Owning an energy efficient washer and dryer has many benefits. I realized those benefits about a year ago. A few years ago our dryer stopped working and we didn’t have the money right away to replace it. We decided to hang our clothes on a rack to dry them until we had the money to get a new dryer. After about two months I noticed how much our electric bill had dropped from not using our dryer anymore. I had never realized how much money the dryer was costing us. When we were ready to buy a new dryer we looked for an energy efficient dryer. However, many salespeople told me energy efficient dryers don’t really exist.
I learned that although some dryers use less energy than others it is really the energy efficient and high efficiency washer that will save you the money and the energy. By using a high efficiency washer you use less water, wash your clothes faster, and your clothes are hardly wet when they are done. Therefore, it takes less time to dry and less energy your dryer has to use. So, I decided that I would buy a new washer and dryer pair. I did some research on the Internet and visited a few stores. I eventually decided on the Kenmore front-loading washer and dryer model 402. The biggest reason for choosing this combination was price and simplicity. I did not want to feel like I needed a computer science degree to do laundry and I wanted my kids to be able to operate the machines as well. After owning an energy efficient washer and dryer for a year, I can honestly say it is one of the best investments I ever made.
Here are three benefits of owning an energy efficient washer and dryer:
Clothes Are Cleaner Faster
My washer and dryer can wash and dry a load of laundry in under ninety minutes and the clothes are always very clean with a minimal amount of laundry detergent. If I really need to brighten my whites I can use the longer, whitest white setting, instead of the regular setting.
Kids Can Help with the Laundry
Another benefit of a front load energy efficient washer and dryer is that my kids can easily load and unload laundry into the washer or the dryer. The detergent compartment is also clearly marked and helps them know how much to use. Our washer has a delay start feature so we can load laundry in the morning and set it to start during the day. When we get home from school the cycle has just finished washing the clothes and they are ready to go into the dryer. Since laundry is so easy to do, we can all get involved.
You are Helping the Environment
By using less energy you are are helping the environment while helping your budget. Since a high efficiency washer is gentler on your clothing, you help the environment by not having to replace clothing as often. You can make your own homemade laundry detergent to use as well. This works well in HE washers because it is a low-sud formula.
One final recommendation I have for any HE washer you may buy, if possible always leave the door open when it is not in use. It prevents the washer from smelling bad and making your clothes smell. If you close it all the time you will need to constantly buy special cleaning products and clean the washer to eliminate the smell. Since the doors lock and make the machine airtight, the drops of water that are left in it cause the washer to smell musty and gross. I keep mine open all the time and never get that smell. Hopefully, now that you know some of the benefits of owning a high efficiency washer and dryer, you will consider buying one, too!