Don’t let your hardwood floors suffer a water stained fate, and with this new Japanese gadget they won’t have to.  The Rain Wipe, which doubles as a storage place for your brelly, sucks the water off your umbrella and draws it to a drain pan at the basin using some sort of special absorbing cloth.   It’ll dry 3,000 umbrellas and then the sponge portion of the device will need to be replaced.

No word on price or availability, but I’m sure restaurateurs in Seattle would warmly welcome this device.  After all, a wet entrance is a liability.

[Wired]