Energy saving washing?

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Energy saving washing?

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gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8996
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 18 6:21 pm Post subject: Energy saving washing?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/washing-machines-energy-consumption-laundry-uk-households-renewable-electricity-a8270561.html

Having seen friends in NZ washing in cold water , I've followed their example, using washballs instead of detergent powder (unless really grubby)
Bedding and towels get a hot wash.

Shorter wash means less damage to clothes by washing so fewer particles to go to the rivers and sea.

Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 18 7:44 pm Post subject:
Do they seem clean? Not too crunchy?

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8996
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 18 7:54 pm Post subject:

perfectly clean

Any problems with feel could be the water supply..I'll sometimes do an extra rinse,without washballs but with a little white vinegar. Depends where you live, and what water treatment the water board does I should think.

If you do use detergent an extra rinse like that will neutralize the alkaline effect .
Often dingy colours and dull blacks are just caused by washing powder residue.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 18 1:21 am Post subject:
I keep hearing about laundry/eco eggs. Has anyone tried those? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecoegg-Laundry-Washes-Fresh-Lavender/dp/B01D1F99CA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522027258&sr=8-1&keywords=Laundry+eggs

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16155

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 18 6:20 am Post subject:
I am afraid that I have found the dirt we get on our clothes needs 40C water and detergent. I agree about rinsing though. For normal, just worn in clean conditions clothes, you often don't even need any form of cleaning aid, just put through the wash and the water and agitation does the job.

Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 18 7:39 am Post subject:

We used an equivelent eco egg product for a few years, we only stopped when Arthur was born. One problem is remembering to change the beads in them/replace them after so many washes! Remembering things like that is not my forte

Haven't tried those, WW, tempted to give them another go now we're not washing crappy nappies and pee soaked stuff. Will probably still need a wash or two a week with hotter water and detergent, I should think.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16155

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 18 6:35 am Post subject:
There are three problems with that eco-egg; no idea what is in it, it comes from Amazon which I will not use, and I would never remember to change it after 54 washes. Apart from that, it might be a good idea.

Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 18 7:52 am Post subject:
you can buy them elsewhere! You can also use soap nuts, if you'd rather, which some people swear by. Can't help on the memory though, I'm definitely with you on that 😂

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8996
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 18 8:13 am Post subject:

I like the washballs as they come with a soft rubbery ring around them, so they don't bang around in the drum...still workon the same principle of the pellets.

I've just checked the box they are ecoballs and a quick goggle shows them at lakeland and holland and barrett as well as other online shops.
I only paid £7...the price has nearly doubled, but they do last longer than they say.
I haven't used the refill bag that came in the box with them yet .

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8996
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 18 8:16 am Post subject:
I've had messages from brother..don't use gel containers at low temperature/cold wash as they leave streaks of gel on the clothes and from daughter.. " Problem is have you looked at the ingredients on detergents designed to be used in a cold wash? Enough phosphates in most detergents to eventually kill a river..."

Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 18 1:46 pm Post subject:
Nothing is ever straight forward!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16155

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 18 6:47 am Post subject:
No it isn't. This thread reminded me of a 'scandal' from way back when it was found that Lux soap flakes were actually detergent in hard water areas to avoid scum. Completely irrelevant, but that is how train of thought works. To make the link, I was doing some hand washing at the time as I prefer to hand wash woollens and delicates as they last longer. Another conservation conundrum.

Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 18 7:33 am Post subject:

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8996
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 18 8:13 am Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

No it isn't. This thread reminded me of a 'scandal' from way back when it was found that Lux soap flakes were actually detergent in hard water areas to avoid scum. Completely irrelevant, but that is how train of thought works.

To make the link, I was doing some hand washing at the time as I prefer to hand wash woollens and delicates as they last longer. Another conservation conundrum.

I hadn't heard that about Lux..I get soap flakes that say "soap flakes" on the box..

Hand washing delicates makes sense and you're not going to have the water too soapy or hot, so I can't see the problem

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16155

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 18 7:06 am Post subject:

In those days not everyone had a washing machine, and those that were around were twin tubs. When automatics came in the detergents had to be reformulated to reduce the amount of suds. Suds are good with hand washing and no trouble with a twin tub, but a drum full of foam isn't a good thing with an automatic.

I think if it says soap powder these days it has to be soap rather than detergent, but the rules were less strict then.

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