As we continue to service the Greater Toronto Area for all of its appliance maintenance and repair needs, our expert repair technicians are finding that more and more homeowners have switched to high efficiency, front-loading washing machines. There’s been a significant push for greener machines that reduce our reliance on water and energy; but this trend hasn’t reached every home yet, as many homeowners find themselves stuck with old machines that they’ve inherited from the previous owners. Their budget makes it so that they can’t update their appliances to Energy Star grade machines, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to lose out on the benefits of an eco-friendly laundry routine. We want to make it easy for any homeowner to make their washing machine and dryer as green as possible, regardless of how old their machines are.
If you have a top-loading washing machine, there’s no way around the amount of water that it uses per load. These machines will typically use roughly double that of an Energy Star machine for the exact same sized load of laundry. But you can maximize your usage by ensuring you only ever wash your clothes in complete loads. If your machine gives you the option of selecting a load size, use it accordingly. Don’t use the largest setting for a small load. Set your machine to a smaller size whenever you can’t completely fill the machine’s basin, and you’ll save what you can on water. You’ll also save energy if you apply this rule to your dryer. Use your settings carefully, adjusting the time and heat according to the size and thickness of your clothes.
While many people think it’s necessary to wash their laundry in hot or warm water in order to achieve the fresh and clean smelling clothes they want, it’s no longer a requirement. It’s a good thing, too, as a massive amount of energy is wasted in heating the water to higher temperatures. Many detergents are now being made for cold water washing, so you can still clean your clothes in cold water. Simply take an extra minute in the laundry detergent aisle to locate soaps that have been specially formulated for cold water cycles.
While you’re reading the fine print on the labels, you’ll want to keep a look out for eco-friendly tags. Many of the commercial laundry detergents contain enzymes and chemicals that can put strain on your local ecosystem. If you’re particularly crafty, you can make your own detergent and stain remover by using common household items. Salt, vinegar, and baking soda can be used to combat the marks left behind by the big names in clothing stains. Leftover tomatoes, wine, mustard, and grease can be removed if you apply vinegar to them for at least 10 minutes before your clothes see the inside of your washer. If these are fresh stains you’re working with, baking soda or salt can be used to absorb the moisture before you apply vinegar.
Though it’s winter now, remember that you can hang your laundry to dry during the warmer weather. A lot of energy goes into heating clothing, so when you skip this step entirely, you’ll be saving a considerable amount of electricity. It also has the added benefit of being gentler on your clothes, which means your favourite shirt will last longer.
With these tips in mind, even those homeowners with the oldest machines can create green change in their lives. Our advice, however, relies on a fully operational washing machine and dryer, so it’s important to keep your appliances in full repair by keeping up to date with their maintenance. Give our expert washing machine repair technicians a call to make sure your appliances are in good running order. More importantly, they’ll be the professionals to call if ever your washing machine or dryer is acting up. With fast, efficient, and affordable same day repair, we can keep your laundry machines as eco-friendly as possible.
