Launching a “on the fly” washing machine is configured as one of the easiest practices to perform, a simple simple deal: throw inside the dirty clothes, add the detergent, press the key and wait. But reality is very different. The incorrect use of the washing machine can in fact become a trap for the wallet: every day, without realizing it, people make many small mistakes that can cost dearly, until 150 euros in the bill.
What mistakes are you talking about? It is easy to say: set the wrong cycle, fill it too much or too little, exaggerate with detergent, all automatic gestures, which however make consumption rise. Let’s see how to remedy using the washing machine correctly.
The right temperature: stop burning money (and clothes)
Open the detergent drawer, 60 degrees and go. For many, it is the only way to get a clean laundry, too bad it is also the perfect method to consume too much energy and ruin the fabrics.
Today the detergents are formulated to effectively wash even at low temperatures, therefore, a washing at 30-40 ° C will be sufficient for most of the garments, unless they are particularly dirty linen, or of sheets and towels. Always using high temperatures means giving money to the bill and consuming your clothes faster.
The myth of the detergent: the more you put it, worse is
Does more foam mean cleaner? Macché. The excess detergent does not improve cleaning and, as if that were not enough, risks leaving residues on the fabrics and washing machine. And there is worse: with too much detergent, the rinse becomes less effective and the garments can be rigid and foul -smelling.
It always uses the dose indicated on the package and, if you live in an area with particularly hard water, then very limestone, add a little white vinegar to the tank of the smoker. It is cheap, ecological and keeps the washing machine clean.
Upload: fill the washing machine in the right way
When loading the washing machine, the most obvious problem concerns the space, since we will have to “frame” T -shirts and shirts in the appropriate way, to let everything in. But be careful, the space issue hides other pitfalls: an overload washing machine does not wash well, the role do not have enough space to move and the detergent is not distributed uniformly. On the other hand, washing a few garments at a time is a waste of water and energy.
The golden rule? Fill the basket until you leave a space that is equivalent to that of a hand between the clothes and the upper part of the drum. So you can get the maximum result with the slightest consumption.
The right program: forget the quick cycle
The short cycle looks like the perfect solution: less time, less energy, less money. Too bad it is not so. The quick program consumes less water, it is true, but requires a more intense centrifuge and the higher temperatures to compensate for the little time available. The result? Greater energy consumption and stressed fabrics.
Better to opt for a “eco” cycle: it lasts a little more, but uses less water and less energy, reducing consumption of up to 50%.
When to do the washing machine to really save money
In addition to how, there is also when. If you have a bioratory rate, washing in the evening or weekends makes a huge difference. In the hourly bands with a smaller consumption (after 19:00 on weekdays and all weekend) the energy costs less, and this is reflected directly on the bill.
If you don’t know which rate you have, check the bill, or ask your supplier. You may find that you have always turned on the washing machine at the worst moment.
Maintenance: a dirty washing machine does not wash well
If your garments come out foul -smelling, the problem could be the washing machine, burdened by problems such as mold, limestone and detergent residues, which over time will accumulate and make the washes less effective, as well as determine a conspicuous increase in energy consumption.
Once a month, it makes an empty washing at 60 ° C with white vinegar or baking soda to clean the basket and pipes. And don’t forget to check the filter: a few minutes are enough to avoid damage and prolong the life of the appliance.
Small corrections, great savings
Using the washing machine in the right way does not mean distorting habits, but correcting the wrong ones. Here is the summary of the winning moves:
At the end of the year, your wallet will thank you and the planet will be grateful to you.
