Save money, wash clothes in cold water

Your Path to Energy Savings
By Shawn Lindabury and Sharon Anderson, Special to The Ithaca Journal
March 28, 2011

It's easy to save energy and money when doing laundry.  The simplest way is to wash and rinse clothes in cold water.  About 90 percent of the energy used to clean your clothes goes to heating the water.  Just flipping the switch to cold from warm or hot makes a big difference. Washing with hot water uses more electricity than leaving the refrigerator door open 24 hours a day!  For most clothes specially formulated cold-water detergents are equally as effective as regular detergents used with warm water.

When upgrading your washing machine be sure to buy a high efficiency model.  High efficiency front loaders are the best choice for low energy use and water consumption, but usually have a higher upfront cost.  However, the energy savings will easily exceed the additional cost within a few years.  When shopping for any appliance, always look for the energy star label and buy the most efficient model you can afford.

There are also a few simple ways to save energy while drying your clothes.  Be sure you clean the lint filter regularly.  If you have a dryer with a moisture sensor use it to avoid over drying your laundry and running the dryer longer than necessary. Of course, the most efficient drying option is to skip the dryer altogether.  Using a clothesline or drying rack uses no energy at all and leaves clothes smelling fresher than using fabric softeners or drying sheets. 

An added bonus washing in cold water and line drying is your clothes will last longer.  Washing in warmer water fades colors and increases shrinkage.  And next time you remove lint from the dryer, remember that it's actually your clothes in the process of wearing out.

Last Updated: May 25, 2011