Dry a Piece of Fabric in 14 seconds!

Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers, Ayyoub Momen and Viral Patel, demonstrate a direct contact ultrasonic clothes dryer under development by ORNL in collaboration with General Electric (GE) Appliances. This novel approach uses high-frequency mechanical vibrations instead of heat to extract moisture as cold mist, dramatically reducing drying time and energy use. They say they can dry a piece of fabric in 14 seconds! How will this affect the pre-wash or don't pre-wash controversy?

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Comments

#9 Marlette0613 2016-05-31 07:34

Another great energy saving idea to help us Go Green!
I, too, prewash all my fabric due to allergies and not having to subject my fabric and my clothes to the heat of a dryer would be great. Also, would be money saving.
As for harming fabrics, betsy'smom, there is no heat so no damage. No heat ever means no preshrinking necessary!

#8 Linda 2016-05-26 21:18

As a former Home Economics teacher there was talk of a dryer like this in the early 1970's! I am excited that GE could bring it to market.

#7 sandytn 2016-05-26 08:01

Super cool to see that this article made The Quilt Show. I work at ORNL.

#6 Sally Atkinson 2016-05-25 13:06

I want one of these as soon as it is available! I always prewash as I'm allergic to the sizing and can't be in a room with much fabric. This would be wonderful for my fabric as well as regular laundry!

#5 lorihquilts 2016-05-25 12:10

Amazing! Our Grandchildren will never understand our clothes dryers of today! Like the old black telephones! ;)

#4 betsysmom 2016-05-25 12:09

Does it preshrink? Plus would long term use damage delicate fibers like silk?

#3 DebbieW 2016-05-25 10:06

The thinkers and doers! This will be amazing, a game changer. ;-)

#2 Mimi Tueting 2016-05-25 09:16

I would still want to pre-wash my fabric to remove the chemicals before I need to handle while cutting, piecing and quilting.

#1 Sharon Kisel 2016-05-25 05:49

I prewash all large cuts of fabric purchased for a project with a zig-zag stitch across each cut end to control fraying (and a color catcher thrown in, as well.) This drying technology would be a wonderful energy saver regardless for my regular laundry needs, as well.

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