There are two appliances in your home that use a fair amount of water. The dishwasher and washing machine. It’s pretty difficult to use less water in your dishwasher if you live in a busy family home. It’s obvious to see when dishes need cleaning and there aren’t many ways to get around it, especially in a multiple occupancy home where the eco setting is more efficient than hand washing. However, through lots of trial and error, we’ve found that washing machine use can be manipulated a little more.
There are quite a few things you can do to make your habits eco-friendlier. Not just for the planet, but for your bank balance also! While you may disregard the cost of the water for a cycle, the cost of the washing products isn’t the cheapest! So, check out our top five tips below and save money while reducing your impact on the environment.
Top tip 1: Check how often your items need washing
It’s far too easy to wear an item of clothing once and then throw it into the wash. It might be something that you find your kids doing all too often, creating an unnecessary workload for you and your washing machine. Reducing the number of cycles you do in a week by wearing your clothes more, is a fantastic way to save a few extra pennies and water.
How often you should wash your:
- Jeans – Every three weeks
- Jumpers/Hoodies – Minimum five wears
- T-shirts – One or two wears depending on how much you sweat
- Bras – Minimum three wears
- Bedding – Every seven days
- Towels – Minimum five uses
Of course, there are items not on this list. Your underwear should be washed after every use. The same can be said for your socks. There will be other items like workout gear that fall into this category, for example, wearing a jacket to run in will mean you cannot get five wears out of it. There is a judgement call to be made sometimes. However, sticking to these as a general rule will quickly see your washing load tally significantly decrease.
Top tip 2: Using the right cycles for the right items
When to use a short wash
You might be surprised to learn that a shorter and colder wash is more than suitable for 80% of your laundry loads. Every cycle on your washing machine has a purpose but it is important to know that all are effective. Most of your clothes that need washing will just smell a bit through regular wear. Removing this odour is easily done in a short and cold cycle. So, for your everyday clothing washes, use a short and cool cycle (this may also be known as your eco-cycle).
When to use a longer wash
A muddy day in the fields, going to the gym, or even a sporting event. There are a few times when you will look at your laundry load and just go ‘yuck!.’ That is when your longer washes come in. Your machine will need a little longer to remove the mud, dirt and saturated smells. This doesn’t mean you always need to whack up the temperature of the cycle. Make a judgement call, do you reckon you could get away with a cooler and longer cycle?
When to use a hotter wash
There are only a few times when you’ll need to use a hot cycle. Hot cycles are good for removing bacteria and extremely tough stains. So, if someone in your household is ill, wash their clothes in a hot cycle. Alternatively, if an item has been stained with red wine, a hot cycle can help to remove it. Save your hot cycles for these rare occasions and you’ll be the champion of laundry!
Top tip 3: Using the right products
Tablets, powders, liquids, laundry eggs. There are so many options out there for washing your clothes. All have their own benefits but it’s important to use them correctly. For example, if you use liquids, pour the correct amount, not too much. Too many suds from an overpour requires more water to rinse the clothes clean. You may end up with a soapy mess that requires a rinse cycle (more water!) or a longer cycle to clear it (more energy!).
Top tip 4: Fill your machine
Having a full load is essential for maximising the efficiency of your machine. No energy or water goes to waste when you fill your washing machine. If you are running a ‘whites’ or ‘smelly workout gear’ only wash – wait long enough to ensure your machine is full. If you can’t, try combining washes together. Colour catchers are great for allowing your whites to be washed with other lighter colours such as greys and pastels. If your washing machine isn’t full, hold off until it is.
Top tip 5: Care for your washing machine properly
If your machine doesn’t sufficiently clean your clothes, don’t assume you need a longer and hotter cycle. Clean out the filter and clean the machine using a self-cleaning cycle and product. As with all appliances, they work best when they’re well-cared for. Don’t assume your cycle isn’t powerful enough.
Combine these five tips and you’ll have an eco-friendly washing machine schedule in no time. Save yourself some pennies by delaying the cycle so that your clothes wash during the night. Just be sure to empty it in the morning to save your clothes sitting in a damp machine throughout the day! What’s your favourite washing machine tip that you use to save money, water or energy on your schedule? We’d love to hear them in the comments below to share with other readers!
One Response
I have found several years ago there is no need to use long cycle times on most washes.