This appliance envisions the future of folding and sterilizing children’s clothes

We have become more attuned to the sometimes unsanitary conditions of our homes in recent years. While harmful microorganisms may have been there all this time, their effects have been placed under a microscope thanks to concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus. There has been an uptick in interest and sales of air purifiers as well as the new breed of UV-C sanitizers. But while these take care of the air we breathe, they don’t really handle other places where germs, viruses, and other harmful substances can gather, especially on different kinds of surfaces. Clothing for children, in particular, requires special handling because of who wears them, and this simple yet innovative concept offers a way to ease the burden off parents and automate how clothes are kept neat and clean.

Designers: Junsik Oh, Da-yeon Choi, Kim Eun-seong

Perhaps next to taking out the trash, one of the most disliked chores is doing the laundry, probably because it’s actually a multi-step process that goes beyond just washing clothes. Even with smart washing machines and dryers, there are parts of the chore that can be considered manual and menial labor. And as if folding clothes and putting them away weren’t already tedious enough, people now also have to be mindful of keeping those clothes sanitized and germ-free.

The latter is a growing concern among parents today, especially with all the worries about viruses and germs in the air and sticking to surfaces. Anti-bacterial laundry soap only works during washing, but the clothes can be exposed any time afterward. That can even happen while a parent or sibling is folding a child’s clothes, potentially putting younger and more susceptible members of the family in danger.

FOL:U is an appliance concept that tries to do away with both the tediousness as well as the fears when folding clothes. It actually doesn’t fold clothes but rolls them up in a bundle for more space-efficient storage. It also sanitizes those clothes before they’re rolled, and you don’t even have to touch a single part of the fabric at any point in time.

The idea is that you’d pick up newly washed clothes with tongs that come with FOL:U and mount them inside. When you’re ready, you can soak the clothes in UV-C light to sanitize them. There’s even a tray on top that will let you also sanitize other items like baby bottles or toys simultaneously to save on time and energy. The machine then rolls the clothes into bundles that can be kept at the bottom of the tall box, which could also be sanitized along with the next batch of clothes.

With UV-C sanitization becoming more common inside households, it might only be a matter of time before appliance manufacturers turn their attention toward this use case. FOL:U might not be the most efficient machine for folding, and some might disagree about rolling clothes, but it does address the need for automating other parts of doing the laundry. It won’t be long before we reach a point where the entire process could be automated from start to finish, just like in some cartoons that portray future home appliances in a comical way.

The post This appliance envisions the future of folding and sterilizing children’s clothes first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Samsung Mask-Cleaner will disinfect your face-mask with UV-C light

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. The circular display can even calculate how much dust and particulate matter is on the mask – so you know when to dispose of your surgical mask or give your cloth mask a thorough wash, so it’s as good as new!

Designer: Jungkwang Hwang

This handheld UV-C sanitizer doubles as a wireless charger to keep your electronics charged and 99.9% germ-free

It’s a wireless charger, but it’s better than a wireless charger. Cell by Ampere works as a dock as well as a UV sterilization chamber for your belongings. It’s a weirdly relevant combination of features but believe you me, Cell does a great job of being multifunctional but still being sensible. Every feature and use-case is well thought out, making it just the most conveniently handy accessory to have on you. Here, let me explain.

It’s no secret that your glossy, shiny, expensive smartphone is one of the most germ-filled things currently in your pocket. It’s also no secret that your phone is one of the most useful gadgets you’ve got on your person, so that’s really a conflict of interest, isn’t it? Cell by Ampere comes with a collapsible design that houses 2 wireless charging coils on the top, and UV-C LEDs on the base. Place your phone on top, and it fast-charges without wires, however, collapse the silicon rim around the sides and the base becomes a UV chamber, allowing you to sterilize your phone, watch, earphones, keys, or any EDC in mere minutes. Designed to be handy, Cell can be used as a UV wand too, allowing you to sterilize larger areas (like your door-handles, keyboards, food delivery parcels) by just waving the UV light over them. One could argue that being germ-free is just as much of a benefit as a fully charged smartphone, and the Cell’s 2-in-1 nature helps cover both those areas.

Things get really interesting when you realize that there’s more to Cell’s functionality. Its foldable silicone design can be half-expanded at an angle too, allowing your charger to effectively become a dock that works in landscape as well as portrait mode. Designed to allow you to use your phone while it’s getting juiced, the wireless charging surface comes with an anti-friction layer that holds your phone securely in place, and stops charging if your phone loses alignment. A USB-C output on the side of the Cell lets you even further connect a secondary charger for your smartwatch, and the collapsible design makes this entire world of functionality just as slim and portable as your phone itself. Plus, the cherry on the cake? Cell’s own wire and adapter are made from anti-microbial materials too, so your belongings are always clean… but don’t take my word for it! Just ask the guys at Business Insider, Digital Trends, and CES who called the Cell the best smartphone accessory of 2020!

Designer: Grant Shi of Ampere

Click Here to Buy Now: $65 $99.99 (35% off). Hurry, less than 12 hours left! Raised over $100,000.

Cell – Expandable Wireless Charger that Cleans Your Phone

The Cell removes 99.9% of germs in 60 seconds with 4 UVC LEDs while powering your electronics with 2 powerful 15W wireless charging coils.

The average smartphone is 10X dirtier than a toilet seat.

Sanitize with UV Lights

Cell’s UV-C LED lights remove 99.9% of germs at the DNA level. Easily adjust the height based on what you’re cleaning.

Utilizes 4 powerful 273 nm LEDs and has a sanitizing area of 1L.

360° Sanitization Technology

Reflective surfaces and elevated platforms = 360° sterilization.

Award-winning Wireless Charger

Cell leverages their award-winning wireless charging technology — the same technology that Digital Trends and Business Insider dubbed the Best of 2020.

The designers have increased the size of our two coils to create a larger charging zone, allowing for easier placement of your device to wirelessly charge.

A second USB-C output port will wire-charge a second device. Works perfectly with their own MFi Apple Watch travel dongle.

Versatible Design. Compact & Portable.

You can use Cell in multiple ways thanks to the flexible silicone slides.

Horizontal for Netflix and Vertical for FaceTime Calls.

Click Here to Buy Now: $65 $99.99 (35% off). Hurry, less than 12 hours left! Raised over $100,000.