Regardless of the type of appliance you have, you should still spread out your loads. Instead of doing several loads in one day, consider doing 1 load per day or space out 2 loads if you must do more in a single day. Also, make sure you're doing full loads to maximize the water use.
Surveys indicate that American households average five loads of laundry per week, with many families doing laundry more than once a day. By comparison, other countries such as France typically average more like three laundry loads each week.
Doing no more than 5 loads of washing per week is optimal for any household to maintain the quality of clothes and machines. It also helps protect the environment. Do not overload the washing machine though. This can result in the clothes not being washed properly and can damage your washing machine.
Most two-person households do three to five loads of laundry a week, so the average two-person household probably does about 15 to 20 loads of laundry a month.
Every two days: hand towels and dish towels. Every three to four times you wear or use them: bath towels, bras, slips, dresses, sweaters, skirts, pajamas, slacks and jeans. Weekly: sheets, pillowcases and bath mats. Monthly: mattress pads, bathrobes and pillow liners.
If you are easily overwhelmed by laundry (like me!) embracing a load of laundry every day is really the way to go. I would rather spend 10 minutes or so folding and putting away a single load every day vs. trying to do the laundry all on one day.
Try washing before 4 p.m. or after 7 p.m. – Many energy companies charge extra for electricity during their “peak hours,” which see increased energy usage. During the summer, run your washer early in the morning – energy use peaks on hot afternoons.
If washing clothes on back to back cycles only happens on the odd occasion you can relax and know there probably won't be any long term damage to your clothing. However, regularly over washing clothes can cause excessive wear and tear by causing fabric to thin, colors to fade and stitching to become weakened.
The average household washes 50 pounds of laundry a week and 6,000 articles of clothing every year! Laundry is something we don't always think about. It's a bit like cleaning the dishes or brushing our teeth.
Low-capacity top-loaders may accommodate only 6 pounds of clothing to be full. Medium-capacity top-loading washing machines can usually tolerate 7–8 pounds. The highest capacity top-loaders might do well with as much as 12–15 pounds. Front-loading washing machines often can hold as much as 18 pounds of clothing.
15 pounds or laundry can include: 3 jeans, 3 pants, 5 shirts, 3 towels, 7 pairs of socks, 4 sweatshirts and 9 pairs of underwear. This is a rough estimate and final weights depend on material and overall weight of each item but should help give you a rough idea.
Always run a full load of laundry
Washers and dryers use about the same amount of electricity to wash a small load as they do a full load. So, it's more efficient to wait to do laundry until you have a full load, but remember -- don't over-stuff your dryer.
As a rule of thumb, 12 pounds of laundry is appropriate for a standard top-load machine. A front-load washer can accommodate as much as 15 to 18 pounds of clothing. An extra-large front load machine can wash 20 to 22 pounds of laundry in one cycle.
Everyday laundry also makes folding, ironing, and hanging easier because you'll only handle a few items at a time. If you have kids who keep changing clothes frequently, everyday laundry is the best option for you since it enables you to keep up with your laundry.
Consider how many loads of washing you need to do per week
If you're not exactly sure on how much washing you do, analyse your washing behaviours over a few weeks before setting your schedule into action. The average family of four does about 8-10 loads of laundry a week.
It is okay to use a washing machine 10-12 times a day. However, if you want to use it again, you must let it rest for at least 40-60 minutes before turning it on again, as, during its run-time, it tends to generate a lot of heat.
Clothing. Wearing clothing while weighing yourself can add up to two pounds—more if you're wearing shoes. Again, this isn't a big deal if you consistently weigh yourself wearing the same thing, but since our clothes vary with our moods and seasons, it's best to go without when you step on the scale.
Each 10-12 pounds equals approximately one standard load of laundry. Our smallest, 16 lb. machines equal 1 load while our 40 lb. machines can handle approximately 4 loads of laundry at one time.
Washing your bed sheets about once a week ensures they always stay fresh. Plan to add this task to your weekly cleaning schedule to help reinforce the habit. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to wash sheets the same day as you strip your bed.
Washing too often can dry and dull hair, while the oil buildup from not washing enough can also lead to odor and flakes.
If you accidentally forget to put laundry detergent into your machine before starting it, washing clothes at high temperatures may remove some water-soluble stains. However, the odour will still remain, and it may even intensify as the clothes dry because you haven't used any agents to remove them.
Winter peak hours are earlier in the morning, between about 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. During these hours, individuals are turning their heat up to warm up their home after the cold night. For this reason, if you choose to wash your laundry later in the day, especially in the evening, it can help you save money.
It won't hurt to leave your clothes in the washer for up to 12 hours. However, according to Mold Busters, bacteria, mildew, and visible mold can grow on clothes in as little as 24 to 48 hours. When bacteria and mold grow unchecked, they create the distinct musty laundry odor we've all come to recognize.
According to superstition originating in Bosnia, washing your clothes on a Tuesday and a Friday brings bad luck and could open a portal to hell! So many drastic consequences to washing your clothes—you can never be too careful apparently!