Okay, yes, I am a bit embarrassed that I haven’t yet purchased a new clothes washer but my appliance budget went towards a new range and microwave; the washer is next on the list. Earlier we had discussed the fact that high efficiency washers use significantly less water than my 36 gallon appliance and that the new washers spin the clothes drier resulting in less drying time. What makes me more convinced that replacement is a good idea? A little science experiment we conducted this weekend.
Unless the weather is wet or incredibly cold, I dry all of our wash – clothes – towels – sheets – everything, on the line outside. I love the smell of air dried clothes, the almost starched feeling of the sheets and the fact that the dryer isn’t running. This reduces heat build-up in the house and saves on the dryer’s gas (heat) and electric (tumbling) usage. One thing I have never liked is how long it takes things to dry on the line…and in the dryer for that matter.
To pull more moisture from my washer load and speed up line drying time, I have, for several months now, been running a second spin cycle. It seemed sensible that another run through the centrifuge would make the load drier – but how much? Did it really make a difference?
This past weekend I did five loads of wash: a load of sheets, a load that contained a mattress pad and two beach towels, two loads of clothes that were mixed colors, and one load of whites that included two bath towels. I ran regular extra large loads using the full 36 gallon capacity of the washer and then ran at least one extra spin. I captured and measured the water that resulted from the extra spin(s). As the following chart shows, the amount of water captured varied greatly by the absorbency of the load; lots of porous material or cotton, lots of water retained in the load. That said, except for the sheets, the extra spin made a significant difference in the loads.
The additional electricity needed to run the second spin for the sheets was probably not worth it but for the other loads it was; especially for the mattress pad/towels load. In that load, the second spin drew out 22 cups of water, the third 20 cups and the fourth 24 cups for a total of 66 cups (more than 4 gallons) of excess water that I would have lugged out to the line and then had a dry time of what? One day? Two days? If that load had gone into the dryer, how long would the dryer have run and run and run?
So what, you say. Well:
- Who knew there was so much water retained by the clothes after running through the washer’s centrifuge or spin cycle. Until I replace the washer I will be very careful to ‘right size’ the amount of water per load based on load size and I will continue to run the extra spin especially in heavy or heavily absorbent loads. This will start to optimize water use and reduce drying time on the line and/or, if needs be, in the dryer. It will increase electric use for the washer but the time savings and the reduction in dryer gas and electric usage will offset that cost.
- The washer is clearly inefficient from a total water usage standpoint and in evacuating water. Changing from a 36 gallon capacity washer to a new, high efficiency, EnergyStar and WaterSense rated washer will reduce per load consumption by at least 25 gallons per load, reduce drying time on the line and/or in the dryer, and be more energy efficient to operate.
- Even after the washer is replaced: when using the dryer, I will check the dampness of the load periodically during the drying cycle and shut it off when dry.
- AND I will continue to check and clean-out the lint trap with every use and the exhaust line at least once per month. Lint reduces the efficiency of the dryer and is a major source of house fires.
So it is time to say goodbye to my washer and start anew; fresh, efficient and water wise.
