The first washing machine for allergy sufferers

Miele Medicwash: The first washing machine for allergy sufferers. Enhanced quality of life

Years ago, Miele introduced the Medicair vacuum cleaner, a customised solution to clear the air for allergy sufferers when doing the housework. Now the company has taken up the delicate subject of allergies once again and launched the first washing machine for allergy sufferers. The W 2585 Medicwash is equipped with a special rinse process to ensure thorough removal of even the smallest traces of detergent residue, and additional programmes for particularly hygienic, gentle washing of fabrics and pillows.

Allergens are airborne substances which induce allergies and are present all around us. As more and more people react sensitively to allergens, the number of allergy sufferers has increased significantly in the last few years. All age groups are affected and the increasing number of children suffering from hay fever, asthma and skin diseases is alarming. In Germany, approximately every third child and fifth adult currently suffers from allergies and the tendency is rising. To ensure that fabrics are as free of allergens as possible, Miele has developed a washing machine tailored to the needs of allergy sufferers. The development of this machine was based on the wealth of experience the company has gained in the production of machines for clinical applications.

For the W 2585 WPS Medicwash, Miele has designed a special allergen-reducing rinse process which ensures thorough removal of all traces of detergent residue. In the Cottons, Minimum iron and Delicates programmes, the Medicwash has three rinse cycles, compared to the two offered by a conventional washing machine. The 'Rinse Plus' additional function pushbutton enables selection of a fourth rinse cycle; a user-programmable fifth rinse is available in the Cottons, Hygiene and Minimum iron programmes, if required. This feature will be greatly appreciated particularly by those suffering from severe allergies or skin diseases. The new rinse process is supplemented by a special rinse spin cycle, developed following extensive testing on a wide range of different fabrics to ascertain the reduction of zeolites (detergent residue) in different types of fabric in the rinse and spin processes.

Special programmes for allergy sufferers

The innovative rinse process is supplemented by additional wash programmes, including a newly developed Hygiene programme. In this programme with an extended temperature holding time (30 minutes), dust mites are killed through exposure to a temperature of 60°C. Fabrics such as cotton and linen which cannot be washed at 95°C are thus rid of pathogens. The increased water level also ensures removal of deposits caused by greasy ointments.

The most significant cause of respiratory problems are the excreta of the 0.1 mm dust mite. Since dust mites thrive in warm, damp conditions, pillows are a particular source of allergies. The Medicwash therefore offers an additional programme specially designed to enable one or two pillows with a feather, down or synthetic filling to be washed at a temperature of 60°C or 95°C. The enlarged 30 cm door opening means that the honeycomb drum is easier to load, and the wash rhythm is specially designed to cater for bulky pillows: after the drenching phase, pillows are spun at high speed, deflating them to a minimum. In order to rid pillows of dust mites and excreta, an individual programme sequence with high temperatures and a high water level was developed.

New fabrics should be thoroughly and gently washed prior to being worn for the first time, as they may contain chemical residue as a result of changed production and finishing methods. This residue may cause skin irritation and problems with dermatitis. The Medicwash washes new cotton, towelling and polyester fabrics at 30°C in the programme for new fabrics, which offers two rinses and an appropriate water level.

Other Medicwash features include load-size sensing technology and a dispensing recommendation: The electronic controls calculate the amount of detergent required for the appropriate programme and load size and the recommendation appears as a percentage in the display. This ensures that the correct amount of detergent is dispensed for each load and eliminates the risk of overdosing which is particularly problematic for allergy sufferers.

In the additional 'Short' programme, slightly soiled fabrics can be quickly washed at 40°C, enabling garments worn outdoors to be rid of pollen.