Tips and Tricks to Reduce Washing Machine Water Consumption

There’s no avoiding the fact that washing machines are a huge hog on water consumption in most households. In general, washing machines consume anywhere from 80 to 160L of water for a single wash, depending on whether it’s a front-loader or top-loader, whether it’s a newer, more efficient model or an older one, and a variety of other factors. No matter how you look at it, these appliances consume a hefty amount of water, but some measures can be taken to reduce this to more environmentally-friendly levels.

Here are some tips and tricks to reduce washing machine water consumption without having to break out an old board and bucket and scrubbing by hand (unless you’re fond of living the 19th-century lifestyle):

Re-use Linens and Cloths

Many of us already reduce and recycle, but the third R, re-use, is often overlooked in favour of wanting to always have fresh, clean towels and cloths on hand. Bath towels and facecloths can certainly be used more than once before having to be washed; in doing so, your cloths and towels may last a little longer since these are often washed at high temperatures which can gradually wear out the fabric. Conversely, don’t let them kick up an odour and become unsanitary. Just don’t feel that they need to be washed daily.

Wash in Colder Temperatures

The action of converting energy into heat is wasteful and inefficient even in modern hot water tanks. Using hot temperatures for each wash uses a lot of hot water and thus will end up costing more in the long run. Hot temperatures are ideal for killing bacteria, so use it for underpants and towels, for example, but opt for below 30-degree washes whenever possible for shirts and trousers.

Handwash Delicates

There’s often an option on most modern washing machines for delicates, but even with these settings turned on many sensitive garments can become worn out or damaged. Designer shirts and more luxurious fabrics often have written on their tags not to be put in the wash, yet many people ignore these tags and throw it in the washing machine anyway. Conserve your delicates for longer by handwashing them in a washbasin and scrubbing by hand.

Use the Correct Load Size

Organising a load of laundry doesn’t need to be a puzzle, but it’s helpful to be considerate of load sizes whilst doing the laundry. Too large or too small a load is inefficient. The former may result in improper cleaning, meaning you’ll have to throw them in for another round. The latter uses about a hundred litres of water to clean a few garments. Instead, do a load whenever you’ve got a good-sized load and avoid too large or too small a load.

Check for Leaks

Washing machines circulate a lot of water in and out for each load, so naturally the pipes can become worn out or damaged over time. Check for leaks directly around the machine from time to time (often, it’ll be obvious via leaking, but sometimes not) to ensure that you aren’t wasting even more water than necessary.

Domestic Appliance Repair

Water consumption is a big issue in today’s environmentally-sensitive climate. If you suspect that your washing machine is in need of repair due to a leak or for any other reason, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Domestic Appliance Repair to get it back up and running efficiently so that you can save water, time, and money.

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