Saving Energy when Washing Clothes

When you wash your clothes it makes sense that it costs money—you need to heat the water for the washer and you need to operate the machinery that makes up the washing machine. Plus, there's the cost of the water itself. Wouldn't it be great to cut back on what it costs to wash your clothes? Here are a few tips that may help:

• Washing machines that heat their own water (as opposed to being connected to cold water only) generally use greater amounts of energy than those connected to an off-peak electric or gas hot-water service.
• If you overload or add too much detergent to your machine it will not work as efficiently as it should. Always use the guidelines that came with your machine for the most cost effective wash.
• Try to restrict the number of times you use the washing machine by waiting until you have a full load. If you need to wash a partial load, adjust the water level on the machine's control panel accordingly.
• Try to minimize the number of hot-water loads you do. The hot water uses more energy and if you can cut back on how much hot water you use you'll be doing yourself a favor.
• Washing machines that are front loading can be up to 15% more efficient than top-loading machines. These machines, in general, operate with lower water consumption and have a high speed spin dry and a gentle washing action.

If you are looking for ways to be frugal and to help the environment at the same time, look for ways that you can save money when washing your clothes. Keeping an eye out for these money- and energy-saving opportunities will do you a huge favor. These are pretty simply tips, but if followed they can make a big difference, both environmentally and financially.