Dirty Clothes Need To Be Washed Efficiently

Manggala oli veesum...deepavali nal valthukkal~

How is everyone's weekend? I am sure it's much better than the previous day. In my hometown in Singapore, this is the season which we celebrate Diwali, a Hindu celebration of light & prosperity in the new Hindu calendar year. I have actually enjoyed the vast riches of our multi-racial environment, where people from all religions celebrate and pray for each other's health & well-being. I get to enjoy the Indian's delicacies such as Tosai, Chapati, etc. and the fire-crackers during the night.

During my visit to one of my Hindu friends, I saw them pouring colorful powders and it got stuck to my clothes. When I asked them out of curiosity, they said that it was a shower of love (friendship or relationship). So there was I, sitting and enjoying a sumptuous Indian meal, with my once-white colored shirt turned into colorful ones, I started looking at them and was thinking: Wow they surely need a big washing machine to wash all those clothes. That got me question myself, is there any ways to do it efficiently? Well, there are some washing machines out there that's energy efficient but what I would like to share is how we can do it differently to save on the energy bills.

How To Save Energy In The Laundry Room

Ninety-percent of the cost of running a washer goes to heating water. Only 10% goes to electricity which is needed to run the motor. Here’s how to save money while getting your clothes clean.

Use cold water. You can save a bundle by washing your clothes in cold water, which is a perfectly efficient way to clean most clothes. Washing a load in cold water costs only about 4 cents, compared to washing in hot/warm water for 68 cents. Annually, you’ll save $40 with an electric water heater and $30 with a gas water heater. 

Run full loads. It takes as much electricity to wash a small load as it does a full one, so you’ll save money by only washing full loads. 

Buy a front-loading machine. They use two-thirds less water than top-loaders, reducing water and heating costs. 

Spin faster. The faster you spin clothes in the washer, the less time they’ll need in the dryer. If you have the option, chose a faster spin cycle.

Clean lint filters. Remove lint after every load, and clean ducts annually. Your clothes will dry faster, using less energy.

Warm it up. If possible, locate your washer in a warm laundry room rather than in a cold basement. The warmer the air coming into the washer, the less energy your machine will use to heat it up.

Go gas. Drying a load of laundry in a gas dryer generally costs 15 to 33 cents less per load than an electric dryer (32 to 41 cents).

Let nature help out. When the weather is warm, cut your energy costs by drying clothes outside on a clothesline.

Update your machine. And lastly, if you don’t already have an Energy Star-certified washer, it’s time to get one. These energy-efficient machines use 15 gallons of water per load, compared to 23 gallons for a standard machine. If a gallon of water costs you a cents (the Malaysia average), you’ll save $24 a year.

Choosing A Washing Machine

So if you are still planning to make a purchase on a new washing machine, might as well buy an energy efficient with the energy star label on it. It shows the annual energy savings that you can enjoy while using your new equipment.

Washing machines are rated for both energy efficiency and water efficiency. This information is represented on separate energy rating and water efficiency labels. If you’re looking to improve your household’s energy efficiency, purchase a washing machine with at least a 3.5 star energy rating and higher. The following tips can also help you to choose a more energy efficient model.

• Look for washing machines that have a cold water wash cycle. Many people now use the cold wash cycle for the majority of their washing, as this can reduce washing machine energy use by up to 80%.
• Consider a front loader washing machine, as they use roughly 50% less water than top loaders and are generally more energy efficient.
• Choose a washing machine with both hot and cold water connections. This means that the washing machine will import hot water from your water heater rather than heating it in the washing machine, which is more cost effective if you have a gas, off-peak electric or solar water heater.
• Look for models with load sensing technology, as these can adjust the amount of water they use to suit your load size.
• Look for models with a programmable timer or delay start function, especially if you are on a flexible electricity tariff, to enable you to run the machine at cheaper off-peak rates.

I hope that the information that I'd shared in this article will help you make some savings in your energy bills. After all, we are responsible for our future and Mother Earth.