got married if I'd come up with this sooner," said Mr Blackwell.
The 23-year-old student's innovative idea was thought up for his final degree project.
He told BBC News: "There are thousands of exceptional students out there and I knew I had to come up with a damn good product idea to pass my finals.
"A washing machine seemed quite obvious and almost everyone uses one."
The machine washes, dries and irons clothes in separate compartments and is said to eliminate colour runs, shrinkage and ironing.
It can tackle up to 16 items at a time, including king-size bed sheets.
Because hangers are used, they do not become entangled and have 83% fewer creases, according to the designer. The items are then dried and ironed by hot air blown across them.
The designer claims another major benefit of the separate compartments is that muddy sports gear can be washed at the same time, but at a different temperature to delicate fabrics.
Mr Blackwell said he expected the WashDryIron to retail at about £800 to £900.
"There's been a huge amount of interest shown in my design, but what I really need next is for a major manufacturer to get involved with some investment to develop it further.
"It's simple, but it works and the real beauty is the ironing time it saves. I can't see many people arguing with that."
Mr Blackwell hopes his new machine will banish washday blues
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Walter Derzko
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