Method for treatment of laundry and washing machine suitable for this purpose

Abstract

A method for treating laundry with washing lye uses a washing machine having a lye discharge system disposed on a base of a lye container, a pivotally supported drum, and a heating device for the direct heating of a load of laundry containing the washing lye. The method includes adding the washing lye to the load in an amount smaller or equal to an amount required for saturation of the laundry with water (“saturation amount”), wetting the laundry, and heating the wetted laundry via the heating device. Water is added at a temperature of no more than 40 degrees Celsius for rinsing the washing lye from the laundry. A washing machine is also configured to be suitable for carrying out the method.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for treating laundry with an aqueous washing lye in a washing machine, the washing machine containing a lye discharge system disposed on a base of a lye container, a rotationally mounted drum and a heating device for direct heating of a load of laundry containing the washing lye, which comprises the steps of:
 a) adding the washing lye to the load in an amount being smaller or equal to an amount required for saturation of the laundry with water, and wetting the laundry resulting in wetted laundry;   b) directly heating the wetted laundry by means of the heating device; and   c) adding water at a temperature of not more than 40° C. for rinsing the washing lye from the laundry.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises not carrying out step c) until a completion of step b). 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises setting the temperature of the water to not more than 30° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises performing the direct heating of the laundry containing the washing lye using at least one of hot foam, hot air, steam and electromagnetic radiation which has been achieved by using the heating device. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises:
 heating the wetted laundry with hot foam, following step a); and   generating the hot foam by rotating the rotationally mounted drum at a speed which is less than a contact speed of the laundry, the heating device is switched on and the foam is heated.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises effecting the heating in step b) by using electromagnetic radiation by one of a microwave heater and an IR radiator. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises operating the drum in step b) in a reversing mode at a speed of 30 to 100 r.p.m. for a time period of 10 to 30 minutes. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises setting a ratio of the amount to the amount to be between 0.5 and 0.9. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , which further comprises:
 heating the laundry with hot steam; and   setting in step b) the ratio of the amount to the amount to be between 0.5 and 0.7.   
     
     
         24 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a program controller for controlling a program;   a lye container having a base;   a drum rotatably mounted in said lye container;   a lye discharge system disposed on said base of said lye container;   a drive motor for driving said drum; and   a heating device for heating a load of laundry containing a washing lye.   
     
     
         25 . The washing machine according to  claim 24 , wherein said heating device is a device for generating one of steam and hot air. 
     
     
         26 . The washing machine according to  claim 24 , wherein said heating device is selected from the group consisting of microwave heating devices and an IR radiator. 
     
     
         27 . The washing machine according to  claim 24 , wherein said heating device is disposed in said lye container. 
     
     
         28 . The washing machine according to  claim 24 , further comprising a sensor for determining a temperature and disposed in said drum. 
     
     
         29 . The washing machine according to  claim 24 , wherein said heating device is disposed in said drum.