The washing machine is an indispensable appliance in our homes to allow us to keep our laundry clean and fresh. While we use it regularly to wash our clothes, sheets, towels, etc., it is not uncommon for us to wonder, even after several years of use, about the best washing program to choose. among all those offered by the washing machine, being able to combine both efficiency and economy. In fact, most people almost instinctively orient themselves towards the 40°C program, perceived as a kind of universal temperature, ideal for all types of laundry. In reality, it’s a bad idea that can hurt your wallet, but not only. We explain why.
The washing machine certainly comes far behind in the ranking of the most energy-consuming appliances in a house, but with the rising cost of energy, paying close attention to the factors that influence the amount of energy consumed in a home becomes necessary. Washing your clothes at 40 degrees Celsius is one of them. Why and how? Let’s see this together.
Why should you no longer wash your clothes at 40°C?
Washing clothes at 40 degrees Celsius, like the average French person, is often considered a good compromise between washing efficiency and reasonable electricity consumption. It’s a bad calculation. Indeed, the energy consumption of your washing machine can practically double if you choose this temperature, while another program available on most washing machine models allows you to obtain the same result with less consumption in kWh and therefore in euros.
Read also: Use your washing machine at this time of day: you will make big savings on the energy bill
washing your clothes at 40°C is not a very good idea. Source: spm
Why is washing your laundry at 40°C a bad idea?
Washing clothes at this temperature is not necessary to obtain clean and shiny clothes. It turns out that recent models of washing machines have energy-efficient programs that allow them to be efficient at low temperatures. In addition, several manufacturers now offer active detergents from 20 degrees Celsius. But beyond that, two other arguments should be able to convince you to give up washing at 40°C: it is a side energy saving, and on the other, protecting the planet. You may not know it, but lowering the wash temperature by 10°C can make a significant difference.
Is it different to wash your clothes at a temperature of 40°C instead of 30°C?
For your wallet, yes! Be aware that the majority of the energy expended during a machine wash is used to heat the water. Consequently, reducing the temperature by 40 to 30°C means reducing your energy consumption. But the most surprising thing is that the result for your clothes, especially everyday ones, remains the same. Indeed, apart from certain types of laundry, the 30°C program will be suitable for almost everything and will give you satisfaction. To better perceive the difference in terms of energy consumption depending on the program you choose, you should know that by washing your laundry at 60°C, you consume approximately 1.3 kWh. On the other hand, if you use a wash temperature of 40°C, your energy consumption is reduced to approximately 0.7 kWh. And if you wash your laundry at 30°C, your energy consumption is even lower, down to just 0.4 kWh. enough to reduce your electricity bill. And this is not the only advantage. Lowering the temperature is also an ecological gesture.
the 30°C program is more than enough for your clothes. Source: spm
Why is washing clothes at 30° green?
According to an awareness campaign carried out in March 2021 by the detergent brand Ariel, entitled “every degree counts”, and whose objective was to promote the effectiveness of cold washing, if each French household systematically opts for the program at 30 °, this would save as much energy as the consumption of the city of Nantes, or even the equivalent of the carbon footprint of two million cars, if the operation were carried out on a European scale. Mean by this that making a machine at low temperature is beneficial for the environment, because it allows to reduce CO2 emissions, which contributes to the protection of our planet by reducing the negative impacts of global warming on our ecosystem.
Sheets, colours, detergent… 3 answers to 3 frequently asked questions about the optimal washing temperature for laundry
Making a machine may seem like a trivial activity that could be summed up in a few quick gestures such as opening the door of the washing machine, piling everything you want to wash in the drum, adding detergent, closing and starting the program. But as we all know, it’s not that simple. This task raises many questions for a lot of people. Let’s take a look at the most common ones.
Can colors be mixed at 30 degrees Celsius?
Yes, you can, but under certain conditions. By choosing the program at 30°C, you can do without the chore of sorting laundry. Of course, by taking care to separate your clothes from tea towels, towels and other linens made of robust fabrics, which are generally more dirty and stained, and which therefore must be washed at high temperatures, in particular to eliminate bacteria. In addition, with washing at low temperature, the fibers of the clothes are less likely to be damaged, the colors do not bleed or become dull. They are therefore better preserved. However, you can never be careful enough. Wash, for example, a white garment among colored garments, especially if they are new and you wash them for the first timeis clearly not a very good idea.
At low temperatures, you can mix colors. Source: spm
What clothes to wash at 40 degrees Celsius?
As we mentioned above, you can wash your everyday clothes in cotton, wool, linen, etc. at 30°C instead of 40, and obtain the same result in terms of cleanliness. However, the 40°C program is sometimes recommended for textiles in direct contact with the body such as underwear and bath towels.
At what temperature should the sheets be washed?
When it comes to washing sheets, the proper temperature depends on a few important factors, namely:
The material of the sheets: cotton sheets can be washed at higher temperatures, up to 60°C, while more delicate materials such as silk should be washed at lower temperatures.
Washing frequency: A washing temperature of 40°C is recommended for a weekly washing frequency. This helps maintain the quality of the sheets over the washes. However, if you opt for a machine run every two weeks, the degree of soiling of the sheets and the presence of microbes may require a temperature between 60°C and 90°C, especially for white color sheets.
Read also: Remove all limescale from the washing machine with a common ingredient
Sheets may require high temperature washing. Source: spm
What temperature causes a garment to shrink?
In most cases, clothes tend to shrink at temperatures above 60°C, but this can vary depending on the fabric and the type of fibers used to make them. To be sure of preserve your clothes, follow the washing and care instructions on the garment label. These may recommend specific washing temperatures and drying methods to prevent shrinkage.
The benefits of lowering the temperature of your washing machine may seem minimal to you, but compared to the number of machines you do per year, the savings in energy and money are immediately noticeable, in addition to the satisfaction you will have from doing a good deed for the planet.
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