The washing machine is undoubtedly the most “revolutionary” household appliance and the one that has changed our lives the most. What is now an almost automatic habit was once a very heavy and exhausting job.
Now, if there is one critical point of the washing machine, it is its consumption . It is certainly not a “cheap” appliance, even if it is essential. But did you know that it is enough to change a few small habits to save hundreds of euros in water and electricity? We explain how below.
Most people wash almost automatically, without worrying too much about consumption. Load the washing machine, add detergent and fabric softener and start the cycle that is considered most appropriate.
Load the washing machine properly
A half-empty washing machine uses about as much energy as a washing machine full of clothes. It will spend similar amounts of energy moving the drum and heating the water.
For this reason, try to fill the washing machine drum as much as possible, obviously without overloading it.
Don’t put too much detergent
Let’s face it, we don’t pay much attention to the amount of detergent we use for each wash. We just fill the bottle cap up to the mark, and the same thing happens with powder detergents.
Many detergent manufacturers are “generous” when indicating the quantities of product required for a wash cycle. For “normal” cleaning of lightly soiled clothes, even half the quantity of detergent recommended by the manufacturer is sufficient.
By doing so, you will save money on detergents and increase the life of the washing machine.
Use cold water
Many people program the washing machine temperature according to the indications on the labels of the clothes, without knowing that these labels do not indicate the recommended washing temperature, but the maximum.
Unless you are trying to get rid of grease or ink, most stains will come out even with a 30 degree wash or even cold water. Remember that washing machines have their own water heating system, so using cold allows us to save electricity.
Adjust the centrifuge
Spin drying is one of the most energy-intensive processes. Moving kilos of wet laundry until most of the water is removed after several minutes is an intensive process that requires considerable motor power.
However, not all bosses need the same speed. For a wash cycle with light laundry, such as shirts or summer clothes, a spin cycle at 700 revolutions per minute is sufficient.
Washing machine maintenance
We cannot close the article without talking about the basic maintenance of the washing machine. To avoid damage, the washing machine must be cleaned periodically, removing detergent or fabric softener deposits, as well as cleaning the filter, drum and seals.
These are simple operations, which can also be practiced with vinegar and baking soda. Read your washer’s instruction manual to find out how to clean all the parts individually.