How much water does a washing machine use
A washing machine naturally uses water to get your laundry sparkling clean again. Many people have no idea exactly how much water is pumped through the drum. Previously this was around 80 liters, but new models use an average of 45 liters.
If you can’t quite imagine how much 45 liters is: most people use between 20 and 60 liters when showering and flushing the toilet uses around 6 liters each time. The water consumption of your washing machine depends on a number of factors, the most important of which is the energy label. Your water consumption is also influenced by the wash program you use and the type of laundry you have.
Use per energy label
To find out the exact consumption of your washing machine, look at its energy label. For a new washing machine, that label looks slightly different than for older models. The water consumption is always listed below the icon of the faucet and is indicated in liters. This is how many liters the washing machine consumes per wash.
Furthermore, the energy label of your washing machine also affects how much water it consumes. This is because an energy-efficient washing machine not only uses less energy, but also less water:
- A washing machine with energy class a uses about 47 liters per time, which will cost you about €15.50 per year
- A washing machine with energy class b uses about 50 liters per time, which will cost you about €16, 50
- A washing machine with energy class C uses about 38 liters each time, which will cost you about €12.50
- A washing machine with energy class D uses about 46 liters each time, That will cost you around €15.20 a year
- A washing machine of energy class E will use around 45 liters each time, costing you around €14.85 a year
- A washing machine of energy class F will use around 45 liters each time, costing you around €14.85 a year
For these calculations, we assumed 220 washes per year, which equates to one wash every two days. If you wash much less, your annual water consumption will be much lower, so you’ll have lower costs too. For families that wash more, the cost will be slightly higher.
Of course, the price for your water is also an important factor. For this calculation, we have used a price of €0.0015 per liter. If you want to calculate your exact water cost, you’ll have to calculate how many times a year you wash and use your own water cost.
Finally, keep in mind that the water consumption on a new energy label is always determined based on the consumption of the eco 40 60 program. If you always use a different program to wash, your water consumption may be higher.
Save on your washing machine water consumption
In addition to buying an energy-efficient washing machine, there are a few things you can do to make sure you don’t use too much water while washing.
- Invest in a washing machine with water-saving technology
Modern washing machines have special technology that can significantly reduce your average water consumption. These include a wash program that adjusts the amount of water in the drum according to the weight of your laundry or the fabric it’s made of. For example, a half load requires much less water than a full drum, and delicate fabrics get clean faster than cotton.
- Never use too much detergent
When you use a large amount of detergent in the washing machine, the water consumption also increases. First, it takes more water to absorb all the detergent and then it takes more water to rinse all the soap residue out of your laundry. This makes the average consumption go up a bit per wash, which will also lead to higher water costs.
- Wash only a full drum
Do you need a new washing machine? Then always look at the fill weight first. This indicates how much laundry can fit in the drum per wash. For a household of two, a load of 7 to 8 kg is more than enough. Households of more than four people will need a larger washing machine. If you have a washing machine that is too big, you will often run a half-empty drum and if you have a washing machine that is too small, you will run several rounds too often.
- Keep your washing machine clean
When your washing machine is dirty, you can be sure that it will use more water and energy. When the holes in your drum are clogged, the washing machine will have to work harder to move water through the drum and pump it away. The machine then gets confused and will add even more water to improve the flow. So clean your washing machine regularly to avoid clogs.
- Install a water lock
As soon as your washing machine’s water supply starts leaking, the water consumption will immediately increase. You can prevent this by installing a water lock between the faucet and the hose. If the washing machine asks for more water than it needs, a water lock will immediately stop the supply. There are also waterlocks with a moisture sensor, these immediately stop the water supply if they detect wetness under the machine. This allows you to get to it quickly and avoid wasting water unnecessarily.