Green washing machine uses only a cup of water

London: A new environment-friendly washing machine that needs only a cup of water and a bit of detergent to work is expected to go on sale next year.

Developed at the University of Leeds, the washing machine aims to save up to 90 per cent of water used by conventional machines and uses 30 per cent less energy.

The dirty job is done by small nylon beads that pull stains off garments and lock them into the nylon's molecular structure. The beads don't even seem to suffocate easily – they can continue to absorb dirt over hundreds of washes.

The technology was developed over the past 30 years by Stephen Burkinshaw, of the University of Leeds, and funded in its later stages by IP Group, an intellectual property commercialisation group.