When using a washing machine, most people make minor errors that result in poorly washed laundry, higher electricity consumption, or a shortened lifespan of the washing machine.
Importance of Washing Machines
Besides refrigerators, it’s hard to imagine any other household appliance more crucial than a washing machine. We all have them in our homes, but few household members know how to use them properly. Even those who do often make mistakes.
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These are oversights that can be easily rectified but lead to inadequately washed laundry, increased electricity consumption, or a shorter lifespan of the washing machine.
Using Too Much Detergent
Using too much detergent is perhaps the most common mistake. Just a bit more for better cleaning – this logic is flawed and won’t result in cleaner laundry. Excess detergent often leaves clothes poorly rinsed, leading to stains on darker fabrics and an overpowering scent. Additionally, inadequately rinsed laundry won’t feel soft to the touch.
Using a bit more detergent makes sense only when washing heavily soiled clothing, such as work attire or sports gear. For everyday items like shirts and sweaters worn once or a few times, the golden rule applies – don’t overdo it with detergent.
Excessive Fabric Softener
The same applies to fabric softener. Excess detergent often triggers confusion. Because clothing comes out rough due to excess detergent, more fabric softener is automatically added. This creates a vicious cycle, easily remedied by carefully reading the instructions on the detergent and fabric softener packaging and using the recommended or even lesser amounts.
In addition to an overpowering scent, excess fabric softener affects fabric absorbency, which is not ideal for towels or cotton shirts and underwear.
Incorrect Water Temperature
Using the wrong water temperature leads to three problems – unnecessary electricity consumption, poorer washing quality, or fabric damage. It doesn’t need much explanation; every garment indicates the recommended washing temperature.
However, this isn’t the temperature at which you must wash but the maximum permissible temperature. Therefore, if clothing isn’t heavily soiled, you can safely choose a lower temperature to save energy.
Pre-Washing Is Usually Unnecessary
In over 90% of cases, pre-washing is unnecessary. As mentioned earlier, for all clothing washed after regular activities, no pre-washing is needed. This program on the washing machine should only be used for visibly soiled clothing (work uniforms, sports gear) to remove the toughest dirt in the first washing cycle.
Insufficiently or Overloaded Drum
An insufficiently loaded drum results in washing a smaller amount of laundry for the same energy and time consumption. Additionally, insufficient laundry in the drum affects its mixing, resulting in only mechanical washing and potentially poorer washing quality.
An overloaded drum also leads to poorer washing, especially because the laundry is less rinsed at the end. It’s worth noting that a machine with an overloaded drum operates under greater strain, thus shortening its lifespan. The golden rule is that when loading the machine with dry laundry, it should be slightly more than half full.
Using an Extremely Old Washing Machine
Appliance manufacturers constantly inundate us with offers for newer, better devices. While one shouldn’t rush to jump on every consumer trend, enduring without most functions and innovations for a while is possible.
However, one shouldn’t go to the other extreme and wash laundry in an extremely old washing machine. It’s telling that today’s high-energy-rated devices consume up to two and a half times less electricity.
Photo: Gorenje