I usually do the laundry and carpet vacuum on Mondays, a habit I have got into for not too long, since we had our cat Lyra, perhaps even later when we had our floor replaced completely last Thanksgiving.
Our old front-loading dryer quit working for some time, and the top-loading washer broke a couple of times. We fixed it ourselves, and it was still functioning by the time when we decided to buy a new set of washer and dryer. We chose the front-loading washer and dryer from Home Depot for $800 before last year’s Black Friday. It is said that the front-loading washing machines are highly efficient in saving water and energy. The super fast spin cycle reduces drying time and is easier on your clothing, too.
I used the stocked non-HE Tide detergent for a while. Finally I bought HE Tide liquid detergent to wash the clothes. I don’t think there is a big difference between these two detergents, it is merely for the peace of my mind. I also tried cold water for more energy saving. Neither for bedsheets and towels nor for kids’ clothes.
Be sure to clean out your lint filter after each load — it can decrease your energy use by up to 30 percent. To be even greener, you can sun-dry the towels in a clothesline on your deck or air-dry the jeans, which take longer dryer time and are still quite damp on hand. It is especially beneficial in adding some moisture to your room in dry winter.
