Self-Cleaning Straps Keep Germs Away on the Bus?

Photo via Cyclean

How many people touched that nylon fabric strap you’re holding onto on Muni, and what did they touch before getting on the bus? If the thought of this gives your germaphobic self an anxiety attack, check out this self-cleaning strap designed by a group of Chinese designers who won the Red Dot Award.

How do these straps clean themselves? According to the designers:

The handle strap can be rotated through a small plastic chamber that contains a rough sponge, a cleaning and disinfecting agent, and rollers. The handle strap can be cleaned by pulling down on one side of the loop to feed it into the chamber. The rollers clean and disinfect the strap as it is fed through. The strap emerges from the chamber clean. The sponge can be replaced and the cleaning agent can be refilled.

Hmm. Replacing the sponge and cleaning agent might be where the process can break down here, but straps in the picture look pretty darn clean and enticing. The “Cyclean” straps are still just a design and haven’t been manufactured yet, according to Fast Coexist. So for now you’ll have to make do with good ole hand sanitizer gel. Look on the bright side: at least we haven’t heard about bed bugs on Muni!

H/T: @jesskuo