Regular change of clothing and washing - elementary hygiene rules. However, there are situations when making these simple steps is not so simple: for example, in space, where washing is not at all what is easy to do, writes iflscience.

The main problem of dirty clothing in space is due to the fact that water is an incredibly valuable resource in this unfriendly environment. Researchers note that the resource is so valuable that even urine at the International Space Station (ISS) is not waste: it is processed, cleaned and used again. Thus, the usual approach to washing with a lot of water and detergents will simply not work on the ISS.

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Astronauts have a limited wardrobe for the ISS, and therefore they have to wear clothes that can be used again. However, it is not easy to predict all the scenarios: for example, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore should have spent only a week in space last June, but due to problems with the spacecraft were stuck on the ISS. The astronauts took enough clothes for eight days, and not for eight months, so they really had to stretch it for a long time.

Some clothing items are used again for several days, weeks or even months, depending on how much they become dirty and smelly. When the clothes become too dirty and uncomfortable, the crew replaces it - dirty clothes become garbage and most of it turns into fire.

It is no secret that many waste discarded from the ISS do not return to Earth. Instead, they burn in the atmosphere along with a lot of other garbage. Researchers note that some cargo capsules sent to the ISS are simply not intended for landing to Earth: they burn in the planet’s atmosphere, and therefore astronauts stuff them with garbage, killing two hares with one shot.

Currently, astronauts simply have no other choice but to burn their dirty clothes, but several promising alternatives are in development. For example, scientists test a fabric stopping the growth of bacteria and fungi.

Note that this method will perfectly cope with a decrease in smell and improve hygiene, but it is unlikely to help cope with the spots.

The multinational company Proctor \u0026 Gamble studied a number of products in space with NASA to demonstrate possible detergents: one of them was Tide Infinity, a liquid detergent without fragrances and solvents. It was assumed that after such washing water it would be safe to use again.

Its consistency was tested on the ISS in 2021, and in 2023 the Martian similar mission CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Anaalog) used it to wash clothes with lower energy and water costs and water.

Two years ago, NASA also tested the tide to-go wipes napkins and Tide to-go pen handles, which were used to remove stains from Srirach, Coffee, Olive oil and Punch in space. In other research, scientists also worked on the creation of a washing machine that could work not only in the earth's orbit, but possibly in the Moon or Mars.

Previously, Focus wrote that the NASA astronaut stuck in orbit set a new record in open space.