Post #4497727

2026-08-10 19:20 UTC

I hapily do all the laundry for our house. Not because I really want to but because then I can run the shortest cycle on minimum temperature. Nobody has ever noticed. Must have saved me literally pounds so far.

Replies (1)

@CppGuy@infosec.space 2026-08-10 20:25

@fesshole@mastodon.social I know (because, being autistic, I've measured it) that most of the energy our washing machine uses is spent on warming the water. So I'd suggest running the machine at the coolest temperature that gets your clothes clean, but using a longer programme if that helps. Two exceptions: if anyone in your house has allergies, wash bedclothes at 60°C to kill house dust mite; and the NHS recommends washing underwear at 60°C to kill germs. I wash bedclothes and underwear together for that reason. I also boil-wash teatowels every six weeks with a detergent containing bleach to kill black mould in the machine. Unless you have a time-of-use electricity tariff, the cheapest time to wash clothes is in the early afternoon, when the incoming water is warmest.

Open ##4497726