1. Tips for Buying Energy-Efficient Washing Machines and Dryers
Using energy-efficient washing machines is one of the most searched keywords on Google, with users often seeking valuable information. While there is plenty of shared knowledge, some aspects remain insufficiently covered and underutilized by many.
Most older models of washing and drying machines consume significant amounts of electricity due to outdated technology and worn-out motors after prolonged use. Therefore, upgrading to newer models ensures more efficient operation and energy savings.
New washing machines labeled with Energy Star use about 70% less electricity and 75% less water compared to conventional models. Thus, it's advisable to choose brands with this energy-saving certification.
For dryers, opt for newer models equipped with moisture sensors or technologies capable of detecting clothing dryness to select the drying function effectively and efficiently.


2. Choosing Appropriate Clothing Quantity
Each time you start, the washing machine consumes a certain amount of electricity. Even if you wash clothes in small quantities, the machine still operates through the full cycle of steps to clean the clothes. Therefore, you should load the washing machine with the appropriate amount of clothes. This not only helps the machine operate more efficiently but also reduces the number of times the washing machine starts, saving energy consumption.
If you put too much or too little clothes in the machine, it will make the washing machine consume more water and electricity to clean them. And it can also lead to the machine breaking down quickly. If there are too many clothes to wash, you should divide them into multiple loads. Many users often mistakenly think that this measure will make the washing machine consume more water and electricity.
But in reality, dividing clothes like this will help the washing machine avoid damage. And it will make the clothes cleaner, and even help save a significant amount of water and electricity. Because when washing too much, the washing machine will need a large amount of water and electricity to clean the clothes. This is a simple yet effective way to use the washing machine to save electricity that you should apply.


3. Washing with Cold Water
Typically, modern washing machines with advanced washing technology mostly meet the necessary cleanliness when washing in cold water. Therefore, to maximize energy savings, it is unnecessary to use hot water for washing. For clothes that are not very dirty, just give them a quick wash and choose water with a low temperature. As a rule of thumb, the less dirty the clothes, the lower the temperature should be chosen.
Additionally, consumers should note not to wash unnecessarily in hot water. When washing in hot water, it should only be set at temperatures of 40°C - 50°C. Choose the spin mode according to the humidity level and the location to hang clothes. Only use the maximum spin speed when the air humidity is above 80% and hang them in a sheltered area. If you plan to dry the clothes after washing, you should select the highest spin setting. You should also regularly clean the pump filter of the washing machine.
Washing clothes in hot water helps eliminate odor, bacteria, and tough stains, but it consumes a lot of energy. If washing normally, you should use cold water to protect the environment, save energy, and money for the family.
You can use cold water to wash lightly soiled clothes. Mixing light-colored and dark-colored clothes in one wash can be done with cold water to prevent fading, color changes, and minimize fabric damage. Fabrics like wool and silk when washed with cold water help prevent fabric damage and shrinkage.


4. Unplug When Not in Use
During the rainy season, you need to check if the sockets are damp or leaking electricity. And use a stable power source for the washing machine. After each wash, you should unplug the power plug. To avoid the risk of lightning strikes that can damage electrical appliances. In addition, if your washing machine is placed in areas with high humidity, you should have a dehumidification system to protect the washing machine.
Many people rarely unplug the power plug when not using the washing machine. Fluctuating currents can damage electrical circuits and cause dangerous short circuits.
Therefore, if you're not using the washing machine anymore, you should unplug it to protect the washing machine, your family, and save energy.


5. Pre-Hand Wash Heavily Soiled Clothes Before Using the Washing Machine
Essentially, washing machines are designed and operate on a fixed cycle based on simulating manual clothes rubbing: water filling, soaking, washing, rinsing, and spinning. With this operating principle, most washing machines do not sense the dirtiness of the clothes but operate on a predetermined cycle. Therefore, if the clothes are heavily soiled, they may not be completely clean after washing, and you may need to wash them again.
Therefore, depending on the nature of the work and your rest needs, you may or may not want to put very dirty clothes in the washing machine right away. If you want to rest, you can completely wash dirty clothes in the machine and wash them again if they are not satisfactorily clean.
For machines that do not have dirt sensor features, they will wash according to a fixed cycle without automatically selecting the appropriate wash cycle. Therefore, heavily soiled clothes cannot be completely cleaned. You will spend time and waste energy to start the washing machine again to remove those stains.
So, it's advisable to pre-hand wash heavily soiled clothes to loosen the stains before putting them into the machine for washing.


6. Ensure Clothes are Well Wrung Before Putting Them in the Dryer
It's essential to make sure clothes are thoroughly wrung out before putting them into the dryer to speed up drying time and save electricity. Additionally, you should untangle the laundry and squeeze out excess water to reduce the amount of water and help the clothes become less wrinkled, thus saving energy effectively.
The spin cycle usually accompanies the preset washing program. However, to expedite drying, you can also select the appropriate spin mode. For heavier, thicker garments and bedding, choose the extra dry spin mode to shorten the drying time. For lighter fabrics, opt for a lower spin mode while still ensuring high efficiency in water extraction, facilitating faster drying.
Thus, saving electricity when using the dryer becomes more effective than ever.


7. Utilize Energy Saving Feature on Washing Machine
If your washing machine has an energy-saving feature, make sure to use it. This feature typically includes a 'quick wash' mode for lightly soiled clothes and various energy-saving wash cycles. You can choose from basic energy-saving wash cycles such as 15-minute quick wash, super energy-saving wash, express wash, gentle rinse, and more.
Moreover, many washing machines nowadays are equipped with Eco Inverter technology in their operation. This technology ensures smooth and durable operation of the washing machine over time, while also minimizing noise disturbance, which could affect the sleep of the elderly and young children in the household.
Furthermore, this technology can save up to 30-50% of electricity consumption, relieving you from worrying about high monthly electricity bills.


8. Choose Appropriate Wash-Dry Programs for Different Types of Clothes
Nowadays, washing machines come with a function to select the water level according to the amount of clothes to be washed. However, these functions often suggest washing cycles that consume more electricity and water than necessary.
Therefore, the best approach is for you to manually select the appropriate washing cycle to save energy. For everyday clothes with light dirt and a small load, opt for a gentle washing cycle with minimal water. For items like blankets, sheets, and pillows, choose a longer cycle for the most effective cleaning.
Each type of clothing has its own characteristics, so it's important to sort them and choose the appropriate drying program. This will result in higher drying efficiency and energy savings. Use high temperatures for items like jeans, towels, and heavy fabrics; medium temperatures for synthetic materials like polyester; and low temperatures for delicate items like lingerie and soft fleece.
Avoid putting clothes with metal details in the dryer and check for any objects like nails, pins, clips, or pens, as they can damage the machine if they fall out. Thin, delicate fabrics like curtains, wool, silk, nylon, or large items like comforters should not be dried. Do not put greasy clothes in the dryer as it can cause a fire hazard, which is unsafe.


9. Choosing the Right Amount of Clothes for Your Dryer's Capacity
During rainy days, clothes often take longer to dry or may develop a musty odor, causing headaches for homemakers. To address this issue, clothes dryers have become increasingly common in every household. However, using a dryer efficiently to save energy remains a concern for many.
Drying the appropriate amount of clothes according to your dryer's capacity will help you save electricity. If your dryer has a capacity of 9kg, it's best to dry 7 - 8kg of clothes. Too few clothes will waste energy, while too many clothes may not dry completely.
Furthermore, when purchasing a dryer, consider your household's needs, the number of family members, and monthly income. Choose a dryer with an appropriate capacity to avoid wasting space, money, and time. Larger capacity dryers come with higher costs and electricity consumption.


10. Selecting the Proper Water Level for Laundry Loads
Most modern washing machines today are equipped with water levels corresponding to each wash cycle. You should choose the appropriate water level based on the amount of laundry. If you have a small load of clothes, opt for a lower water level. This not only saves a significant amount of water but also speeds up the washing process, thus saving electricity.
Almost all washing machines nowadays offer three basic water levels for you to choose from: high, medium, and low. To achieve energy savings for your washing machine, select the most suitable water level. If you have a small load of clothes, you can choose a low water level. This not only saves water but also makes the washing cycle faster, indirectly saving electricity.
Washing machines typically offer multiple water levels for users to choose from. When washing a small amount of laundry, opt for the lowest water level. When dealing with larger loads, choose the appropriate water level. Selecting the proper water level for the amount of laundry helps save water and reduces the washing time of the machine, thereby saving energy consumption for the washing machine. For homemakers, having extra free time allows them to accomplish more tasks.


11. Choosing the Right Laundry Detergent for Your Clothes
Choosing the right laundry detergent for your washing machine plays a crucial role. Opting for a suitable detergent helps it dissolve easily in water and produce fewer suds. The easier the detergent dissolves, the better it can tackle stains, while producing fewer suds helps in rinsing clothes quickly, saving water, and protecting the washing machine better, avoiding damage to its components.
There are many types of laundry detergents and washing liquids available on the market specifically designed for washing machines. These cleaning products provide better effectiveness compared to regular laundry detergents and washing liquids because they produce fewer suds and reduce residue buildup on clothes. They still ensure that your clothes are thoroughly cleaned. Moreover, using detergents or washing liquids specifically made for washing machines helps minimize machine damage and prolong its lifespan.
For laundry detergent products, the packaging usually includes instructions regarding the amount of detergent to use based on the laundry load size. Therefore, it's essential to carefully read the usage instructions and use an appropriate amount of detergent. To achieve the best results, however, for heavily soiled clothes, it's recommended to pre-soak or hand wash them before putting them into the washing machine to enhance cleaning effectiveness and save energy.


12. Choose the Suitable Spin Cycle for Your Laundry Load
Usually, the spin cycle is preset along with the washing program. However, to expedite the drying process, you can select appropriate spin cycles.
For blankets, bed sheets, and mattress pads, opt for the highest spin setting to extract more water from the fabric, thus reducing the need for using a dryer. Conversely, for lightweight and small loads, choose a lower spin setting to achieve effective water removal and reduce dryer usage.
Furthermore, if your household has few members or you're not too busy, consider whether you really need to use the washing machine. A tip for saving electricity when using the washing machine is to choose the right time to do laundry. When electricity prices are high and you have free time, hand washing is preferable. Reserve machine washing for times when electricity prices are low or when you're too busy to hand wash. This is an effective way to save electricity when using the washing machine.


13. Regular Maintenance and Cleaning for Washing Machines and Dryers
After a period of use, washing machines accumulate dirt from the clothes and detergent residue, affecting their aesthetics. These residues can develop and cling to the clothes, causing them to smell unpleasant and not be as clean as desired. Therefore, it's essential to address why regular maintenance and cleaning of washing machines are necessary.
Another electricity-saving method we'd like to share with you is regular maintenance and cleaning of washing machines. During cold rainy seasons, your washing machine operates continuously at high capacity due to the heavy and thick clothes. After prolonged use, to ensure durability and energy efficiency, you should maintain and clean the washing machine. Wipe it clean and dry with a soft cloth, use a brush to clean the fabric lint filter, detergent dispenser, and drainage pipe. After each wash, wipe the inside and outside of the washing machine clean to reduce bacterial growth.


14. Utilizing Energy-Saving Devices in Conjunction
Washing machines are increasingly common appliances in households today, helping to reduce the labor load on humans. However, they also consume a considerable amount of electricity. Therefore, combining their use with energy-saving devices is essential to effectively save electricity, especially during the rainy season.
Combining them with energy-saving devices will help stabilize the power flow for all appliances in your home, prolonging the lifespan of electrical appliances. Energy-saving devices primarily aim to reduce up to 40% of monthly electricity consumption.
One such device is the Electricity Saving Box, one of the most effective and legitimate ways to use washing machines to save electricity without worrying about detection by regulatory authorities. Its usage is straightforward: simply plug it into any power outlet in your home, and it will immediately start working.


15. Opting for the Right Washing Machine Type
To ensure proper and efficient usage of the washing machine, it's crucial to select the appropriate one from the start. Nowadays, some modern washing machines allow for water temperature adjustment to enhance washing effectiveness. However, this also means higher electricity consumption.
When making a purchase, opt for a washing machine that suits the number of household members. Don't solely rely on advertisements; instead, base your decision on your own criteria and your family's needs. For households of 2 to 3 individuals, a washing machine with a 5kg capacity is suitable. For larger families (>=4 individuals), choose a model with a capacity of 7kg or more.
In regions with frequent rainfall and high humidity, consider selecting a washing machine with a clothes drying function to expedite the drying process after washing.
The more modern the washing machine, the greater its range of functions. When selecting, if you feel some functions are unnecessary, you can opt for a model with the most frequently used functions to save costs.
Nevertheless, clothes can still be effectively cleaned using the normal water mode. For blankets, curtains, and bedspreads, washing with hot water is necessary. You can activate the hot water mode during the initial washing phase and then switch back to the normal water mode for subsequent steps.


