Running a washing machine costs more than most people realise. In a typical South African home, laundry accounts for a meaningful share of monthly water and electricity spend, and small habits compound quickly over a year.
The good news is that efficient laundry does not require expensive upgrades. A few consistent changes to how you load, set up, and run your machine can reduce resource use without affecting wash quality.
Key takeaways from this guide:
- Cold or warm washes (30°C–40°C) use significantly less electricity than hot cycles
- Full loads use the same water as half loads — spacing washes saves water
- Higher spin speeds extract more water from fabric, reducing the time and energy needed to dry
- A-rated washing machines provide a more efficient starting point for all these habits
5 Ways to Save Water and Electricity
These five habits form the practical foundation of an efficient laundry routine:
- Wash at lower temperatures (30°C–40°C) for everyday loads
- Run full loads to reduce the total number of cycles per week
- Use eco mode for lightly to moderately soiled clothing
- Increase spin speed to reduce drying time and energy use
- Keep up with basic maintenance to sustain machine performance
Let’s examine each of these in more detail.
Does Wash Temperature Really Affect Your Electricity Bill?
Yes, and the difference is more substantial than most people expect. Heating water is the most energy-intensive part of a wash cycle, accounting for up to 90% of the electricity used per load. (Source)
Switching from a 60°C cycle to a 30°C cycle can cut the energy used per wash by more than half. Modern detergents are formulated to work effectively at lower temperatures, so there is no meaningful trade-off in cleaning performance for everyday items like shirts, jeans, and bed linen.
Reserve hot cycles (60°C+) for items where hygiene genuinely matters: towels, cloth nappies, or bedding during illness. For everything else, 30°C to 40°C is sufficient and far more efficient.
Is It More Efficient to Run Full Loads?
Running full loads is one of the single most effective ways to reduce water and electricity use per item of clothing washed. A washing machine uses roughly the same amount of water whether it is half-full or completely loaded.
Spreading laundry across fewer, fuller cycles reduces the total number of washes per week. For a household running five half-loads where three full loads would suffice, the savings over a year add up meaningfully, both in water consumption and electricity spend.
The practical habit: sort laundry throughout the week and run cycles only when you have a full load to wash.
Which Wash Cycle Settings Save the Most Energy?
Eco mode is one of the most underused settings on modern washing machines. These cycles are specifically designed to reduce energy and water consumption, typically running at lower temperatures for a longer duration to achieve the same cleaning result.
The extended cycle time is a common reason people avoid eco mode, but the energy saving is real. For lightly to moderately soiled everyday clothing, eco mode is almost always sufficient and uses considerably less electricity per cycle than a standard wash.
Wash cycle comparison at a glance
| Setting | Typical Temp | Water Use | Energy Use | Best For |
| Hot cycle | 60°C+ | High | Very high | Towels, bedding (illness) |
| Standard warm | 40°C | Medium | Medium | Mixed everyday laundry |
| Cold cycle | 30°C or less | Medium | Low | Lightly soiled items, colours |
| Eco mode | 30°C–40°C | Low | Low | Everyday lightly soiled loads |
| Quick wash | 30°C | Low | Low | Small, lightly soiled loads only |
Does Spin Speed Affect Energy Use?
Spin speed does not significantly affect electricity use during the wash itself, but it has a direct impact on drying time. A higher spin speed extracts more water from the fabric before the load comes out of the machine.
Less moisture in the drum at the end of the cycle means less time in a tumble dryer or less time on an airer. For households that use a dryer regularly, increasing the spin speed is a simple way to reduce electricity use during the drying stage at no additional cost.
The caveat: some fabrics are sensitive to high spin speeds. Check care labels on delicates and woollens, and reserve high-speed spins for towels, jeans, and cotton items that can handle it.
Read more: Introducing Beko’s EnergySpin Technology—A Smarter, Greener Way to Do Laundry
How Does an A-Rated Washing Machine Support Efficiency?
Energy-efficient washing machines are appliances that carry an EU or South African Energy Label rating of A or above. These ratings reflect how much electricity the machine uses per wash cycle relative to its drum capacity, measured under standardised test conditions.
The label exists because not all machines of the same drum size use the same amount of energy. Older models or lower-rated appliances may draw significantly more electricity per cycle, even when the user applies all the same habits. An A-rated machine provides a more efficient baseline, which means that good habits like cold washes, full loads, and eco mode deliver proportionally better results.
For households planning a replacement, looking at the energy label alongside the purchase price gives a clearer picture of the total cost of ownership over the machine’s lifespan. Hirschs stocks a range of A-rated washing machines across different drum sizes and price points for homeowners evaluating their options.
Read more: What is Beko’s IronFinish Technology?
What Maintenance Habits Keep a Washing Machine Running Efficiently?
A well-maintained machine runs more efficiently than a neglected one. Detergent residue, limescale, and blocked filters all reduce performance over time and can increase the energy required per cycle.
Three habits make a practical difference:
- Run a hot maintenance cycle (90°C, empty drum) once a month to clear residue buildup
- Clean the detergent drawer and door seal regularly to prevent mould and blockages
- Check and rinse the filter every few weeks, especially in households washing items that shed fibres
Using the correct amount of detergent also matters. Overdosing creates excess foam, which some machines manage with additional water and rinse cycles, using more of both.
Read more: Keep Your Washing Machine Fresh and Mould-Free!
Frequently Asked Questions
For everyday clothing, 30°C removes dirt and most common bacteria effectively when a quality detergent is used. For items requiring genuine sanitisation (towels used during illness, cloth nappies), a 60°C cycle is recommended.
A modern front-loader typically uses between 50 and 70 litres per cycle. Top-loaders often use more. The exact figure depends on the model, drum size, and cycle selected. Eco mode and cold cycles generally use less water than standard warm or hot cycles.
Yes, though the amount varies by model. Switching the machine off at the wall when not in use eliminates standby draw. For older appliances, standby consumption can be higher than for newer, more efficient models.
Generally, front-loaders use less water and electricity per cycle than top-loaders of equivalent capacity. They also tend to spin at higher speeds, reducing drying time. The trade-off is typically a longer cycle duration.
Once a month is a commonly recommended interval for households running the machine regularly. If the machine develops an odour or washing performance declines, a maintenance cycle is a useful first step before investigating further.
Making Efficient Laundry a Habit
Washing machine efficiency comes down to a short list of consistent choices: lower temperatures for everyday loads, full drums before running a cycle, eco mode where the soil level allows, and basic maintenance to keep the machine performing well.
These habits work on any machine, but they deliver stronger results when the appliance itself is designed for lower resource use. Homeowners looking to replace have an opportunity to combine better habits with better hardware.
Hirschs provides guidance on energy-rated washing machines alongside other appliances suited to an efficient home.