Wargön Innovation’s testing of Pure Effect

A test series for the future of textile care, where Wargön Innovation evaluated how Pure Effect’s bacteria-based textile spray can reduce washing, extend the life of garments, and support new circular flows.

Through practical testing — in homes, reuse systems, and professional environments — the project explored how we can care for textiles in a more resource-efficient way, in the space between use and wash.


Why?

Textiles are often washed out of habit rather than need — leading to unnecessary wear, resource use, and in many cases garments being discarded too early. The same applies to items that cannot easily be washed and are thrown away simply because they smell.

The Wargön Innovation test series set out to understand how a simple solution, based on beneficial bacteria, can change this.

Can we reduce washing frequency without compromising freshness?
Can more garments and items be saved and used longer — at home, in professional settings, and in reuse flows?

The project explores how biotechnology can become part of the future of textile care — where less washing means both lower environmental impact and longer life for what has already been produced.


Background

The test series was conducted within the EU project “Innovation Environment for Sustainable Production and Circular Flows.” Around 180 participants took part across four different setups — ranging from everyday user tests to sorting and treatment of textiles within reuse systems.

By combining behavioral studies with material testing, the project created a holistic understanding of how the textile spray works in practice — both on an individual level and in larger-scale contexts.


About the test series

Four different test setups were carried out to understand function, effect, and user experience:

Test 1. Hard-to-wash garments — spray applied to textiles with stains and odor that are typically sorted out of reuse flows.
Test 2. Sustainability gain — comparison between washing vs. spraying on a t-shirt over time.
Test 3. Function across materials — odor and stain tests within reuse flows.
Test 4. Field tests LowWash & NoWash — user testing with more than 180 participants.


Results & insights

The tests clearly show that small behavioral shifts can have a significant impact:

• Reduced washing frequency in everyday life
• Extended garment lifespan through less wear and tear
• The ability to save textiles that would otherwise be discarded due to odor or stains
• Increased awareness of what actually needs to be washed — and when

At the same time, it becomes clear that effect depends on correct use: time, dosage, and routine matter.

A key insight is that the greatest impact happens closest to the user — in everyday life — where the decision to wash or not is actually made.

The test series shows that bacteria-based textile care is not just a product solution, but a potential behavioral shift at scale.


Discover more

Want to learn more? Send us an e-mail to know more about the tests: info@pureeffectsweden.com. Or contact Susanne Eriksson at Wargön Innovation: susanne.eriksson@wargoninnovation.se

Glossary

✓BIOTECHNOLOGY

Biotechnology involves using microorganisms to produce substances we need (such as medicines and environmentally friendly alternatives to chemicals) and to break down substances we want to remove; everything from grease and dirt to oil spills, wastewater, and toxic substances in soil and water.

✓BIOTECHNOLOGICAL CLEANING

The biological cleaning method differs radically from the chemical one. With the help of chemical cleaning agents, we can eliminate all life forms – friends and foes. This creates a temporary biological vacuum, where bacteria quickly re-establish themselves.
Cleaning with bacteria, Pure Effect's method, means that a selected and beneficial bacterial flora replaces that which arose randomly. Pure Effect's bacteria then effectively compete out the unwanted ones, which prolongs the effect of the biological cleaning.

✓ENZYMES

Enzymes are highly specialized substances produced by all living things. They are absolutely essential for specific biochemical reactions to take place at low temperatures, without the addition of energy, for example, inside the body. In laundry and cleaning products, enzymes specialized in breaking down fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and other organic waste are used.

✓FERMENTATION EXTRACT

A fermentation extract contains enzymes and forms the base of our cleaning products. The fermentation extract consists of fermenting bacteria and the enzymes they produce. The enzymes are specifically selected for our various products and their areas of application.

✓ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS

Enzymatic hydrolysis is a process where specialized enzymes break down larger molecules into their constituent parts using water molecules. Our bacteria cleave fat molecules (triglycerides) into glycerol and free fatty acids, making them easily soluble and simpler for our beneficial bacteria to break down and consume.

✓PROBIOTIC

Probiotic bacteria are living bacteria with beneficial effects – not least in our bodies. Among other things, their activity inhibits the growth of disease-causing bacteria.

✓MICROBIOME

The term "microbiome" is used to define and describe a specific microbial ecosystem – that is, an ecosystem consisting of microorganisms. These miniature ecosystems, however, operate under the same laws as all other ecosystems on Earth. Organisms compete for resources, cooperate in networks, or wage war against each other – and those most successfully adapting to the surrounding environment will survive, reproduce, and dominate.

✓BACTERIA

Bacteria are microorganisms, meaning single-celled life forms. Our relationship with them is complicated, as we know that some of them cause diseases. But we also know that bacteria are essential for life both in nature and in the body. For humans, they can be both friends and foes. Our "friends" can be induced to perform a variety of useful services – what we call biotechnology. At Pure Effect, we use the ability of beneficial bacteria to break down dirt and remove odors, as well as their ability to outcompete or combat undesirable bacteria.

All life on Earth can be divided into three large, overarching categories (domains), based on genetic data. These domains consist of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota. Bacteria consequently have an entire domain to themselves – a vast kingdom containing infinite variation and diversity. All bacteria, however, share certain common characteristics; among other things, they lack a cell nucleus. https://artfakta.se/taxa/5000052/information

The domain Archaea also contains only single-celled organisms. They lack a cell nucleus, but are not related to bacteria. Link: https://artfakta.se/taxa/5000082/information

The domain Eukaryota is characterized by a cell nucleus, but also largely consists of microorganisms. However, this kingdom also includes the exception: multicellular life forms; the visible "Life on Earth" – including ourselves. https://www.genteknik.se/ordlista/eukaryot/

✓MICROORGANISMS (microbes)

Microorganisms are very small, single-celled life forms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. "Microorganisms" or "microbes" is a collective term for bacteria, yeasts, microalgae, plankton, and molds, among others. These invisible life forms exist in all environments on Earth and play an important role in all ecosystems. They are the original force that drives the cycles of nature, and a large number of species (mainly bacteria) are essential for our own bodies.