A new development in nanotechnology points the way to self-cleaning wool and silk.

Wool skirts and silk ties may avoid those pricey trips to the dry-cleaner in the future and clean themselves, researchers in Australia and China suggest. They report development of a nanoparticle coating that could lead to "self-cleaning" wool and silk fabrics.

The nanoparticle coating consists of a non-toxic substance that destroys stains when exposed to sunlight.