Cashmere that cleans itself when left in daylight is developed by Hong Kong scientists

A team at City University has developed a self-cleaning cashmere that uses energy from the sun.

The technology coats cashmere fibres with tiny particles that help break down bacteria, dirt and even coffee and wine stains.

"Within 24 hours of daylight exposure, any red wine or coffee stains were gone," said Walid Daoud, assistant professor in City University's school of energy and environment and the lead researcher on the project.

Daoud and other researchers have applied a coating of the mineral anatase titanium dioxide to cotton and wool since 2002, but this is the first time the technology has been applied to cashmere, a fabric that is notoriously expensive to clean.

Daoud said retaining the softness of the fabric and preventing damage to the delicate fibres from the oxidisation process was a "huge challenge".

If commercialised, the process could lead to substantial savings on energy, water, washing liquids and dry cleaning chemicals, he said.