Appliances are an essential convenience in our modern lives, but this does come at a cost. While most modern appliances are designed to be as energy efficient as possible, there are some appliance myths that could be wasting both your money and time. So, here we will explore some of the more common myths to help you avoid paying over the odds.

You can’t Wash Clothes Properly in Cold Water

Of course, you want your clothing to be clean and fresh, and no one likes to have to rewash items. For this reason, the myth that you can’t wash clothing properly in cold water has gained a lot of traction. In fact, most modern washing machines are designed to provide effective cleaning at a range of temperatures from cold water up to 90 degrees. Since up to 90 percent of the energy of your washing machine is used to heat water, the hotter your washing temperature, the more your laundry is costing. Unless you have specific cleaning requirements, such as stain removal, you should try using cold wash cycles to save money on your wash.

Dishes Should Be Rinsed Before Running the Dishwasher

Many people have an established routine of scraping and rinsing all their dishes before they are loaded in the dishwasher. While this may seem like a logical practice, it could be costing you money. Modern dishwashers and detergent products clean at their best when they begin with dirty dishes. Most detergents need food in order to activate, and the appliances use sensors to assess the “turbidity” levels of the water. This means that if the dishwasher determines that the dishes are clean, it will run a colder and shorter cycle.

While this would appear to save water and therefore energy and money, you need to consider what you’re using to rinse your dishes. A typical Energy Star certified dishwasher uses approximately 4 gallons of water for a full cleaning cycle. Some experts suggest that using your faucet to pre-rinse your dishes could use up to 20 gallons of water. This means that you would need to run your dishwasher four times to use the same amount of water. So, while it is a good idea to scrape your dishes to remove excess food debris, there is no need to rinse them before you load your dishwasher.

More Detergent = Better Cleaning

While most of are aware that modern washing machines and dishwashers use less water, you may not be aware that you also need to scale down your detergent. Many appliance users believe the myth that using more detergent will automatically result in better cleaning. In fact, using too much detergent can result in a film being left on clothing or dishes. Additionally, using excessive detergent can cause too many suds, reducing the performance and overall lifespan of the appliance.

Keeping an old Refrigerator Can Save Money

If you’re upgrading your kitchen and investing in a new refrigerator, you may have considered saving a little money and keeping your old refrigerator as a second appliance in a garage or utility area. Unfortunately, this may not be the case. The electricity needed to power an old appliance over several years could add up to more than the cost of buying a new energy efficient replacement. The Energy Star official website has a savings calculator that explains that if you used a 20 year old refrigerator, it would use $620 to run over 5 years.

No home is complete without appliances, but if your appliances are getting older, they may be wasting energy. You can explore your options with this online collection of fantastic kitchen appliances or consult a home appliance specialist for further help.