Clothes Washer & Dryer

Here's a list of tips to help clean your clothes without cleaning out your bank account.

Washer
Run full loads whenever possible but don’t overload the machines.

Wash your clothes in cold or warm water. A whopping 85-90% of the energy used by washing machines is for heating the water! You can save a lot of energy by lowering the water temperature.

Always use cold water for the RINSE cycle. Using warm or hot water for the RINSE cycle does not get your clothes any cleaner.

Try using cold or warm water for the WASH cycle, instead of hot water. Hot water shrinks and fades your clothes, and wears them out more quickly.

Dryer
Make sure clothes are effectively wrung before putting them in the dryer. (Front-loading washers are the best at squeezing the water out!)

Separate loads into heavy, medium and lightweight items – lighter loads will take less drying time than a mixture of items.

Dry consecutive loads to utilize otherwise wasted heat from the dryer.

Clean the lint filter after every load. (A clogged lint filter can increase energy use up to 30%, and may be a fire hazard!)

Get some fresh air! Consider using a clothesline to dry your laundry.

Energy Facts
The EnerGuide label is required on all new electrical major home appliances sold in Canada. It lets you compare the energy efficiency of appliances you’re considering. Check the EnerGuide labels when you shop for appliances – the lower the kilowatt/hour number shown, the more energy-efficient the appliance.

LOOKING TO BUY A NEW CLOTHES WASHER?
Front-loading clothes washers cost a little more than conventional washing machines, but they use roughly half the water per load, and are more effective at squeezing the water out of the clothes – which lowers the electricity costs for drying them! Also, clothes washed in front-loading washers last longer because they are gently tumbled rather than twisted around an agitator.

Invest a little more for an ENERGY STAR®-qualified clothes washer, which uses 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load than the average conventional clothes washer. The savings on your energy bill will add up quickly.