These days, it seems like everywhere you look you see laundromats advertising their new, state-of-the-art high-efficiency machines. You may have wondered whether or not these actually make a difference when it comes to how you do your laundry – and rightfully so!
We want to help clear up any questions (or misconceptions) you might have in this post. To help you make an educated decision, we’ve put together a couple of pros and cons you need to consider before you make your next visit to a neighborhood laundry.
The Pros:
Here are the upsides of a high-efficiency washer:
Save on Utilities
This pro hits right at why these washers and dryers are called high-efficiency: they use less water and electricity to do the same job as an older model. In fact, a high-efficiency washer can use less than half of the water an older washer does. And since the machines are better equipped to use and store heat, you’ll find that your laundry will dry more consistently than an older model. That means less repeats in the dryer and more savings in your pocket.
Typically High-Capacity
Another benefit that many don’t consider is that modern high-efficiency washers are also high-capacity, meaning you can wash more clothes at one time without sacrificing cleanliness. If you’ve got a big family with tons of clothes, this added benefit can be a real-life saver (and potentially a time-saver, too!)
The Cons:
High-efficiency does come with a bit of a word of warning though – so keep these in mind next time you’re headed to the laundromat:
You May Wait Longer Per Load
There has to be a trade-off somewhere with high-efficiency washers, and this is where that comes into play. Many (not all) high-efficiency washers can take a few minutes longer to wash everything. If saving those extra minutes is an important part of doing your laundry at home, keep this point in mind and ask your laundromat what their average time per load is.
They’re Easier to Unbalance
While you can certainly add more items to a high-efficiency and high-capacity machine, you have to be a bit more careful about the type of item you put in. The wrong item can unbalance your machine much easier than traditional machines, meaning you’ll experience a lot of shaking, loud noises, and possibly an uneven wash.
To avoid this, try to keep waterproof items out of your high-efficiency machine. These won’t experience the same saturation as the rest of your clothes and will make a racket (or damage your machine!). Opt to wash them by hand at home, and leave the rest of your clothes to the washer and dryer at the laundromat.
