Abstract: A machine for washing items of various kinds includes a washing tub for containing the washing liquor, and a reactor for generating heat for heating up the washing liquor and a stream of gaseous hydrogen supplying a fuel cell to generate a source of electric power. In the interior thereof, the reactor contains a mass of metals, which may include magnesium, and produces a stream of gaseous hydrogen. The machine further includes a source of water that is let into the reactor to trigger the reaction process producing the hydrogen, a fuel cell that receives the stream of hydrogen and converts it into electric power, an electric connection adapted to transfer the electric power generated by the fuel cell to a controller and an actuator include in the machine, and heat transferring device for transferring the heat generated by the reactor to the washing liquor.