Appliance myths waste consumers’ time, energy and money, which is why we are here to debunk them!
1. MYTH: Cold water won’t properly wash your clothes
FACT: Modern washers are designed to clean in cold water and 90 percent of a washer’s energy goes toward the water heating. So by washing with hot water, you’re pouring money down the drain.
2. MYTH: You must rinse your dishes before they run in the dishwasher
FACT: Dishwashers and detergent clean best when starting with dirty dishes. The detergent needs food to activate. Many dishwashers use sensors to determine the “turbidity” level of the water, so if the dishwasher thinks the dishes are already clean, it will run shorter and colder.
Today, an Energy Star dishwasher uses only 4 gallons of water or less, and some estimates say you’ll use 20 gallons of water from your faucet pre-rinsing dishes. So it’s better to run the dishes through 4 times than to put them in rinsed.
3. MYTH: More soap = more clean
FACT: Just because dishwashers and washers now require less water to clean properly doesn’t mean that everyone has gotten the message to reduce our detergent use in conjunction. Too much dishwasher detergent can leave a white film on dishes.
When it comes to washers, too much laundry detergent can cause oversudsing, reducing the performance and lifespan, and leaving soap residue on your clothes.
4. MYTH: Using an old refrigerator as a second beverage refrigerator saves money
FACT: The electricity to power an old refrigerator over several years will cost more than an energy efficient replacement…and then some! Energy Star’s website cleverly offers a Refrigerator Retirement Savings calculator.
The cost to a homeowner of a 20 year old top-freezer fridge (probably 18 cu ft) would be $620 over 5 years. A new Energy Star model costs about $40/year to run vs. $125/yr. PLUS, many local utilities will actually pay you $35 or more to let them haul away your second refrigerator.
5. MYTH: Buying a more powerful A/C will cool down your space faster
FACT: The A/C will just cycle off more frequently when it reaches the temperature in the room, reducing efficiency, lifespan and causing uncomfortable temperature fluctuations. Buy a window air conditioner or room air conditioner that’s just right for your space.
6. MYTH: When the oven’s preheating chime sounds, it’s fully reached temperature
FACT: Some preheat chimes are on a timer so it shouldn’t be trusted for finicky bakers, who should test the temperature with a thermometer. For your everyday pizzas and casseroles, you’d be fine however.
7. MYTH: You don’t need to turn on your ventilation until there’s smoke
FACT: You should start running your ventilation 10 minutes before you start cooking to create an airflow and leave it running 5 minutes after you’re done for best results.
Featured image via Whirlpool