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Comment by natch | Hacker News Reader

Ick.

Here's the thought pattern you have to fight, and people are not going to say this to you as clearly as I will, because of taboos:

Where does the dirt, dust (human skin flakes, semen, lube, dingleberries, etc.) go? I'm sorry for going into ugly stuff but you need to hear it.

I don't think people are going to buy into this mentally, which leads me to think they aren't going to buy it with their dollars, either.

Also don't assume that having an answer for this concern removes the concern as a problem for your business. You may have an answer, but people need to buy your answer.

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Natch, you are right this fabric can obviously NOT get human skin flakes, semen, lube etc off of your sheets. But it will prevent bacteria from developing and feeding on this stuff. I have done a lot of research and what I found was that people have accepted the fact that they are shedding millions of dead skin cells every night on their sheets and its acting as a breeding ground for bacteria. This product is a solution for those who are aware of this problem. Take the example of acne. Dermatologists recommend changing pillowcases every night because its not the body excretions and dead skin cells that cause the damage, its the bacteria that feed on them that leads to acne and allergies.

Then don't market your product as something that can go for a month without a wash (that's pretty nasty when it comes to bedding, imho). Market it as luxury bedding that won't allow for bacteria to grow and will keep people healthier as a result.

Yes, "keeps your sheets cleaner between washings" I think is a better pitch.

Also, what about marketing this to hospitals, retirement/nursing homes, NASA, movie theaters (for their seats), etc? I think there are many vertical markets that would need anti-bacterial fabrics.

yes logn. I have got this suggestion a lot and I must say I never thought about these markets before. But I will definitely explore this potential.

That's a reasonable reply, assuming you focus on that niche.

Have you thought about filing patents on your stuff, and licensing it to others who can bring it to market as a feature of selected items in their existing product lines?

I am happy this product has convinced you :). And yes I have already got the patent pending status for it :).

I had a similar thought process. I believe if it actually gets "dirty", the sheets would need replacing. So I checked out the website - Does the silver prevent sweat being absorbed into the fabric? Is that how it can go for weeks without washing? Is it washable? Good luck with the product!

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