The Science Behind High Efficiency
There are two types of high efficiency washers – front loading and top loading. Although each works via a different mechanical method, because the new systems are so efficient, either type can use low-water wash and rinse cycles. In most models the laundry is washed in a shallow pool of water. In some cases, the water level is so low you may never even see it. However, despite their reduced water levels, high efficiency washers can wash the same amount of laundry per load as traditional washers. In fact, many can clean even larger loads.
High Efficiency washing machines use 20-66% less water, less energy and therefore require a specially designed High Efficiency detergent.
How They Wash
In front-loading washers, the laundry tumbles back and forth through the water, as the tub rotates clockwise and then counterclockwise, moving the water and detergent through each garment and removing soils. This repetitive tumbling motion does a very efficient cleaning and rinsing job and is gentle on fabrics.
High efficiency washers that load from the top use spinning, rotating, and/or “wobbling” wheels, plates, or disks to achieve the gentle wash action. As with some front-loading high efficiency washers, some top-loaders also spray or lightly shower clothes using re-circulated water from wash and/or rinse solutions.
How They Save Energy
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, high efficiency washing machines can use less energy than traditional models, largely because they require less hot water. These washing machines often also have faster spin cycles than traditional models, extracting more water from clothes. This means you spend much less time running your dryer, which the U.S. Department of Energy reports is the second-biggest household energy hog in terms of energy use.
How They Save Water
High-efficiency washing machines use only 14 to 22 gallons of water per load, as opposed to the 40 gallons or more that a traditional model consumes. And low-sudsing high efficiency detergents require far less water to effectively rinse away. Energy Star qualified high efficiency washing machines save enough water over the average 11-year life of the washer to provide a lifetime of drinking water for six people.
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How to Care for Your Washing Machine
Tips & Tricks
Many stains are more likely to be removed entirely if soaked in cold water before it has had time to set.
If in doubt, test your color garment for colorfastness – apply warm water to an inconspicuous part (inside of the hem, for instance), then press this part with a warm iron between two pieces of white cloth.
To protect your favorite garments, try turning them inside out before washing.
Use a partitioned laundry basket to sort your laundry as you remove it.
Overloading your washing machine could mean that your clothes don’t properly get clean.
White streaks of powder left behind on your clothes due to undissolved detergent are usually caused by overloading your machine, and can be removed with an additional rinse cycle.
Washing much smaller loads on non-cotton cycles to give more freedom of movement in the drum and result in better cleaning.
Using too little detergent can cause whites to become dingy as there are insufficient ingredients to hold soils in the water so they don’t redeposit on the garments.
Overdosing in a soft-water area can lead to “oversudsing” which, in extreme cases, can mean suds come out of the machine.
Always check the fabric care label for the manufacturer’s washing recommendations.
Some dyes will bleed even in very cold water, so always sort your washing into light colors, dark colors, whites, and delicates.
To compensate for washing at lower temperatures, try using a Cotton (most agitation) or Synthetic cycle, if the garment care label allows. There are also detergents specially designed to work in cold water.
Whenever possible, dry your clothes outside on a line; you could see significant energy savings.
Make sure to close all zippers, fasteners, and hooks to prevent and reduce abrasion of fabric and consider placing delicate items into mesh laundry bags.
To pre-treat stains, apply undiluted laundry detergent directly onto stained areas. For best results, allow product to sit on stain for a few minutes, scrub product into stain, then wash.
When adding chlorine bleach, always use the bleach dispenser on your washer to ensure that it is added at the right time in the wash cycle. If your machine does not have a dispenser, add chlorine bleach at the end of the wash cycle.
Check garment care labels for recommended wash temperature.
For all HE washers, make sure to use a low-sudsing HE detergent.
Use the right amount of detergent. Follow package directions carefully. For heavily soiled and/or large loads, use more detergent.
If you do not have a detergent dispenser on your machine, add the detergent while the washer fills with water, ensure the detergent has dissolved, then add the clothes.
Keep your washing machine free of residues by running a monthly wash cycle with Tide Washing Machine Cleaner.
