The cost of utilities rises every year. In order not to overpay for water and electricity, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the rules of economical washing. They allow you to reduce the costs associated with a washing machine by 2–5 times!
Use low temperatures
Washing at 30 degrees, the washing machine consumes 4 times less electricity than at a temperature of 60 degrees. Most of the resources are spent precisely on heating water. Therefore, in order to save money, it is advisable to wash at 30–40 degrees. Contrary to fears, such washing is quite effective: many modern powders work well in cold water (see packaging). And fabrics in cool water are less washed and retain their original appearance longer.
Discard pre-soak, delayed start and drying
Additional features of the washing machine increase energy and water consumption. You can save if you soak the laundry in a basin, and use the forces of nature (air and sun) or the heat of the battery for drying.
Not all types of fabrics tolerate electrical drying well. Therefore, the rejection of it is quite advisable.
The amount of laundry you load is important.
The automatic machine, as a rule, spends the same amount of water and electricity with different drum load. It doesn't matter if you loaded a couple of T-shirts or stuffed a drum to capacity.
Experts say that to save money and efficient washing, you need to load the washing machine at 70-80%. So linen is better to wash off, and you will have to wash less often (respectively, and consumption is less).
What about the powder?
A large amount of detergent leads to an excess of foam. As a result, the machine drains and draws water more times. The use of powder for hand washing and laundry soap leads to the same effect. Even in a minimal amount, they give a lot of foam, because they do not contain antifoam agents.
For an economical washing, it is important to dose the detergent correctly and use special detergents, not folk ones.
Connection of a two- or three-zone tariff
Most Russians continue to use a single electricity tariff. However, it is much more profitable to change it to a two- or three-zone one. In this case, the cost of the services provided will differ significantly depending on the time of day. Washing in the interval from 23 hours to 7 in the morning, you will pay for electricity less than 2-3 times. At the same time, you can load the dishwasher, use other electrical appliances. The only difficulty is that first you have to spend money on a modern electric meter.
Special equipment and modes
All washing machines have a certain class of power consumption. Automata of class A +++ are considered the most economical. They consume less than 0.13 kW / kg per hour of washing. A ++ class cars consume 0.15 kW, A + - 0.17 kW, A - 0.17 - 0.19 kW, B - 0.19 - 0.23 kW. And so on the rise, up to the consumption of 0.39 kW per hour for class G washing machines. If you plan to buy a machine in the near future, pay special attention to the energy class.
In addition, almost all modern machines have the program “Economic washing”. In this mode, the machine consumes a minimum of water and electricity. Things are washed in cool water, and the drum spins less and less. Similar programs: “Quick wash”, “Fast mode”, “Fast 30”.
Eco-washing and economical washing are not the same thing. The eco icon means green. It combines intensive washing and biophase, lasts an order of magnitude longer and consumes a lot of electricity.
Remove the wire from the outlet
Not everyone knows that unused household appliances continue to consume electricity in standby mode. The washing machine slowly but surely turns the counter while you work and sleep. A rather noticeable amount is running over the year. There is only one way to stop a leak - to unplug the machine’s cord from the outlet after completing the washing cycle.
When do you need to save?
In some cases, economical washing can be hazardous to health. The fact is that with a minimum amount of powder, water and low temperatures, bacteria and viruses are not removed from clothing.
Do not save on washing if:
- households suffer from SARS, the flu, or other acute infection;
- family members have chronic diseases transmitted by contact;
- the body has long non-healing wounds;
- you need to wash things baby, bedridden patient or a person with AIDS.
The last three groups of individuals have poor resistance to bacteria, fungi and viruses. They easily cling to diseases, the course of which is severe. Therefore, clothes and bedding for them are carefully processed using high temperatures during washing.
Thrifty owners, observing all the rules described above, significantly reduce the consumption of water and electricity. If you purchase a special washing machine of class A +++ and choose the “Economic washing” mode, you don’t have to think about saving at all. Technique will save for you. However, in an effort to save, it is important not to overdo it. Heavily dirty linen, clothes of patients need to be washed in suitable modes. Otherwise, problems may arise that require even greater material investments (infection of households, the need for re-washing, etc.).
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