6 tips for washing your laundry without blowing up your energy bill

With energy prices rising, it is important to know the right steps to wash your laundry economically.

When you lean over the washing machine, are you one of those people who just throws everything in the porthole and lets a random program run? It’s better to learn to use the correct wash cycle on your washing machinepour save energy.

Which washing cycle should I choose to save energy?

How to use your washing machine properlyit is also important to take good care of your clothes. The right washing cycle means clothes that are both clean and well-maintained, and which will therefore last longer. The environmental impact of our clothes also comes from washing: “ Laundry care represents up to 40% of the environmental impact over the lifespan of a textile “, we learn from GINETEX, the International Textile Care Labeling Group. This group released a study on September 12 on the impact of washing cycles on the electrical energy consumption. We summarize the main points for you.

The essential setting: the washing temperature

One of the most important points for saving energy is the choice of the washing temperature. There is no need to wash at more than 40°C unless the laundry is very dirty, because heating the water requires very high energy consumption. A wash at 90°C – the hottest programme offered by washing machines and reserved for very dirty cotton laundry in particular – consumes more than double the energy of a wash at 40°C. “, the study says.

Moderately soiled laundry can be washed at 30 or 40°C. Choose a wash at 30°C instead of 40°C allows you to reduce your energy consumption by 30%!

GINETEX is responsible for affixing care labels to clothing. It states that ” The care symbols indicate the maximum treatment capacities for the care of your textiles ” If the symbol indicates 60°C, we can just as well wash your laundry at 30 or 40°C if it is not very dirty.

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10 tips for washing clothes more economically and ecologically

Use your washing machine properly to consume less

L’prewash option should only be chosen for very dirty laundry, as it unnecessarily increases water and energy consumption if the laundry is only slightly dirty. According to GINETEX, ” It is therefore not necessary to activate (the pre-wash option) for each wash. And for good reason, in addition to an increase in water consumption, this program increases energy consumption by 15 to 20%. ».

On the other hand, it is important to fill your washing machine properlyor at least 7 kg of textiles. A washing machine that operates at half load needs more than double the energy to operate.

It is better to fill your washing machine completely © Rozhnovskaya Tanya

Regarding the programmes courtsthere is debate: according to the study, a rapid program consumes less energy than a normal program, especially if the chosen temperature is low. But according to ADEME, the water is heated more quickly on a programme expressthe energy consumption will therefore be superior.

The ideal is to choose, if our washing machine has one, a programme ECOand run your washing machine during off-peak hours. Off-peak hours, which are generally between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (differs depending on the supplier and where you live), will allow you to pay less for your energy consumption.

Finally, the number of spin revolutions has little influence on the energy consumption ; on the other hand, a fast spin will allow the laundry to dry more quickly. A slow spin cycle is only chosen for delicate fabrics, such as wool.

An important eco-friendly gesture is not to use a tumble dryer, or a drying program integrated into your washing machine. tumble dryer is one of the most energy-intensive household appliances. The sun and wind are your best allies for dry your laundry in an eco-friendly way and economical.

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