operating cost of clothes washers   clothes washers About 80-85% of energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. You can reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes in two ways: use less water & use cooler water. Unless you are dealing w/ oily stains, the warm or cold water setting on your machine will generally do a good job of cleaning your clothes. Clothes washers have a significant impact on sewer costs. Look at the EnergyGuide label placed on all new clothes washers. Also look for an ENERGY STAR® label on the clothes washer you are considering. The machine may cost more to purchase but uses about a third of the energy & less water than typical machines. You will also save more on clothes drying, because most remove more water from your clothes during the spin cycle. ENERGY STAR® clothes washers come in a range of capacities from about 1.6 cubic feet up to 2.9 cubic feet. A typical large-capacity washer found in most households, is about 2.7 cubic feet. Because washers are most efficient when they are fully loaded, you should choose a size that most closely matches your laundry needs. For a family that does a lot of laundry, one of the larger models probably makes the most sense. For individuals or couples who do less laundry, a small model will be the most economical. Some ENERGY STAR® models can be stacked or mounted under a countertop. This is a useful feature if you have a limited amount of space. Check w/ the manufacturer to see which models are available in this configuration. Front-loading machines, or horizontal-axis, usually cost more to purchase, but energy savings & water savings are significant. One study noted a usage of 38% less water & 58% less energy used by front loaders versus top loaders.   consumer tips Choose a washing machine that has several options for adjusting the water level. A small load should have the option of using a smaller amount of water. Choose a model w/ a "mini- basket," a small tub that fits over the agitator to wash very small loads. Look for presoaking options. Both presoaking options & "suds saver" features conserve energy, although the latter option is rare. Choose a washing machine w/ faster spin speeds. Higher spin speeds can result in better water extraction & reduce drying times. Locate the washing machine close to the hot water tank if possible to reduce the heat loss in long-run pipes. Insulate exposed pipes. Keep your hot water heater thermostat setting at 120°F. Each 10-degree reduction in water temperature will cut the cost of washing clothes by up to 13%. Run only full washers, but do not overload. Wash most clothes in warm or cold water; rinse in cold. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut the load's energy use in half. Use the correct amount of detergent. Over-sudsing requires two washings to remove suds. It also causes more wear & tear on your clothes. Do not over-wash clothes. Delicate clothes don't need as long a wash cycle as dirty work clothes.