Short washes, low temperatures and smart technologies can contribute significantly to prolonging the life of garments. The large amount of clothes that are thrown away is a serious problem for the environment, and technology in household appliances plays an important role in helping consumers to adopt a better behaviour. Making clothes last longer can be done: this is demonstrated by “The Truth about Laundry” report conducted by Electrolux Group. The study is part of a scientific research programme that has been ongoing for 7 years.
The Electrolux Care Index to measure the impact of washing
Through laboratory tests, different washing methods were tried out on various fabrics. And colour fading was monitored regularly. The result is the Electrolux Care Index, a methodology that measures the impact of different washing treatments on the clothes longevity. According to data reported by Electrolux Group, a cotton T-shirt washed at 30°C for 59 minutes, for example, will last more than 50% longer than when washed in a regular cycle at 40°C, which can last up to 120 minutes.
The results of the research
The study “The Truth about Laundry 2024” shows that most Europeans wash clothes at too high a temperature. 59% of families say they mainly wash at 40°C and above. And only 12% think that the cycle time has an impact on the life of clothes.
Furthermore, two thirds (66%) of Europeans found a shrunken or deformed garment after washing. Almost three quarters (74%) have also experienced colour fading. And almost eight out of ten Europeans (79%) recognised that mistakes in laundry are a consequence of their own actions. The most frequently cited mistake is using too high a temperature: more than a third of the sample (34%) justified this by reporting that they were unsure whether washing at 30°C would remove the stains.
Internal Electrolux Group data indicate that the 40°C cotton setting is the most frequently used in washing machines, with cycle durations typically ranging from 90 to 120 minutes. Ideally, appliances should have the lowest optimal temperature as their default setting. For this reason, in three of the latest Electrolux ranges, more than 70% of the programmes have 30°C or 20°C as their default setting.
Providing appropriate technological solutions
Although the new appliances allow consumers to adjust the default settings, Electrolux Group research reveals a general reluctance and a limited knowledge: almost 74% of Europeans use the default wash temperature, and almost 30% do not know that they can change it. Similarly, 78% of users use the default cycle time and 35% do not know that it can be adjusted. The Electrolux Care Index indicates that temperature and cycle duration significantly influence the longevity of clothes.
The latest generation appliances offer programmes that can effectively wash with a cycle of less than one hour and at a low temperature, while also saving energy. And a further support for the consumers are solutions that make appliances smart. For example, Electrolux‘s SmartSelect function allows users to save time, energy and water with just one click. Finally, another effective option is the Steam function to freshen clothes without washing.
