What’s the big deal about HE washers – are they really worth considering?
Doing laundry isn’t a favorite activity of too many people.
I have less than fond memories of my mother rummaging through my closet at laundry time.
From the time commitment, to the tough stains my brother’s clothes always managed to attract, to my mom complaining about the water and electric bills, “laundry” was a bit of a bad word for me as a kid.
But, now that I’m a mother, I’ve quickly discovered the same struggles my mother had. And that’s why I made the decision to buy a High-Efficiency washer for my family’s never-ending laundry needs.
The Basics
There are two types of washers – top-loading and front-loading.
ALL front-loading washers are High Efficiency, but there are top loading washing machines that do not classify as HE.
So how can you quickly recognize a washer as being HE, and how is it different than what you already have?
Apart from the “HE” displayed on these machines, the answer actually lies largely in what’s missing in the machine – the agitator.
Well, technically there still has to be an agitator in the top-loading washers, but it’s a much smaller version. The agitator is the tower looking thing that is in the middle of the washing machine drum. You know, the thing that makes it so that you can’t just dump all your clothes in all in a big pile on a top loading washer.
The Benefits
HE washers save time and “clean up” your water and energy bills! Here’s how:
1. They use less water.
These washers can use 20-66% less water than traditional machines, and that means more money in your wallet.
Water is a precious commodity, I’ve learned that saving a penny here and there goes a long way when raising a family.
2. They use less energy.
Less water means less energy consumed to maintain the temperature.
In fact, HE washers use 20-50% percent less energy compared to their prehistoric cousins ; -).
Using less energy knocks down dollars from your energy bill and is also better for the environment.
3. They speed up drying time.
I did think about it the first few times I used my HE washing machine that my clothes didn’t seem as wet compared to when I used my old machine – this is because the new machines have a high-speed spin cycle that removes more of the water.
Dryer clothes = less time in the dryer, which is better not only for your energy bill but also your clothes.
4. You can do more laundry in fewer loads.
Since there’s no agitator taking up space in the machine, you’re able to fit more clothes and cut down on laundry cycles.
Hey, does that mean you’re saving whole loads of money energy? Ha. (Maybe.)
5. They’re gentler on your clothes.
Instead of essentially beating the stains away from your clothes with an agitator, an HE machine is much gentler, using sensors and high-pressure spraying to get rid of the grit and grime.
Keeping your clothes nicer longer is obviously another way to stretch your hard-earned money.
6. You don’t need as much detergent.
With less water used, you also need less detergent.
You have to be careful to use laundry soap that’s specifically for these washers – it’s important that they’re low-sudsing. The reason for this is that since your HE machine uses less water, they will not rinse out conventional laundry detergents which are formulated for machines that use a lot more water. Another reason is that since HE washing machines use higher pressure water jets to do some of the agitation higher sudsing laundry soaps might make a foamy mess in your laundry room.
What laundry soap should I use then?
There are so many reasons why MyGreenFills stands head and shoulders above the competition.
This non-toxic laundry soap actually doesn’t create any suds, so it’s perfect for high-efficiency washers, they also want to help our environment, as well as simplify your laundry life.
They keep all the yucky stuff out of their products so you don’t have to worry about the harmful chemicals that are in conventional laundry soap.
This will also be the last jug you’ll ever need because their innovative product is sent a little refill packet whenever you want. (No more running out of detergent because you forgot to pick it up at the store, or for that matter, lugging those heavy jugs home!)
AND they’re introducing their new discovery kit so you can try it out for yourself!
Some Possible Hight Efficiency Washer Cons
1. Learning Curve
There are simply more bells and whistles on these washers, which is really cool but also takes a bit more to learn. Once you’ve been through a few cycles, though, it’s a moot point.
2. Pricetag
Those extra bells and whistles do cost more upfront.
3. Maintenance Cost
These washers are more complex than conventional machines, they can also be a bit more complicated to fix in the event that’s needed.
4. Cycle Time
While you can do more clothes in one load, the lighter water use and lack of clothes being beaten with an agitator does mean it takes a bit longer to get them clean.
5. Upkeep?
Since less water is used, sometimes the soap and grime don’t get flushed from the machine as well as they should.
The machine has a cleaning cycle that you’ll need to be sure to run as recommended.
Technically, though, you’re probably not cleaning your current machine the way it really should be cleaned.
And if you use the laundry soap mentioned above, you won’t have to worry about it coating your machine like conventional soaps do.
The Down and Dirty…
Buying an expensive appliance is never an easy decision, and it takes research to figure out which HE washing machine is the best high-efficiency washer or best high-efficiency top load washer for your family.
Purchasing a high-efficiency washer may feel like a big hit to your wallet up front, but all the benefits will likely have better long term effects on your finances, not to mention the environment!
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