Tips on eco-friendly usage: Washing Machine
Airing
Do you ever ask yourself whether a garment really needs to be washed? Sometimes all that’s needed is a good airing.
Care instructions
Follow the care instructions on the item. Incorrect care can spoil the appearance of an item or even make it unusable. Remember that the temperature given on the washing label is the maximum temperature you should use. You can always safely wash it at a lower temperature.
Sorting
Sort your washing into white, colours, delicate and wool/silk. Sorting your items and choosing the most suitable programme will protect against discolouration, make your textiles last longer, and retain their quality.
Pre-treatment
Pre-treat any visible stains. Pre-treating stains avoids the unnecessary use of resources, because without this pre-treatment the whole load would need to be washed at a hotter temperature or with more detergent.
Load
Always wash a full load whenever possible – except when dealing with delicates and wool – and select the appropriate programme. Using your machine efficiently, depending on the type of garment or other item, avoids the unnecessary use of resources. Choosing the right programme for the textile type is also gentler on the fabric. You can combine different types of item if they are washed with the programme and detergent that are suitable for the most sensitive item in the load.
Detergent
Use the right type of detergent for the items you are washing (e.g. colours, delicates or wool) and be sure to follow the dosage instructions. Using the right detergent for your textiles is gentler on the fabric and will make your clothes and other items last longer. Always follow the recommended dosage to avoid accidentally using too much detergent.
Pre-wash
Only use a pre-wash or pre-soak programme for very dirty laundry or stubborn stains.
Low temperature
30 °C is the new 40 °C. Always wash at the lowest temperature you can to avoid the unnecessary use of energy. However, to prevent the potential build-up of biofilm, you should run a 60 °C cycle at least once a month.
Energy saving
Select the energy saving function. This programme saves a lot of energy by using a lower temperature. Because the programme runs for longer, the washing effect remains the same. Depending on the programme, your energy use is reduced by around 10 %–40 % despite the longer duration. This is because the temperature has a much greater effect on energy consumption than the washing time. When you use this additional function, the programme lasts about 25–60 minutes longer and uses around 10 %–20 % less water.
OptiTime
Use the OptiTime function. When the programme start function is activated, you can specify at what time you want the programme to start. When the programme end function is activated, you can specify at what time you want the programme to finish.
When a programme end time is selected, OptiTime works out the most efficient programme that can be used in the remaining time until the programme end. OptiTime reduces the washing temperature without altering the washing effect. The more wash time available, the more the temperature can be reduced.
EcoManagement
Use the EcoManagement function. When this function is activated, the predicted consumption is displayed at the start of the programme and the calculated consumption at the end of the programme.
Hot water
If possible, connect your washing machine to the hot water connection.
Sources: waschtipps.de, V-ZUG operating instructions