Washing machines use a lot of energy and can add significantly to your annual electricity bill. Fortunately, there are ways to cut costs.
Washing machines are one of the most frequently used electrical appliances in the home. They consume a lot of energy and can add significantly to your electricity bill.
However, there is a “secret” button that many people may not know about that can help cut your electricity bill significantly. That is the temperature control button. Depending on the washing machine model, the temperature control button will be in different positions but is extremely easy to find.
Recently, Ms. Beth (living in the UK) shared an energy-saving trick for washing machines on social networks. The mother of two said that most washing machines are automatically set to wash with 40-degree hot water. This will consume more energy than normal cold water washing. However, many people often forget to adjust it, put the clothes in the washing machine and press start.
So, Beth recommends pressing the button to reduce the temperature to just 20 degrees. Reducing the temperature of the washing program from 40 degrees to 20 degrees can reduce operating costs by an average of 62%.
The electrical company explains: “This is because the washing machine needs to use less energy to heat the water and reduce the temperature.” This also does not affect the quality of the wash because most current detergents can disinfect and remove dirt at low temperatures.
According to cleaning experts, 20 degrees is the appropriate temperature for washing clothes. “When it comes to your energy bill, a regular wash cycle can be a huge energy hog,” the experts explain. “Choosing a cold wash can significantly reduce this cost. Switching from a 40C to a 20C cycle can save up to 62%.”
What’s more, cold washes are better for the environment, helping to prevent clothes from shrinking. So you can also turn off the heating function on your washing machine (if possible).
However, for baby clothes, bed sheets and towels, you should wash them in hot water to ensure all bacteria are killed in the process.
Washing machines usually have at least 3 water levels for each washing cycle. When the amount of clothes is small, you should use a low water level, when the amount of clothes is large, you should choose a water level that is just enough to wash.
Choosing the right water level not only saves water but also helps reduce washing time, thereby helping to save electricity and water effectively.
With a small amount of clothes, you should only use a light wash cycle, with the lowest water level. For a larger amount of clothes, you can estimate yourself to choose the appropriate washing cycle, you should not choose unnecessarily long washing cycles.
However, with things like bed sheets, blankets, bags, … a strong wash cycle, a long time is necessary. At this time, do not save but choose a light wash, quick wash or the cleaning will not be effective.
