Most of the energy consumed by your washing machine is used just to warm the water. If you usually use hot water for your washing you can drop your energy consumption in half by choosing warm water, and up to 90% if you choose cold. That leads to significant reductions in global warming pollutants that are created either directly in your house by your oil or natural gas water heater or by the power plant that supplies your electric water heater.
Even the fashion industry is figuring out that cold water washing is better for the climate and cleans your clothes just as well. Marks & Spencer, a leading British retailer, actually commissioned research on their clothing and discovered that 70% of the items could be washed at lower temperatures with the same result. The drop, from 104°F to 86°F, would save 40% of the energy in a load, and the company is relabeling the clothes to encourage customers to take the plunge.
Some tips to help you make the switch to washing in cold.
- Select cold wash/cold rinse. Cold water should get the job done unless you're dealing with greasy stains. Washing in cold will help the colors last longer and keeps the fabrics stronger.
- Fill it up. Now that you're only using energy to run the agitator, get the most out of each load. If not doing a full load, reduce water use by setting the load size properly.
- Soap up. Your regular detergent may work fine; run a load and check. If not, there are special detergents formulated for cold water.
- Check the label. If it's time for a new washer, look for a front loader with the Energy Star label. These use half the energy and water of traditional top loaders, and field tests show they clean clothes better.
- Outwit your laundry. If you've got a real mess, spot treatment or presoaking should beat the problem without getting you in hot water. If that fails, try using warm water instead of hot - this will still reduce energy use by half, and will likely do the trick.
- Hang out with your laundry. Energy Star does not rank dryers because they tend to be similar in energy consumption, that is, they all use a lot. If you can't avoid the dryer, choose one that runs on natural gas rather than electricity. Clean the lint filter after every load to improve efficiency. Use the moisture sensor and dry heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes. Also check the vent regularly -- replacing an entire house that’s been lost to a vent fire is very carbon intensive. Line drying is another great alternative. It costs nothing, your clothes last longer and you get a little stretching and outside time. The sun also disinfects, and absolutely nothing beats that line dried smell. A few tips: Got lint? Wrinkles? Hate the stiffness of terry-cloth? Put these problems in the dryer for just 5 minutes before you hang. Sunlight can fade bright colors, so hang sensitive clothes inside out. But one thing at a time, eh? If you're just getting started with climate pledges, begin with washing in cold and check out Sophie Muller's short film, Sunny Day:
- Never mind. Some icky things you just don't wash in cold. Enough said.
