Home appliances to Marie Kondo your home that work better than the usual cleaning hacks!

If there’s one thing that COVID-19 has taught us (though there are plenty), it’s that maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, and sanitizing everything and anything in sight is a must! Sanitizers, face masks, and shields are now irreplaceable accessories that must be a part of your everyday carry. Forget your phone, but not your little bottle of hand sanitizer! A perk of this newly developed mandatory habit is that the innovation of cleaning products and gadgets are at an all-time high! There’s a cleaning product for almost every need and situation, whether it’s a case for your mask that also sanitizes it, or self disinfecting bedsheets that automatically clean themselves! It’s sanitary heaven for all the cleanliness neat freaks, Monica Gellars, and Marie Kondos out there! And we’ve curated the best and most efficient of these appliances to ensure that your home, your surroundings and you can be as clean and clear as possible!

The humble vacuum cleaner is now considered commonplace within our homes, as it is seen as a necessity as opposed to a luxury. However, this doesn’t stop it from carrying a rather unimaginative and uninspiring form. Until now that is – the Drip handheld vacuum cleaner puts aesthetics first. Drip flaunts a sculptural form that oozes sophistication, from the bold, powerful stance that the form creates, through to the distinctive finish that elegantly conceals the electronic nature of the product, making it more of a piece of art than a domestic appliance. The absence of a handle not only allows for a clean, sleek design but also alters how the product is used, adding to its uniqueness and bringing a sense of intrigue. This is certainly a device that you will want to leave out, as opposed to shoving it into the drawer!

Milan-based Salvo Lo Cascio designed the SaniCase as a response to a common problem he saw with people who wore masks. During brief intervals when they took their mask off to eat or drink, they’d often end up putting their masks on tables, armrests, or back in their pockets along with their phone and keys. Designed to give people a place to safely store their masks when not in use, the SaniCase comes with a cylindrical compartment lined with UV-C lights on the inside. When you don’t need the mask, just slip it into its protective casing and it’ll get sanitized too. Speaking of which, the base of the SaniCase even has a push-to-deploy hand-sanitizer bottle on it, allowing you to periodically clean your hands too. By helping disinfect your hands as well as your face-mask, the SaniCase covers all the critical areas to prevent germs from accidentally entering your system.

Meet the Christianshavn, a bedsheet that tackles this problem on a molecular level. Even though its name sounds like the kind of bedsheet that would put the fear of god into bacteria, it is, in fact, the unique material developed for and used by the bedsheet that helps it self-clean by automatically killing the microorganisms on it and preventing the spread of odors… so your bedsheet remains cleaner for longer, and doesn’t need changing so often. Nordifakt’s Christianshavn bedding is made in 100% organic cotton, which means it feels just as comfortable as your current bedsheets. However, it comes treated with Polygiene®, a fabric treatment that uses low concentrations of silver chloride that has anti-microbial properties. The Polygiene within the bedsheet acts like a natural disinfectant, using silver ions to break down germs that make their way into the bedsheet. These ions can break down VOCs or volatile organic compounds too, stopping the growth of molds and even keeping your bedsheets smelling fresh. The Polygiene treatment lasts practically forever because silver chloride isn’t water-soluble… which means washing the bedsheet doesn’t diminish its self-cleaning power.

chopbox1

You can easily sanitize your knives and cutting surfaces, embrace your inner quarantine chef with germ-free cooking thanks to Chopbox’s built-in disinfecting UVC light – see I told you, this board is lit and literally! We clean our knives but do we ever think about the germs in knife blocks or the crevices of our cutting boards? With Chopbox all you have to do place your knife in between the two cutting surfaces and activate the small but powerful 254nm UVC light that can sanitize up to 3 knives at once as well as both the cutting surfaces. “Just one minute of UVC light exposure is guaranteed to kill 99.99% of germs and bacteria. The 254nm UVC light used in the ChopBox is small and has a limited angle with only a small gap in the boards when in use. It is 100% safe for all humans to be around and near this light. The UVC light will automatically switch off when you separate the two boards or you can press the second button on the control panel to turn it off. You will receive no negative side effects from this UVC light,” says the team.

Rena’s aim was to create an innovative bottle that could be a bank for all the cleaning liquids we needed. It has a reservoir tank and replaceable cartridge that holds concentrated chemicals that are mixed and diluted in specific ratios to clean different surfaces or dispense for laundry. It takes the guesswork out so that your surfaces and clothes are protected from your chemical calculations (let’s be real, ‘one cap’ is not a measurement). The bottle has an ergonomic design and using it is simple – insert the cartridge, fill in the water, select the surface you intend to clean on your Rena mobile app, and via Bluetooth the bottle will collect that data configure a detergent mix based on it. Then all you do is press the trigger and the bottle will dispense the concoction.

The 0° Clean concept offers a new way to make sure your face-mask is fresh, dry, and sanitized between uses. Created by Jungkwang Hwang as a fan-made concept for Samsung, the 0° Clean is a nifty flat-bed UV-C sanitizer that uses a combination of ultraviolet light and dry air to cleanse and blow-dry your mask. It comes with a detachable cylindrical battery-unit (with a built-in display) that you can easily snap onto the sanitizing flat-bed to power it. The bed’s space is big enough for almost any flat surgical or cloth mask. Just place the mask in, shut the lid, and switch it on using a button on the side. The UV-C lights neutralize any microorganisms, and the hot air (which blows from the bottom and the sides) dries off any perspiration on the mask, so you can wear it after a few hours knowing that it’s dry and sterile.

Designed as this all-encompassing floor cleaning tool, the Duet lets you sweep, mop (both wet and dry), collect and discard all your dust and dirt with one single cleaning instrument. The Duet’s broom comes with a dual-sided design, featuring a microfiber mop on one edge for collecting dust particles, and bristles on another side, allowing you to simply turn the broom around to sweep/maneuver larger pieces of debris into Duet’s dust-collecting tray. The tray’s highlight is its self-cleaning chamber that automatically cleans the mop head, pulling stubborn stuff like hairballs off the mop, effectively cleaning it without you needing to get your hands dirty. Duet’s all-in-one design aims at tackling the need to buy/own/use multiple cleaning tools to get the job done. Designed to work like a broom, a wet mop, dry mop, and even a polishing cloth, Duet’s interchangeable heads are easy to swap, allowing you to effectively use one tool to sweep, mop, and buff your floor.

petpaws

Pet Paws is a high-tech sanitizing mat used to clean, disinfect, and dry the legs of our pets as well as the soles of our shoes. The efficient product design is a simple roll-up mat that is easy to carry and store. The team worked on elevating an existing prototype by adding improved functionality and simplifying it further – the redesigned version is now just a one-piece product, unlike the original one which had four parts. It has two areas on its surface – the first section of the mat has a multi-directional cleaning texture which bends and cleans inside the paws in a friendly manner, and the second section of the mat has a cushioned texture which helps to dry the paws as the pet walks over the microfiber sleeve. Both parts have a texture that has been cleverly selected to maximize the efficiency of the process by making sure it can clean inside the paws without any discomfort or complex steps.

Traditional laundry machine cycles can potentially damage clothes (how many of us even know the right settings for our loads?) and ever since the pandemic took over our lives we are doing laundry more often to stay safe – this is bound to wear them out 5x faster than usual. The Samsung AirDresser is here to save the day! Its sleek build is similar to a tall, thin fridge and can seamlessly blend in any room. The AirDresser uses a combination of steaming and heat-pump powered drying, and you won’t even have to plumb it in says Samsung. “That’s because, rather than a water connection like a traditional washer would require, the AirDresser relies on a refillable water tank at the bottom of the cabinet. It means it can be installed pretty much anywhere with a regular 120V outlet,” explains the team.

Usually, people dispose of their toilet brushes every 2-3 months, and given that most of them are plastic, it leads to a lot of environmental damage. This redesigned toilet brush lets you switch out brushes while reusing the main body which reduces a lot of toxic waste. BrushPro is extremely convenient to use compared to its forerunners. The extendable handle allows you to reach narrow spaces without having to perform advanced yoga poses on the floor and minimizes your direct contact with the dirty brush. The handle also has slits that give the brush head some flexibility while cleaning – a great universal design that takes into account the experience of the differently-abled demographic as well. The brush head includes rubber as well as fiber for more efficient cleaning. Another brilliant detail is the slot for the detergent bottle, so you can simply refill and reuse the detergent bottle instead of buying more plastic spray bottles – it also frees up your hand as it combines both cleaning products in one!

This Electric Scooter + Cleaning Trolley Is the Public Sanitation Solution Your Community Needs

Here’s the problem. Street cleaning is a physically demanding job that calls for longer hours compared to indoor cleaning jobs and farther distances to travel (sometimes up to 16 km per day). The work is essential yet under-appreciated. It’s unfair to expect these workers, especially if they are older, to cover these distances on foot and pull a trolley of their cleaning supplies behind them. The Cleaning Board electric scooter presents a win-win situation; it takes the strain off of the workers and allows them to cover a larger area in less time.

The Cleaning Board consists of three parts: a supply bin, kickboard, and a mobile app. The bin has two compartments: one for broom handles and dust collectors, the other for smaller items, such as masks, a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, water, and a hot/cold pack. When the user isn’t traveling, the kickboard folds up against the cleaning vessel, transforming the scooter into a pushable cart. Also, light strips along the board’s edges make the vehicle (and rider) more visible at night. Finally, the Cleaning Board features a companion app that would send workers information about the trashcans on their route, which would help them prioritize specific stops.

Because we are still living in a pandemic, public sanitation is a top priority for cities around the world. The Cleaning Board was created to help those workers, not necessarily their employers. It just so happens that both parties benefit from this product. By extension, the Cleaning Boards improve the quality of life for the communities that use them, because they make it easier to maintain a safe, sanitary environment.

Designer: Fountain Studio

 

This snake-inspired floor vacuum uses special hinges to clean any corner or cluttered space!

If you went online to purchase a robot vacuum cleaner, you would likely see several variations of a circular design. Although the curved shape allows the device to rotate and change directions with ease, the wide circumference prevents it from cleaning narrow gaps and corners.

The long, thin design of the folding robot vacuum can reach the tight spaces that other products can’t reach, including the corners of a room and the gaps in-between chair legs. Its shape gives the product its flexibility. Most robot cleaners consist of one fixed unit. In contrast, the folding vacuum, true to its name, has three sections connected by hinges, which allow the device to bend its body around obstacles in its path. Once done, the robot returns to its minimal charging stand, and one of the hinges stores the collected dust that can be popped out by pressing a button!

We’ve discussed the folding vacuum’s clear advantage when cleaning crowded spaces, but how would it fare in a large, unobstructed area? Would its narrow shape cover less ground than a standard cleaner? In reality, the folding vacuum would take advantage of its length, locking itself into a straight line and sweeping horizontally across the floor. This method could easily cover more surface area than a circular cleaner.

The folding vacuum is still in the conceptual stages, so we don’t know how a physical product would work in practice. I wonder how a prototype would map out and clean a space. I assume there will be directional sensors in the “head” and “tail” of the device, but perhaps the designer has a different solution in mind. I’m also curious to see what will change as the design progresses from concept to creation. But I think the folding vacuum could reinvent the standard design for future cleaning products.

Designer: 승민 김

This mini vacuum cleaner cleans while hiding in plain sight!

This mini vacuum was built with style and function equally in mind. At first glance, it could be mistaken for an off-brand hydro-flask or a portable speaker. This ambiguity works as a visual advantage. Car passengers and desk mates will wonder how you keep these spaces so clean (not realizing that your secret weapon may be hiding in plain sight). They might even compliment your new olive-green accessory.
The vacuum’s slender, cylinder design allows for easy storage in your car or desk drawer… and these are the exact areas that the product was designed to clean. It comes with two attachments: a narrow nozzle that can reach debris in tight corners and a slightly wider one rimmed with soft bristles that can suction dust from inside an air vent or in-between your laptop’s keys. Basically, it cleans the spaces that other handhelds can’t reach. Also, the vacuum comes with a removable cap to keep the debris from escaping the canister… so you won’t have to worry about cleaning messes a second time.

Designer: Yifanzi J

This ergonomic bottle mixes 5 cleaning liquids to create a custom cleanser for every surface!

If you were to open your cleaning closet, how many bottles would you find? Detergents? Bleach? Softener? Lysol? Not only does it clutter the space but it is also inefficient – have you ever had a Tide bottle fall on you while reaching out to get the soap? I can confirm its not pretty. Also, not everyone or every brand provides refills so all you are doing is going through an endless consumption cycle that is generating more waste. Clean surfaces but not a clean planet. Rena is a conceptual bottle designed to specifically solve the above issue – one bottle fits all!

Rena’s aim was to create an innovative bottle that could be a bank for all the cleaning liquids we needed. It has a reservoir tank and replaceable cartridge that holds concentrated chemicals that are mixed and diluted in specific ratios to clean different surfaces or dispense for laundry. It takes the guesswork out so that your surfaces and clothes are protected from your chemical calculations (let’s be real, ‘one cap’ is not a measurement). The bottle has an ergonomic design and using it is simple – insert the cartridge, fill in the water, select the surface you intend to clean on your Rena mobile app, and via Bluetooth the bottle will collect that data configure a detergent mix based on it. Then all you do is press the trigger and the bottle will dispense the concoction. I can only imagine Monica Geller screaming if she saw this.

Cartridges are created to be refillable to reduce landfill waste and can be customized by the brand. The chemicals are pressurized which makes it easy to move it into the mixing chamber without a pump. The safety mechanism makes sure the chemicals are not dispensed if the cartridge is not inserted in Rena. It also features a DC pump instead of the traditional pump and a 750 ml water tank. And lastly, it is rechargeable so no need to scrimmage through your junk drawers to find spare batteries. The universal detergent bottle makes cleaning more efficient, safe, and easier on the environment. Long road ahead but designs like Rena gives us a good headstart!

Designer: James Lord

This Swiffer-inspired bathroom cleaning brush even holds your detergent bottle

Right off the bat, I want to state that I have never seen a toilet brush that looks so sleek it is almost…beautiful? Designer Geraldine Tong wanted to change our perception of toilet cleaning tools while also solving related issues like its environmental impact and the clutter it creates in our bathrooms. Her goal was to create a brush that didn’t cause more landfill waste, took minimal space, reached the narrow areas and of course, look visually appealing – so she designed BrushPro in collaboration with Lam Soon Singapore and the mission was accomplished.

Usually, people dispose of their toilet brushes every 2-3 months and given that most of them are plastic, it leads to a lot of environmental damage. This redesigned toilet brush lets you switch out brushes while reusing the main body which reduces a lot of toxic waste. BrushPro is extremely convenient to use compared to its forerunners. The extendable handle allows you to reach narrow spaces without having to perform advanced yoga poses on the floor and minimizes your direct contact with the dirty brush. The handle also has slits that give the brush head some flexibility while cleaning – a great universal design that takes into account the experience of the differently-abled demographic as well. The brush head includes rubber as well as fiber for more efficient cleaning. Another brilliant detail is the slot for the detergent bottle, so you can simply refill and reuse the detergent bottle instead of buying more plastic spray bottles – it also frees up your hand as it combines both cleaning products in one!

The design of the BrushPro is minimal and fits the modern style. It clears away the clutter of cleaning products/tools in your bathroom with its slim form as it acts as 3 cleaning tools in 1 (wet mop, dry brush, detergent holder). The clean (pun intended) aesthetic + ergonomic build makes the chore of cleaning your bathrooms hassle-free and Instagrammable. I bet Monica Geller will probably want 6 of these for her birthdays and I don’t blame her. With the quarantine life, cleaning is the new Friday night rager and I would much rather have BrushPro’s company for it.

Designer: Geraldine Tong

These appliance designs were created for the joy of cleaning!

If you’re a cleanliness freak, which is a great thing (really), you know how important it is to own appliances that help you maintain a certain level of cleanliness at all times. Whether it’s ensuring that your home and office space are always spick and span, or maintaining excellent personal hygiene, we all need a couple of gadgets to make our lives a little easier. So, we’ve curated a collection of cleaning designs that are perfect for helping you reach your cleanliness goals!

Drip is a vacuum cleaner with a sculptural form that oozes sophistication, from the bold, powerful stance that the form creates, through to the distinctive finish that elegantly conceals the electronic nature of the product, making it more or a piece of art than a domestic appliance. The absence of a handle not only allows for a clean, sleek design but also alters how the product is used.

The LastSwab provides a clean, reusable alternative to those disposable earbuds that get used, flushed, and end up in the oceans. Designed with a specialized reusable rubber tip that can be cleaned with a dab of soap and some water, along with a tough, durable nylon connector-rod, the LastSwab comes in two variants… one for cleaning, and another for touching-up make-up. Afterall personal hygiene comes first!

The Encompass toothbrush’s unique J-shaped design is what sets it apart. Designed by RYCA International, its J-shape allows it to self-adjust to the shape of your jaw, covering both your upper and lower teeth with bristles that vibrate at a precise 100 strokes per second, while the bristles themselves are positioned to give you the right pressure, intensity and angle for efficient brushing in just 10 seconds on each (left and right) side. Maintaining oral hygiene has never been this easy!

Circular and tubular in shape, with four legs to support it, the Air Wave is an air purifier embellished with four curvy lines that serve as motifs representing the flow and movement of air. Resembling waves, the lines change color according to the quality of air in your home; blue for when it’s extremely clean, green for normal, yellow for when it’s turning impure and red for high alert when the impurity hits the roof!

quartz_bottle_11

quartz_bottle_09

Designed to be the one bottle you never leave home without, Quartz works just as good as any thermos/flask you have, keeping cold drinks cold for a day, and hot drinks hot for half a day. Convenient in size, and with a wide mouth that allows you to rinse out the bottle, Quartz goes the extra step with its special cap that comes embedded with a medical-grade UV light that shines into the bottle at a 280nm wavelength, effectively killing any germs your eye may not see, while making sure the bottle remains odorless.

Designed as this all-encompassing floor cleaning tool, the Duet lets you sweep, mop (both wet and dry), collect and discard all your dust and dirt with one single cleaning instrument. The Duet’s broom comes with a dual-sided design, featuring a microfiber mop on one edge for collecting dust particles, and bristles on another side, allowing you to simply turn the broom around to sweep/maneuver larger pieces of debris into Duet’s dust-collecting tray.

iKuddle’s litter box will separate the waste from clean litter, you can initiate this through your app and it will notify you once the cleaning is complete. After that, you can tap the auto-packing button on the app or the litter box and it will seal the waste in a small bag which you can discard at your convenience. iKuddle’s litter box also has a deodorizing system with a fully enclosed carbon filter that works for 5 minutes after your cat leaves the box, eliminating 80%-90% of litter box odors

The future of vacuum cleaners is here! The bottom section of Lizard operates as a smart robotic vacuum; the intuitive display makes controlling the compact device, a breeze. Once the cleaning is complete, Lizard will return to its home that features wireless charging. To tackle the hard-to-reach and problem areas, Lizard’s tail can be attached. By attaching this component, the unit operates as a conventional vacuum.

The Egret EO Blaster is an all-purpose cleaning spray that relies on the power of electrolyzed water to replace practically every other cleaning agent you use. 100% natural and non-toxic, using patented technology and the power of Electrolyzed water (EO water), the Egret kills germs and removes bad smells in your home in seconds.

A combination of an upright, cylinder, and handheld vacuum cleaner, Lupe was designed to be used anywhere, anyhow, with a battery-powered brushless motor that allows the vacuum to be used and carried anywhere, unencumbered by wires, or the lack of a nearby plug-point. Having previously worked at Dyson, Lupe’s designers also developed what they call the Suction Intensifier, a technology that aids their powerful motor by almost doubling the cleaner’s useful suction power!