Did you know that when doing laundry, heating water can account for up to 80 percent of the energy used per wash load in the United States?
Ever since visiting Bosch headquarters last year and learning that a cold water wash cleans your clothes just as well but saves energy and is better for the environment, I haven’t gone back to washing in hot or warm water. I even put Tide Coldwater, a specially formulated detergent for cold water washing to test in Dog vs. Laundry. Spoiler: Laundry triumphed over dog!
In honor of Earth Day (April 22), Proctor & Gamble is encouraging consumers to switch to cold water laundry washing to help save energy and cut down on household utility costs. The campaign is part of Future Friendly, P&G’s conservation education initiative designed to raise awareness that taking simple steps to save energy, save water and reduce waste can make a meaningful impact on the environment.
Their goal is to 70 percent of total washing machine loads to cold water by 2020. If an average household switched to cold water washing for one year, it would save enough energy to:
- Watch TV for 1,363 hours
- Charge an iPhone 4S 30,861 times
- Power an average new refrigerator for nearly 4 months
P&G is inviting consumers to wash in cold water for the chance to win prizes through their Take a Load Off Sweepstakes. Between now and May 13, enter daily to enter to win weekly prizes that include high-efficiency washer and dryer sets and Tide Coldwater detergent.
Take A Load Off Sweepstakes info:
Dates: Now through May 13th
Entry info: Enter once per day to increase your chances of winning. A new winner will be picked each week through May 13th.
Prize: Maytag® Bravos XL® HE Top Load Washer and Dryer and a one year supply of Tide Coldwater!
I was compensated for my time in sharing the Take a Load Off Sweepstakes but all opinions about cold water washing come from experience with the piles of laundry generated by our family. Sigh.
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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012
I'm a DC Metro area dwelling mom of 2 and former teacher with an background in classroom technology integration & school administration. I am a family internet safety & security expert, social media consultant, columnist for Parents.com and Scholastic Parents, dog owner, car enthusiast, and an avid gardener. I also work for Clever Girls Collective. {
An added bonus to washing everything cold – you only have to sort colours so you have less “categories”. Makes it easier to do laundry in little batches through the week!
Does it really make it as clean. Seems like warmer water would make things more soluble.