StainEraser

What it does

StainEraser enables immediate removal of accidental stains from clothes and garments in public restrooms. Combining ultrasound, water dispensing and suction provides an effective cleaning action while being skin safe and preventing damage to fabrics.

Your inspiration

Accidental stains on clothing are an everyday experience, causing frustration and psychological discomfort, especially in out-of-home environments. Existing solutions are inadequate, lacking in availability and relying on chemicals. We recognised the incompatibility of growing trend towards reducing electricity and water consumption with traditional laundry habits. Tackling this mismatch would require behavioural changes enabled by technological innovation and new user experiences. Our solution immediately reliefs unease, extends the life of clothing by not relying on detergents and is targeted, minimising water and electricity consumption.

How it works

StainEraser is a wall-mounted stain removing device targeted for public restrooms. Existing stain removal systems, whether chemical or natural, can be ineffective, time-consuming or cause irreversible damage to fabrics. Our solution employs a mechanical method using ultrasonic technology. It generates microscopic air bubbles (cavitations) which collapse, generating localised energy and heat. This process effectively removes grease, dirt, and dust adhered to the fabric without damaging it. This technology is typically used only for pre-treating stains before machine washing. Our innovation eliminates the need for additional washing, by adding supplementary cleaning processes. While the water dispensing is now fully automated, the key innovation lies in integrating the water suction that immediately removes the loosened particles.

Design process

The concept was developed through a structured process. Our analysis started with desk research on trends and identifying preliminary opportunities in the clothing care market. While defining our value proposition we applied both quantitative and qualitative user research in order to collect as much data as possible and gather insights that frame the problem. The main opportunity arose from localised washing. By deepening our technological research we found a suitable solution in combining ultrasound with automated water dispensing and suction, that allows for a self-contained cleaning process. Given the innovative combination of these existing technologies, we ran a preliminary technology validation using an ultrasonic pre-treatment device and a vacuum cleaner to remove different types of stains on various fabrics. The outcome was positive, and we proceeded to the design of the device. We defined the product architecture, designed a enclosure in line with public environment constraints, tested ergonomics, defined CMF and developed an intuitive UX and consistent interfaces. Integrating the components from our first tests with custom parts for water distribution and suction, we created a functional POC prototype, testing both the technology and usability of our design choices.

How it is different

StainEraser is unique, with no competitor matching the offering created. Using simple technologies that are affordable and easy to integrate, we created a solution specifically catered to unmet user needs. It quickly removes the cause of psychological discomfort, regardless of the stain or fabric type. It is skin safe, chemical free and readily available thanks to its placement in public environments. Apart from aligning with end-users’ needs, a product placed in public spaces is a profitable business opportunity creating value in 3 levels: the users needs are met at the time and place they need; the perceived value of the service provided in public restrooms is increased through an additional amenity; being a B2B2C product there are countless potential clients. Furthermore, it promotes a sustainable behavioural change away from traditional washing habits through minimising water consumption, energy usage and chemical pollution.

Future plans

We will explore the possibility of bringing StainEraser to the market. Further development and testing would be necessary, along with developing a business plan and identifying potential stakeholders to involve. Envisioning future scenarios, StainEraser could be reshaped for the domestic environment. This is where traditional washing habits are strongest and the effect from reducing reliance on washing machines would be most significant. A fully integrated cleaning device to quickly wash localised staining or refresh smelly clothing by ultrasonically inactivating bacteria could transform user behaviour to a more sustainable level.

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