Saving water with the washing machine

How much water does a washing machine use?

Every day, we use an average of 141 litres of tap water per person. Of this total, we use about 17 litres of water to do our laundry. We could all be a bit more economical in this regard. How exactly?

• Only do a wash when the washing machine is full

  Most washing machines use the same amount of water regardless of whether you wash a lot or a little. This means that it is smarter to switch on the washing machine only when it is full. This way, you use less water per wash than if you wash several small loads.

• Select the right wash programme

  Not all washing programmes use the same amount of water. For example, select the eco button a bit more often. This programme uses less water, but still gets your laundry nice and clean.

• Do not use too much laundry detergent

  If you use too much detergent, then your washing machine will need extra rinsing. Which is a waste. So avoid using too much laundry detergent and see if you can get your clothes nice and clean using less laundry detergent.

• Let your clothes air out

  A lot of clothes can be worn several times without any problem. For example, you really do not need to wash jeans, jumpers and cardigans every time. And what if the piece of clothing does not smell very fresh? Then hang it outside to air it out. This will save you having to wash it, and will keep your clothes looking good for longer too!

Check out our other water-saving tips