There are fewer more certain ways to generate a teenager’s eye-roll than telling them just how excited you are about your new washing machine. I recently bought a new Samsung EcoBubble washing machine and it makes me unreasonably happy. Mostly because it has this little door that allows you to add things after the wash started. Honestly its life changing!
That got me thinking about all the other really clever innovations that are now out there; ones with broader reaching implications than the ability to add a dropped sock.
According to Which? The average UK household spends over £160 a year on energy & detergents for laundry every year and that before the recent price hikes.
Energy Rating System
The energy rating systems for electrical appliances in the UK was updated in 2021; it was over 20 years old. Under the old scheme appliances were rates A-D but as machines improved, more and more ended up rated A or A++ and it was hard to really differentiate. The new scheme goes from A-G and the criteria are stricter. So, it is much harder for brands to get an A rating; meaning the ones that do really deserve it.
To put that in my context my Samsung EcoBubble (now B rated)washing will cost 21p per cycle to run but an F rated machine will cost 32p – a staggering 52% difference. The ecological impact is a saving of 70kw of energy and 2300 litres of water per year per household. Spread that over the 28million households in the UK and that’s over 6 billion litres of water a year!Nearly twice the amount in the Mediterranean.
Washers
All utilities are currently on the up so being aware of the energy & water usage rates for machines is more important than ever. When buying a washing machine, it is important to look at both the electricity usage and the water efficiency. With water look for the average usage per cycle and also for an eco-water option; these can use up to 60% less water. Also look at the cycle options. There are lots of things that only need a quick wash to refresh them. The higher the spin speed the faster the clothes will dry, a key consideration if you are using a tumble dryer.
Running a machine ½ full is not an environmentally option.However, some machines have ½ load options or Fuzzy Logic. Fuzzy logic is where the machine works outs how much washing has been loaded and adjusts the water levels accordingly. Some machines can even detect the fabric type, soil level and water hardness in addition to just the weight of the load and adjust accordingly. That reduces waste first time and makes it less likely you’ll need to rewash items.
Key tips without changing machines:
· On average, switching from 40°C to 30°C saved 38% energy, and going down to 20°Csaved 62%.
· Try to always wash a full (not stuffed) load
· Do the sniff test – does it really need washing?
Finally, it is worth thinking about the noise levels,especially if you are working from home.
Really Clever Features
The internet of things has taken the geek world by storm. Personally,I can’t see why I need to control my washing machine remotely. If I forgot to switch it on, I can do it later. I am much more likely to have forgotten to put the clothes in the machine. They haven’t yet invented a machine that goes and collects the washing off the teenagers’ bedroom floor – when they do, I’ll be the first there.
Until then these are the innovations that I think are truly useful:
· Steam Cleaning – Steam increases the heat in the machine which helps the fibres to relax, releasing stains and pet hairs much more efficiently. Its also kills viruses. A key consideration in the covid age.Clothes are also easier to iron – both an environmental and mental health benefit. In my case also good for my liver – I can’t iron without glass of wine.
· ActiveOxygen (Bosch) - remove germs and bacteria without chemicals
· AddWash (Samsung) - add more clothes during a cycle (see note above – truly genius!)
· TwinWash (LG) - wash two loads at the same time. No idea how this alchemy works – I have read the blurb and it still makes no sense to me but work it does. John Lewis will know more.
· TurboWash (LG) - jet spray system. Sprays the water into the clothes rather than filling up the machine. Reduces both water use and time.
· Automaticload recognition (Miele) - the washer will determine how much washing is inside a load and how much water and energy is needed.
Dryer Options
Whilst washing machines are essential to modern life; dryer shave always been more ecologically questionable; clothes will dry on their own.Tumble dryers use a lot of electricity and aren’t the best for your clothes.However, there are lots of alternatives. Lakeland has a particularly impressive range of racks. From your standard stand up driers to deluxe three tier heated ones complete with covers. They benefit is that they are very cheap torun (6p an hour) and kinder to your clothes but you do need the space for them.The reviews are impressive.
Let’s not forget the good old washing line. I have a tiny garden, but the retractable ones mean that it is unnoticeable when not in use .Lakeland, Dunelm, Argos and Robert Dyas all have a good range.
When it comes to tumble dryers the energy efficiency level has changed surprisingly little over the past 20 years. Only replace them if you absolutely have to.
Most new models have sensor technology. The sensors detect the amount of moisture and automatically tailor the program and length of the cycle accordingly. Thus, reducing drying times,offering greater energy efficiency and saving time.
There are three basic types – vented(takes the water outside via a tube), condenser (collect the condensed water)and heat pump which evaporate the water in the drum. The latter are the most efficient but also the most expensive to buy.
Key tips without changing machines:
· Place the machine in a warmer room. Dryers in garages etc use a lot more energy
· Maintain the dryer – clean the filters regularly. This is also important for safety.
· Set the washing machine spin cycle at the top end.
· If you are ironing things,don’t dry them fully.
Repair or Replace
Always a tough call but we should all aim to repair more often than we do. The age when people were happy to treat electricals as disposable is changing. We all need to think carefully before we decide to go out and buy new. Employing a repair person not only saves waste, it also supports your local economy. The repairer is likely to live close to you. A new machine will have been manufactured overseas.
Worth considering is how much your old machines cost to run.Sustain has a really handy calculator that allows you to work this out:
https://www.sust-it.net/running-costs-of-old-appliances.php
Washing Powders
Which washing powders to use is a big topic in itself. The one thing I would say is most people use far too much of whichever detergents they do use. I use about ½ of the recommended levels and my clothes all come out clean. I also run the machine without any additional detergent a couple of times a month when I am washing lightly soiled items. The clothes are always clean, and it is also good for the machine.
99% of all fabric softener goes straight down the drain. I only use it when I wash towels which means I only use about 2 bottles a year.
Conclusion
Buying a more efficient machine and using less detergent can easily save you £100 per year and help with global warming. I’m taking that£100 to buy some air-enhancing plants that will improve the oxygen levels in my office and bring me joy every day.
There are fewer more certain ways to generate a teenager’s eye-roll than telling them just how excited you are about your new washing machine. I recently bought a new Samsung EcoBubble washing machine and it makes me unreasonably happy. Mostly because it has this little door that allows you to add things after the wash started. Honestly its life changing!
That got me thinking about all the other really clever innovations that are now out there; ones with broader reaching implications than the ability to add a dropped sock.
According to Which? The average UK household spends over £160 a year on energy & detergents for laundry every year and that before the recent price hikes.
Energy Rating System
The energy rating systems for electrical appliances in the UK was updated in 2021; it was over 20 years old. Under the old scheme appliances were rates A-D but as machines improved, more and more ended up rated A or A++ and it was hard to really differentiate. The new scheme goes from A-G and the criteria are stricter. So, it is much harder for brands to get an A rating; meaning the ones that do really deserve it.
To put that in my context my Samsung EcoBubble (now B rated)washing will cost 21p per cycle to run but an F rated machine will cost 32p – a staggering 52% difference. The ecological impact is a saving of 70kw of energy and 2300 litres of water per year per household. Spread that over the 28million households in the UK and that’s over 6 billion litres of water a year!Nearly twice the amount in the Mediterranean.
Washers
All utilities are currently on the up so being aware of the energy & water usage rates for machines is more important than ever. When buying a washing machine, it is important to look at both the electricity usage and the water efficiency. With water look for the average usage per cycle and also for an eco-water option; these can use up to 60% less water. Also look at the cycle options. There are lots of things that only need a quick wash to refresh them. The higher the spin speed the faster the clothes will dry, a key consideration if you are using a tumble dryer.
Running a machine ½ full is not an environmentally option.However, some machines have ½ load options or Fuzzy Logic. Fuzzy logic is where the machine works outs how much washing has been loaded and adjusts the water levels accordingly. Some machines can even detect the fabric type, soil level and water hardness in addition to just the weight of the load and adjust accordingly. That reduces waste first time and makes it less likely you’ll need to rewash items.
Key tips without changing machines:
· On average, switching from 40°C to 30°C saved 38% energy, and going down to 20°Csaved 62%.
· Try to always wash a full (not stuffed) load
· Do the sniff test – does it really need washing?
Finally, it is worth thinking about the noise levels,especially if you are working from home.
Really Clever Features
The internet of things has taken the geek world by storm. Personally,I can’t see why I need to control my washing machine remotely. If I forgot to switch it on, I can do it later. I am much more likely to have forgotten to put the clothes in the machine. They haven’t yet invented a machine that goes and collects the washing off the teenagers’ bedroom floor – when they do, I’ll be the first there.
Until then these are the innovations that I think are truly useful:
· Steam Cleaning – Steam increases the heat in the machine which helps the fibres to relax, releasing stains and pet hairs much more efficiently. Its also kills viruses. A key consideration in the covid age.Clothes are also easier to iron – both an environmental and mental health benefit. In my case also good for my liver – I can’t iron without glass of wine.
· ActiveOxygen (Bosch) - remove germs and bacteria without chemicals
· AddWash (Samsung) - add more clothes during a cycle (see note above – truly genius!)
· TwinWash (LG) - wash two loads at the same time. No idea how this alchemy works – I have read the blurb and it still makes no sense to me but work it does. John Lewis will know more.
· TurboWash (LG) - jet spray system. Sprays the water into the clothes rather than filling up the machine. Reduces both water use and time.
· Automaticload recognition (Miele) - the washer will determine how much washing is inside a load and how much water and energy is needed.
Dryer Options
Whilst washing machines are essential to modern life; dryer shave always been more ecologically questionable; clothes will dry on their own.Tumble dryers use a lot of electricity and aren’t the best for your clothes.However, there are lots of alternatives. Lakeland has a particularly impressive range of racks. From your standard stand up driers to deluxe three tier heated ones complete with covers. They benefit is that they are very cheap torun (6p an hour) and kinder to your clothes but you do need the space for them.The reviews are impressive.
Let’s not forget the good old washing line. I have a tiny garden, but the retractable ones mean that it is unnoticeable when not in use .Lakeland, Dunelm, Argos and Robert Dyas all have a good range.
When it comes to tumble dryers the energy efficiency level has changed surprisingly little over the past 20 years. Only replace them if you absolutely have to.
Most new models have sensor technology. The sensors detect the amount of moisture and automatically tailor the program and length of the cycle accordingly. Thus, reducing drying times,offering greater energy efficiency and saving time.
There are three basic types – vented(takes the water outside via a tube), condenser (collect the condensed water)and heat pump which evaporate the water in the drum. The latter are the most efficient but also the most expensive to buy.
Key tips without changing machines:
· Place the machine in a warmer room. Dryers in garages etc use a lot more energy
· Maintain the dryer – clean the filters regularly. This is also important for safety.
· Set the washing machine spin cycle at the top end.
· If you are ironing things,don’t dry them fully.
Repair or Replace
Always a tough call but we should all aim to repair more often than we do. The age when people were happy to treat electricals as disposable is changing. We all need to think carefully before we decide to go out and buy new. Employing a repair person not only saves waste, it also supports your local economy. The repairer is likely to live close to you. A new machine will have been manufactured overseas.
Worth considering is how much your old machines cost to run.Sustain has a really handy calculator that allows you to work this out:
https://www.sust-it.net/running-costs-of-old-appliances.php
Washing Powders
Which washing powders to use is a big topic in itself. The one thing I would say is most people use far too much of whichever detergents they do use. I use about ½ of the recommended levels and my clothes all come out clean. I also run the machine without any additional detergent a couple of times a month when I am washing lightly soiled items. The clothes are always clean, and it is also good for the machine.
99% of all fabric softener goes straight down the drain. I only use it when I wash towels which means I only use about 2 bottles a year.
Conclusion
Buying a more efficient machine and using less detergent can easily save you £100 per year and help with global warming. I’m taking that£100 to buy some air-enhancing plants that will improve the oxygen levels in my office and bring me joy every day.
