Saving water in your Laundry Room
Washing laundry accounts for 15% to 30% of the overall water use inside the typical household of 4 persons. The average American family washes approximately 300+ loads of laundry each year.
- Wash only full loads in the clothes washer. Washing small loads can use twice as much water per pound of laundry.
Water saved: up to 20 gallons per load. - When buying a new clothes washer, consider purchasing a water-saving model.
Water saved: up to 40 gallons per load.
Water Factor
Clothes washers come a variety of sizes and capacities, the water efficiency of clothes washers is rated using the term “Water Factor” to accurately compare water use. The Water Factor (WF) is measured by the quantity of water (gallons) used to wash each cubic foot of laundry.
Older Washers
An old school washer will use approximately 40 to 45 gallons of water per load and have a water factor of 10 or higher. A family of four using a standard clothes washer will generate more than 300 loads per year, consuming 12,000 gallons of water annually.
High Efficiency Washers
New, High-Efficiency Washers (HEW) (front loading or top loading machines are available) can use 14 to 25 gallons of water per load and will have a water factor of 8 or less. Replacing an old and inefficient clothes washer can reduce this water use by more than 6,000 gallons per year, save energy, clean the clothes better, and reduce fabric wear.
These new machines are proven to be more effective in cleaning the clothes with less water, and are gentler on the fabric when compared to old-school vertical axis washers.
Additional benefits of lower water use are: less laundry detergent is required; and less water needs to be heated resulting in energy conservation. Most high-efficiency washers use only 15 to 30 gallons of water to wash the same amount of clothes as older washers 29 to 45 gallons per load. The most efficient washers use less than 5 gallons per cubic foot of capacity.
HEW machines are extremely cost-effective because they Save Money on electricity bills, water bills, & laundry detergent.
List of High-Efficiency Washer Brands
- Amana High-Efficiency Washers
- Asko High-Efficiency Washers
- Crosley High-Efficiency Washers
- Daewoo High-Efficiency Washers
- Dongbu Daewoo High-Efficiency Washers
- Electrolux High-Efficiency Washers
- Fisher & Paykel High-Efficiency Washers
- Frigidair High-Efficiency Washers
- GE High-Efficiency Washers
- Haier High-Efficiency Washers
- Kenmore High-Efficiency Washers
- LG High-Efficiency Washers
- Maytag High-Efficiency Washers
- Samsung High-Efficiency Washers
- Westinghouse High-Efficiency Washers
- Whirlpool High-Efficiency Washers
List High-Efficiency Washing Machines (PDF)
A couple of interesting alternatives to the standard Clothes washer that could be considered for small loads:
Wonderwash
- Hand-crank unit washes a 5-lb. load super clean in just a couple of minutes.
- Has a patented pressure system that forces detergent into the fabric at high speed for a fast, efficient, economic and very easy wash
- Is ideal for campers, single persons and even for the families with small frequent loads like hand washables and diapers.
- Is ideal for dedicates such as woolens, silks, knitted dresses and cashmere garments.
- Uses far less water than even hand washing and no electricity.
The Laundry POD
The Laundry POD is a portable washer designed for washing small loads of laundry using a minimal amount of water and ZERO electricity. Winner of the Best Greener Gadget award and Top Global Innovation GIA award! The Laundry POD features a manually operated spinning system for washing your garments and then extracting the water for the shortest drying time. It is more convenient than hand washing, and great for washing delicates. Compact enough to be portable, but serious enough to stand up to tough laundry challenges. The Laundry POD is perfect for dorms, apartments, camping or anyone looking to add a little green to their laundry routine. Save money, time and effort while helping the impact. It fits under your sink and into your life indoors and outdoors! The Laundry POD puts a whole new spin on clean.
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