Patent ID: 8371315

Claim:
A washing system comprising: a washing machine vessel; a fluid-treatment component operably coupled to a fluid line and located upstream from the washing machine vessel, the fluid-treatment component being configured to activate a liquid received from the fluid line to produce an activated liquid; a dispenser located downstream from the fluid-treatment component, the dispenser being configured to dispense the activated liquid into the washing machine vessel; an electrode located downstream from the fluid-treatment component and upstream from or integra; with the dispenser, the electrode being configured to be in electrical contact the with the activated liquid; at least one control circuit configured to apply a voltage to the electrode to generate an alternating electrical field through the dispensed activated liquid between the electrode and the washing machine vessel; and a regulator unit configured to regulate liquid flows between the fluid line and the dispenser, wherein the at least one control circuit is further configured to operate the regulator unit to direct liquid flows to the dispenser while applying the voltage to the electrode.