Which washes cleaner and more economically: the eco mode or a short wash programme?
To get your laundry clean, you can choose from a variety of washing programmes. But which one is the most economical in terms of water and electricity consumption and the most pleasant on your wallet? Do you opt for a short programme, because then the laundry is done nice and quickly? Or is eco mode the most economical, even if your washing machine takes hours? And what else can you do to have a clean and energy-saving wash? We share tips and tricks!
Eco mode old and new style
Eco stands for ‘ecological’ or ‘economic’. Eco mode is thus an eco-friendly mode and because you save on energy consumption, it is also kinder to the wallet.
In 2021, the EU presented a new energy label for household appliances. Since then, washing machines are required to have a wash programme labelled ‘eco 40 – 60’. What does this mean? You can wash clothes or other cotton laundry with the washing instructions 40 or 60 degrees in this eco mode and thus put them together, if you wish.
On older washing machines, the eco mode works a bit differently because it is not a combined 40 – 60-degree mode. There, you choose the eco mode, where you set the desired temperature yourself, say 40 or 60 degrees.
Lower water and energy consumption in eco mode
With the eco programme, a washing machine uses less water. This is eco benefit one.
For modern washing machines with the eco 40 – 60 programme, electricity is saved because the water is heated to 40 degrees or just above. To still get a clean result, eco mode takes longer in time. Spinning the drum for a long time consumes proportionally less electricity than letting water get hot. Here we have eco-advantage two to deal with.
Modern washing machines can also do short, cold and economical washing
Low energy consumption is better for the environment and keeps energy bills down. All washing machine manufacturers want to make a good impression because they know that consumers pay attention to this. Every year, they therefore come up with energy-efficient gadgets on the latest types of washing machines.
For instance, the very short wash programmes of modern machines are specially designed to be economical as well. These wash clean with relatively cold water, because that saves on energy consumption. After all, heating water takes a lot of energy power and electricity. To remove dirt from laundry, washing machines use new techniques such as special drum movements. However, it depends on the brand you buy which technology is on board to ensure economical and clean washing.
Lower energy consumption, slightly less clean
The Consumers’ Association tested a range of washing machines specifically on the quality of the eco 40 – 60 programme. This showed that the washing result on most machines was just slightly less clean compared to the standard 40-degree cotton programme. An eco wash took 200 minutes on average. The washing machines that took longer on the eco 40 – 60 programme washed relatively slightly better.
Because many litres of water less are consumed per wash, the eco programme washed out detergent significantly worse.
In conclusion, the Consumers’ Association found another small saving in terms of energy consumption. The eco 40 – 60 programme consumed 0.13 kWh of electricity less per wash than the 40-degree cotton programme.
How dirty is the laundry?
Which setting on the washer’s panel is best to choose when doing laundry? The degree of soiling of the laundry matters.
If you have lightly soiled laundry, a short low-temperature programme on a modern washing machine can wash as economically and cleanly as a full eco programme.
Do you have medium-soiled cotton laundry? Then a full wash programme on eco mode is most appropriate if you want to run an energy-efficient and clean wash.
Do you have laundry where it is important to kill bacteria, think dirty underwear or dirty dishcloths from the kitchen? Then choose the standard cotton programme at 60 degrees or opt for the hygiene or allergy programme.
In conclusion: tips for washing more economically
What should you pay attention to and what else can you do to run a clean and energy-saving wash?
1 – Make sure the drum is full
If you are smart, turn on your washing machine only when you can fill the drum completely. You will then use relatively less water and electricity per kilo of washing.
Some modern washing machines are equipped with a load sensor. It senses how much laundry is in the drum and adjusts the water consumption accordingly.
2 – Pay attention to the fill weight
Looking for a new washing machine? Then choose one based on the fill weight that best suits the amount of white and coloured laundry you produce in your household.
A small household can do with a modest 6 to 8 kg volume. A large household with a lot of laundry will choose a washing machine with a large fill weight. The range you can choose from is 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 kg fill weight.
3 – Pay attention to the energy label
Another thing to look out for when you’re ready for a new washing machine: the energy label. The more energy-efficient the appliance, the less you will spend on water and electricity. That label ranges from energy-efficient A (dark green in colour) to inefficient G (red). The label shows the energy consumption per 100 washes. You can also read about the water consumption, filling weight and noise level during spinning on the energy label.
Good to know: the eco 40 – 60 wash programme of the washing machine in question determines which label it has. Do you opt for other washing programmes? Then keep in mind that the energy label is therefore not assessed on those.
Because washing machines last a long time, choosing a green label can save you money over many years, as you will use less water and electricity if you choose the eco 40-60 wash programme. If an A-label is slightly more expensive, remember that you can make up the price difference with the energy efficiency of the machine.
In shops, online shops or on comparison sites, you can choose a washing machine by its label. In fact, each machine has a sticker with the corresponding energy label.
4 – What does the instruction manual say?
After buying your washing machine, have you read the instruction manual? In it, the manufacturer explains how and on which (eco-)programme you can do the laundry most energy-efficiently. There are many modes to wash on, so consult the booklet! If you no longer have it, look it up digitally via the manufacturer’s website.
