Difference between revisions of "Bad Ideas - Laundry"
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==Washing== | ==Washing== | ||
===Washing with no detergent=== | ===Washing with no detergent=== | ||
| − | Causes grease & dirt deposits inside the machine, leading to ineffective washes and bad smells. | + | Causes grease & dirt deposits inside the machine. These gradually build up, leading to ineffective washes and bad smells. |
===Ecoballs=== | ===Ecoballs=== | ||
| − | Same as above | + | Same problem as above |
===Never using powder=== | ===Never using powder=== | ||
| − | Scum builds up faster when liquid without powder is used | + | Scum builds up faster when liquid without powder is used. Powder contains a mild scourer to clean the machine, and over time the lack of this much affects the cleaning of the clothes. |
===Never doing a hot wash=== | ===Never doing a hot wash=== | ||
| − | + | Occasional hot washes are needed to clean the machine itself. | |
===Using washing up liquid as machine detergent=== | ===Using washing up liquid as machine detergent=== | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
===Never descaling=== | ===Never descaling=== | ||
| − | Scale prevents dirt removal and blocks water level sensor tube. Scale is the prime cause of washing machine floods. | + | Scale prevents dirt removal, and on some machines gradually blocks the water level sensor tube. Scale is the prime cause of washing machine floods in these machines. Descaling in hard water areas helps to maintain standard of cleaning. |
===Low spin speed machine=== | ===Low spin speed machine=== | ||
| − | + | Very low spin speeds (eg 600rpm) leave lots of water in the clothes, causing long drying times. And if dried indoors, damp problems. And if tumble dried, unnecessary electricity costs. | |
===Bleach=== | ===Bleach=== | ||
| − | Standard chlorine bleach makes some plastics brittle, and should not be used in WMs | + | Standard chlorine bleach makes some plastics brittle, and should not be used in (most) WMs with plastic tubs. Oxygen based laundry bleach is much more suitable for both clothes and modern machines. If you wish to use chlorine based bleach, the user's manual usually makes it clear whether such bleach can be used safely in the machine. |
===Top loading vertical axis machines=== | ===Top loading vertical axis machines=== | ||
| − | + | These use several times as much water and electricity per kilo of clothes compared to modern horizontal axis front loading machines. If you need greater laundry capacity, 2 front loaders stacked give several advantages over one big top loader. | |
| + | * machine failure doesn't stop washing being done | ||
| + | * at end of machine life there's no big rush for a replacement, and a good choice/deal can be picked. | ||
| + | * repairs are also unhurried, hence often cost less | ||
| + | * much lower water use | ||
| + | * much lower electricity use | ||
| + | * hence much lower run cost | ||
| + | * 2 front loaders take more clothes than many top loaders | ||
| + | * loads divided aver 2 machines mean wash programs can be different & optimised better | ||
| Line 31: | Line 39: | ||
===Draping wet clothes around the house=== | ===Draping wet clothes around the house=== | ||
Drying clothes indoors releases all their water content into the atmosphere. When windows are closed in winter, high indoor RH generally causes condensation, which often causes damp, mould and rot. The more washing is dried this way, and the lower the washing machine's spin speed, the worse the problem will be. | Drying clothes indoors releases all their water content into the atmosphere. When windows are closed in winter, high indoor RH generally causes condensation, which often causes damp, mould and rot. The more washing is dried this way, and the lower the washing machine's spin speed, the worse the problem will be. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This isn't such an issue when windows are open or a dehumidifier is in use. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | * [[Special:Allpages|Wiki Contents]] | ||
| + | * [[Special:Categories|Wiki Subject Categories]] | ||
| + | * [[Clothes Dryer]] | ||
[[Category:Appliances]] | [[Category:Appliances]] | ||
[[Category:Bad Ideas]] | [[Category:Bad Ideas]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Laundry]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:27, 18 November 2008
Washing
Washing with no detergent
Causes grease & dirt deposits inside the machine. These gradually build up, leading to ineffective washes and bad smells.
Ecoballs
Same problem as above
Never using powder
Scum builds up faster when liquid without powder is used. Powder contains a mild scourer to clean the machine, and over time the lack of this much affects the cleaning of the clothes.
Never doing a hot wash
Occasional hot washes are needed to clean the machine itself.
Using washing up liquid as machine detergent
Soap residue creates scum in the machine. Scum attracts dirt and causes bad smells.
Never descaling
Scale prevents dirt removal, and on some machines gradually blocks the water level sensor tube. Scale is the prime cause of washing machine floods in these machines. Descaling in hard water areas helps to maintain standard of cleaning.
Low spin speed machine
Very low spin speeds (eg 600rpm) leave lots of water in the clothes, causing long drying times. And if dried indoors, damp problems. And if tumble dried, unnecessary electricity costs.
Bleach
Standard chlorine bleach makes some plastics brittle, and should not be used in (most) WMs with plastic tubs. Oxygen based laundry bleach is much more suitable for both clothes and modern machines. If you wish to use chlorine based bleach, the user's manual usually makes it clear whether such bleach can be used safely in the machine.
Top loading vertical axis machines
These use several times as much water and electricity per kilo of clothes compared to modern horizontal axis front loading machines. If you need greater laundry capacity, 2 front loaders stacked give several advantages over one big top loader.
- machine failure doesn't stop washing being done
- at end of machine life there's no big rush for a replacement, and a good choice/deal can be picked.
- repairs are also unhurried, hence often cost less
- much lower water use
- much lower electricity use
- hence much lower run cost
- 2 front loaders take more clothes than many top loaders
- loads divided aver 2 machines mean wash programs can be different & optimised better
Drying
Draping wet clothes around the house
Drying clothes indoors releases all their water content into the atmosphere. When windows are closed in winter, high indoor RH generally causes condensation, which often causes damp, mould and rot. The more washing is dried this way, and the lower the washing machine's spin speed, the worse the problem will be.
This isn't such an issue when windows are open or a dehumidifier is in use.