A laundry gun for space

Researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville are building a handheld device that fires cold plasma at fabric to kill bacteria. No water, no detergent.

How the plasma works

The prototype mixes helium, air, and water vapor to generate plasma. That plasma creates compounds that destroy bacteria sitting on clothing, bedding, upholstery, or a spacesuit.

It will not remove stains

Professor Gabe Xu is blunt about the limits. The gun sanitizes fabric, it does not clean it, so sweat, oils, and spills all stay put.

“This won't remove coffee or grass stains. So, it won't make your clothes less dirty, just remove bacteria.”

Astronauts throw clothes away

There is no washing machine on the International Space Station. Crews wear clothing until it is done, then toss it out with the rest of the trash.

Water is the real problem

Every drop used for washing has to be purified back into drinking water, and it must not upset the air purification system. That makes a normal wash cycle nearly impossible off Earth.

“The laundry wash water be purified back to drinkable water”

Bigger uses than laundry

Xu's team sees plasma handling water purification, air revitalization, waste processing, space crops, and even treating Martian soil. All of it is still early stage.

“With just electricity, air, water and perhaps other gases, the plasma could help tackle sanitization, space crops, water purification, air revitalization”

Do not expect one at home

UAH has announced no consumer version, and the gun would not replace your washer anyway. The better bet for Earth is P&G applying space-tested methods to low-water detergents.