USO
Clean and Efficient Dishwashing
DATE - FALL 2023
TIMELINE - 10-WEEK PROJECT
USO
USO is a dish scrubbing solution which replaces the bacteria-laden kitchen sponge with Ultrasonic Sound technology, reducing water, heat, and effort by eliminating culinary residues and debris from dishware.
How might I improve the most hated chore in America?
Central Question
Research
Habits & Pain Points
6 out of 10 Americans cook at home more than 5 days a week.
People spend on average 144 hours per year hand-washing their dishes.
Survey found the worst parts of hand washing dishes are feeling like the dishes aren’t clean and the amount of time it takes.
Current Solutions
Sponge
<$1
+Cheap, Easy to use, & Cuts through grease
-Harbors and spreads bacteria, not durable, & disposable
OXO Brush
$15
+Long-lasting, Replaceable heads, & Soap built in
-Cannot clean grease, Harbors bacteria, & Soap breaks
Ultrasonic Cleaner
$60
+Sanitizes, Requires little effort, & Small footprint
-Requires submersion, Unintuitive, & Not ergonomic
Efficiency, Durability, and High Quality-of-Clean were identified as key design considerations
Ultrasonic Cavitation is currently used to sterilize medical equipment, degrease bike parts, and to shine jewelry. Each of these uses are essential to thoroughly clean dishes.
Proof of Concept
Petri plates were made comparing the bacteria cultures of dirty dishes, dishes washed with soap and sponge, and those put into an ultrasonic bath for 5 minutes.
After three days, the plates grew the most bacteria for dirty dishes, less, but still significant bacteria for the washed dishes, and no bacteria grown on the portion dedicated to dishes exposed to ultrasonic frequency.
Ultrasonic Cavitation
AI Renderings
Refinement
Prototyping
Ideation
Introducing USO
USO is a dish scrubbing solution which replaces the bacteria-laden kitchen sponge with Ultrasonic Sound technology, reducing water, heat, and effort by eliminating culinary residues and debris from dishware.
USO’s button activates an ultrasonic transducer, when the device is washing dishes, the ultrasonic frequency travels through the water to the dishes to aid in scrubbing effort, sanitation, and efficiency.
Ultrasonics act as a self-cleaner, sanitizing the sponge each time it is on, prolonging the life of the sponge.
When the life of the sponge is over, it can easily be swapped out for another, with its dovetail joint.
USO’s thin aluminum body band matches with a band on the base, providing contact charging whenever not in use.
USO’s light ring illuminates while operating, for a better look at dishes.
USO’s charging base contains a Diatomaceous earth interior, promoting ultrafast drying with antimicrobial properties.
USO has three modes, 1. Light Clean, 2. Stain Removal, and 3. Batch Cleaning.
Multiple grip configurations, from relaxed handshake to engaged palm, allows users to engage USO with appropriate scrubbing power.
Its asymmetricity addresses ergonomics and non-handedness, giving all users a way to scrub.
