Dyson plots revolution for washing machines

James Dyson last week launched his latest invention, a washing machine with two drums rotating in the opposite direction at the same time. The design, claims Dyson, will clean clothes at any temperature better than its high street rivals.

The Contrarotator replicates the movement of hand-washing, the counter-rotating drums moving the clothes in an infinitely variable pattern which flexes the fabric and opens the weave to the detergent. The Contrarotator is claimed to release dirt quicker so it takes less time to wash clothes.

“It is shocking that your hands can wash cleaner than your [washing] machine,” says Dyson.

“We found out why – hands knead the fabric to release the dirt. We discovered that with a second drum going in the other direction we could even improve on hand-washing,” adds Dyson.

The washing machine goes on sale at the end of the month.