OSAKA -- Sharp Corp. said Monday it will launch on Nov. 1 what it claims to be the world's first washing machine that uses "supersonic vacuum bubbles" to remove tough stains without laundry detergent.
Sharp said its ES-U80C and ES-U70C models are equipped with a device in the lid that creates bubble jets powerful enough to remove difficult stains, such as those found on shirt collars and cuffs, before being washed with detergent.
The jets are 100 times more powerful than the cleaning capacity of Sharp's previous model, promising savings of around 30 percent in laundry detergent costs, the firm said.
The suggested retail price is 135,000 yen for the 8-kg ES-U80C and 125,000 yen for the 7-kg ES-U70C.