As more consumers ditch the old tradition of manual laundering, realising that washing machine has become a necessity, not luxury, manufacturers of the home device are also repositioning their brands by making many unsubstantiated claims fanning competition amongst them.
The competition is so stiff among leading brands like Siemens, Bosh, LG, Hotpoint, Beko, Panasonic, Samsung that many of the manufacturers have introduced new technologies like Eco bubble washing, which they claim can save up to 70per cent energy.
How does it work and what are the main claims? Simply put, they mix air bubbles in the water and detergent which they say gets detergent into the fabric 40% faster allowing lower temperature to achieve good result using 70 per cent less energy at 40 degrees.
However, most consumer organisations like the United Kingdom-published ‘Which?’, a consumer magazine, in their reviews faulted the claims. “It sounds impressive, potentially the implication most people may take is that it uses 70% energy than all other washing machines, but does it?” questioned the magazine in a recent review.
Comparing a Samsung 7kg Eco bubble with a normal Bosh WAE24490GB 7kg washing machine, the magazine stated in its reviews: “The Bosh claims to cost only 21 British pound sterling [N10,500] a year in energy to run, so being 70% cheaper than that makes it 6.30 British pound sterling [N3,150] a year, which cannot be right, no washing machine anywhere cost as little as 6 British pound sterling [N3,000] a year to run. According to the specs on the Eco bubble 7kg washing machine, it costs 25 British pound sterling [N12,500] a year to run, which is more so 70% less energy consumption is a fallacy.”
According to the UK Charity Consumer Magazine that reviews household products, providing unbiased advice in order to help people make informed decisions, “though most of the reviews of the Eco bubble machine say they wash well and relatively quickly, how much of that is down to the bubbles is unclear because many washing machines without eco bubble also have fantastic cleaning results and are Best Buys, so the bubbles are not necessarily some new discovery set to revolutionise washing machines.”
The magazine which carried reviews recently on Samsung Eco bubble models of WF80F5E5U4W, WF0704W7W and WFH24XAC stated that the Eco bubble takes 20 minutes to wash on the Time Easy Care Cycle than the Bosh, so it is only faster under specific circumstances or maybe on just a few programmes.
Samsung, one of the electronics dealers that launched the Eco bubble range, said that it removes stains from fabric even while using cold water. Their argument is that the washing machine uses bubble technology in the 8kg drum to effectively remove stains on cooler settings just as in warm water. By so doing, the machine saves up to 70 per cent of the energy which the warm setting would have used up.
However, apart from the UK-based Charity magazine, another global electronics dealer, LG, challenged the claims of 70% energy-saving by other washing machine manufacturers. “Unlike other washing machine brands that are laying claim to saving 70 per cent energy when using cold water, it is common knowledge that using 15 degree tap water can save 60-70 per cent of energy compared to 40 degree heated water, so that claim tells nothing new.”
Recently introducing a new product line from LG tagged, Expanded range of LG washing machines which includes, Turbo Wash, 6Motion, Twin Wash, Front load/Top load, Mr. Olugbenga Ogunbayo said that these products ride on the back of a super technology called Direct Drive, DD, motor technology which are all specifically designed for simple living.
However, it is not just buying energy efficient products that will save electricity for you; right operation of the same will also make an impact. Efficiency of a washing machine brand depends a lot on how it is used regularly. Washing machine is a very costly appliance to operate and an inefficient use of it can skyrocket your washing costs. The way cloths are washed can actually save you money. Here are some basic tips:
- Front load or top load: Electricity consumption of washing machine depends on how you use the washing machine. Front loaders use less water but have longer wash cycles. Top loaders use more water but have smaller wash cycles. If you use hot water for washing then top loaders will consume more because amount of electricity needed for heating water is lot more than the amount needed by the motor of the washing machine. But if you use cold water wash, then front loaders will consume more because they have longer wash cycles.
- Size of the washing machine: Always choose the right size of washing machine based on your daily needs, because bigger the size, more electricity it will consume.
- Load the washing machine optimally: Always try to use washing machine with full load, as the electricity used is same even if you under-load the washing machine. A washing machine with a load sensor can help you in easily loading your washing machine optimally.
- Buy the right detergent and use the right amount: Buying a right detergent for washing machine is very important as a wrong detergent may need multiple cycles to wash the cloths properly leading to water and energy wastage. Similarly, if the amount of detergent used is not right then multiple cycles of wash will be needed. Most detergent makers do make ones that are good for washing machine. So buy the right one.
- Reduce amount of heating: Excessive heating can even damage the fabrics of the cloth. Whenever possible use cold water wash as it can drastically cut down the electricity usage.
- Use faster spin speeds instead of a dryer for drying) Never leave washing machine in standby mode: As with all other appliances, standby power can hit hard on your electricity bill. So never leave washing machine in standby mode.