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The washing machine is an essential appliance in our homes to allow us to keep our linen clean and fresh. While we use it regularly to wash our clothes, sheets, towels, etc., it is not uncommon for us to wonder, even after several years of use, about the best washing program to choose from all those offered by the washing machine, being able to combine efficiency and economy. Most people, in fact, almost instinctively move towards the 40°C programme, perceived as a sort of universal temperature, ideal for all types of laundry. In reality it is a bad idea that can hurt your wallet, but not only that. Let’s explain why.
The washing machine is certainly far behind in the ranking of the most energy-intensive appliances in a home, but with the increase in the cost of energy it becomes necessary to pay close attention to the factors that influence the amount of energy consumed in a home. Washing clothes at 40 degrees Celsius is one of them. Why and how? Let’s see it together.
Why no longer wash your laundry at 40°C?
Washing clothes at 40 degrees Celsius, like the average French, is often considered a good compromise between washing efficiency and reasonable electricity consumption. This is a wrong calculation. In fact, the energy consumption of your washing machine can practically double if you choose this temperature, while another program available on most washing machine models allows you to obtain the same result with a lower consumption in kWh and therefore in euros.
Read also: Use your washing machine at this time of day: you will make big savings on your energy bill
Why is washing laundry at 40°C a bad idea?
Washing clothes at this temperature is not necessary to obtain clean and shiny clothes. It turns out that recent models of washing machines have energy-efficient programs that allow them to be efficient at low temperatures. Furthermore, several manufacturers now offer cleaning agents that are active from 20 degrees Celsius. But in addition to this, two other arguments should be able to convince us to give up washing at 40°C: on the one hand energy saving, on the other the protection of the planet. You may not know it, but lowering your wash temperature by 10°C can make a significant difference.
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