Ion eluting unit, device provided therewith, and washing machine

A metal ion eluting unit including:

• a plurality of electrodes;
• and
• a drive circuit that applies a voltage between the electrodes,
• the metal ion eluting unit eluting metal ions from one of the electrodes serving as a positive electrode by applying the voltage between the electrodes,
• wherein the metal ion eluting unit further comprises:
• a control circuit that controls the drive circuit so that the drive circuit periodically reverses a polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes, and
• in a period from one voltage polarity reversal to a next voltage polarity reversal, operates, from when the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrode is reversed until a predetermined period elapses, in a first current mode in which a value of a current flowing between the electrodes equals a first value and operates thereafter in a second current mode in which a value of the current flowing between the electrodes equals a second current value which is smaller than the first current value.