Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: Goosegirl on January 16, 2023, 11:02
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Do I use programmes on my washing machine and dishwasher that have a shorter run time but a higher temperature, or one with a longer run time with a lower temperature?
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Most of the electricity is used to heat the water!
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Unless things are really dirty/stained, rather than just worn for a couple of days, I find shorter time at usual temperature works just fine.
Most things have a recommended temp on the label, so raising the temp isn't a good idea IMO
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My guess would be that heating the water to a higher temperature would use far more electricity than a longer run time - whether you are happy with the results of a low-temperature wash is another matter though. :unsure:
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Lower temp and longer run time for me too (unless stained etc., as already mentioned).
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Our wash takes an hour and three-quarter, and starts from cold and only gets to around 40 degrees, so I guess we're happy with that!
The water feed is only from the cold pipe...
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Use Aldi Almat Bio washing powder for clothes & save yourself a fortune.
Which tested lots of powders, pods & liquids & it came out top for cleaning, even on a short wash, plus it's cheap.
I bought some to try & after seeing how well it did, can't wait to finish off the rest of the far more expensive pods.
Even better; it's NOT perfumed to heck!
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Our wash takes an hour and three-quarter, and starts from cold and only gets to around 40 degrees, so I guess we're happy with that!
The water feed is only from the cold pipe...
My 'cheapo Beko' machine is cold fill as well, and tells me how long each wash I select will take, and my 'daily quick' at 40C takes 40 mins, which, as I said before, is fine for clothes that aren't badly stained.
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Thanks all. I'll use the longer time prog.
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At times like this, I always wish that more rugby shirts were made with dark collars...
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My washing machine defaults to a 40C wash on most programs - 30C is an option which I have yet to try... :unsure:
Has anyone tried it with their machine, and what were the results like?
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I've only tried it for my wool jumpers (none of which are pale colours) and it works ok for those. How it would cope with white/pale colours, I'm not so sure...
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The dirty gardener suggests it won't.
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I've only tried it for my wool jumpers (none of which are pale colours) and it works ok for those. How it would cope with white/pale colours, I'm not so sure...
Mine shrank a little, but next time, I'll hang them out in the shower while wet, as they usually get back their shape and length!
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Mine shrank a little, but next time, I'll hang them out in the shower while wet, as they usually get back their shape and length!
That's weird, mine are 100% Scottish wool and haven't shrunk at all - I dry them on a flat airer, also in the warmth of the bathroom :)
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Yes, we often dry them out over the stairs on one of those bannister flat hangers, but the last time I did that, either I'd put on a stone and a half, or the stairs had altered a little..;0)
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Most of mine are done at 30 degrees - M&S has put this temp for every single item of clothing for years (even cotton!) and it can be difficult to know which actually need it ...
As a general rule, it does fine.
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Regarding lower temperatures.
I's not very well publicised & far too many gas central heating "service engineers" don't bother doing it but setting the actual water temperature for your CH lower can significantly reduce heating costs.
Mine (19th century sandstone terrace house, so dodo insulation) is currently set at 58°C & compared to last winter, I'm using at leat 10% less gas.
More info here: https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/articles/turn-down-the-boiler-flow-temperature (https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/articles/turn-down-the-boiler-flow-temperature)
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Just had a new gas boiler installed and have a reduced flow rate.
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I've experimented with lowering the C/H flow temperature, and find I have to make compromises to avoid the house taking too long to warm up in the morning if it's set too low.
Every house (and its occupant/s) will be different - I've made a mental note to reduce the flow temperature as far as possible when it warms up a little to try to keep the boiler running as efficiently as possible.