Run a cold water wash: According to ENERGY STAR, your washer uses about 90% of its energy to heat water. Switching your temperature settings from hot to warm can cut energy consumption in half — and shifting from warm to cold can save even more.
The cheapest setting on a washing machine is usually the Eco wash program, also called the Saver wash.
Eco wash is the most cost-effective cycle type in your washing machine. However, it is not necessarily better than the very similar quick wash cycle type. Though quick wash may cost more to use, it's quick and efficient for those with busy lifestyles!
An eco cycle saves energy by using a lower water temperature. But by decreasing temperature, the washing machine will need more time to effectively clean your clothes, as it'll need to move your clothes around the drum for longer to remove stains.
Wash clothes on the shortest cycle (e.g. "quick wash") that's practical for your needs. This means less water, heated to a lower temperature and a shorter spin cycle to save water and energy. Bonus: a quick cycle will cause less damage to your clothes over time so help them last longer.
Select the temperature based on the contents of the load: for whites, select hot water; for colors, select cool or warm. Keep in mind that cotton and synthetic towels of any color will get the cleanest when washed in warm to hot water.
Generally, cold wash cycles are fine for all clothes including delicates and colored clothing. Warm water should be used for clothes that are more soiled and for whites, and hot water for very soiled clothing or items that need to be kept clean, like underwear and towels.
A laundry cycle's length determines how much energy it uses. Opting for a shorter cycle can save power without any noticeable difference. Try options such as “quick wash” and increased speeds such as “rapid”, especially for smaller loads, and save time while you're saving energy.
A delicate wash cycle (or “delicates”) is the washing machine equivalent to handwashing. The difference between the hand wash vs delicate cycle is that this setting uses cold water with low agitation with a slow spin and is the shortest, gentlest cleaning cycle.
Delicate cycle: perfect for your sensitive fabrics, preventing shrinking and material breakdown. Cotton cycle: Permanent Press/Synthetics cycle for fabrics requiring normal agitation but a slower spin cycle to avoid wrinkling. Bedding/Bulky/Heavy cycle: designed for heavily soiled laundry such as beddings or towels.
The cons of a quick wash setting
It's not the cycle to use if you're washing baby clothes or want to sanitize bed sheets. The quick wash setting generally can't wash above 40 degrees Celsius so it won't kill germs or viruses. It's also not a thorough wash, so it won't help remove any heavy-set stains.
Intense or Deep Clean: Depending on the type of machine, intensive washing can take anywhere from 2.5 hours to 4 hours because it requires water to be heated to 90 degrees Celsius and the clothes to remain in the water for an extended period of time.
A regular cycle is best for sturdy and dirty clothes, while the permanent press setting is fine for the average load. Use the delicate cycle for lacy and loosely woven fabrics. Use hot water for white loads, warm water for the average load, and cold water for bright colors.
Quick cycles on washing machines may not be as green or financially prudent as previously thought, Which? has said. A study of 10 washing machines by the consumer watchdog found the average cost of a standard cycle to be 18p, while quick cycles cost around 9p.
By using less energy, a quick wash will also save you money. But a quick wash isn't the best option if you need to wash stained clothes. The temperature is too low to lift a stain properly, so always use a full wash for more heavily soiled garments.
In some instances, yes. However, a 30-minute wash is enough for your clothes depends on a few factors: Soil Level: Heavily soiled clothes from exercise, outdoor work, or greasy messes likely won't get fully clean in a 30-minute cycle. These clothes require a longer, more thorough wash at a higher temperature.
Eco mode is great for your average wash if you've got the time. But if you've got some seriously dirty laundry piling up, you might need to think again. That lower temperature might not be enough to tackle really tough stains. The same goes for larger-than-average loads.
Go for 30°C cycle
Washing clothes at 30°C uses up to 40% less energy than washing at higher temperatures and is ideal for lightly soiled loads.
Cold water washing setting
Experts state that washing with a cold cycle can save you more than 80 per cent of your energy consumption and cost. Hot-water cycles use a lot of energy because most of the energy is used simply to heat the water up. Therefore, colder water cycles are advised to be used as much as possible.
If you have a 2100W (2.1 kW) washing machine and you run it for an hour, it'll use 2.1kWh of electricity in that hour. If electricity costs 34p per unit, multiply 2.1kWh by 34p and you get a grand total of 71p.
The Power Steam program is perfect for lightly soiled cotton, synthetic, and mixed fabrics items, effectively removing stains. The SpinDry/Rinse program rinses your load and spins it dry without detergent.
Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle. A sanitizing cycle can also be used, but may not be recommended for every wash, depending on the towel fabric.
A second rinse bath produces a much cleaner final product by rinsing off the soil that is redeposited during the first rinse. Often times, the second rinse tank includes a heated facility water inlet which constantly overflows the second rinse tank with small amounts of water to ensure water cleanliness.