FTC Consumer Alert

Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection Office of Consumer and Business Education

Buying a Washing Machine?

Its a Load-ed Question

If youre in the market for a new washing machine, consider sinking your clothes into an energy-efficient

one. It will not only conserve energy but, closer to home, can help lower your utility bills.

To help consumers see just how energy-efficient a washing machine is, the Federal Trade Commission

requires manufacturers to post an EnergyGuide label on their appliances. The Guide shows how each model

measures up  energy-wise  to others of the same size.

For many years, the Guides compared top-loading models with similarly sized top-loaders, and frontloading washers with similarly sized front-loaders. But changes in technology and marketing are resulting in

changes in the law: Starting July 2000, changes to the FTCs Appliance Labeling Rule and the familiar yellowand-black EnergyGuide will make both more meaningful for consumers and manufacturers.

With front-loaders now more widely available for purchase in the U.S., the FTC has decided to require

manufacturers to provide information that will compare all washing machines of a certain size (either standard

or compact) with others of the same size, regardless of whether they are loaded from the top or the front.

The label change is expected to alert consumers to highly energy-efficient clothes washers and spur competition

among U.S. manufacturers. Front-loaders, which have been popular for years in Europe, generally are considered more energy efficient than top-loaders, although they usually are more expensive, too.

Spinning to a Different Drum

Most washing machines sold in the U.S. are top-loaders. They wash the clothes with an agitator that turns

on a vertical axis. The tub also spins the clothes dry on a vertical axis. Front-loaders work by tumbling the

clothes and then spin-drying them in a tub that rotates on a horizontal axis.

There are some exceptions: One manufacturer makes a horizontal-axis machine that loads from the top,

and another company sells a machine with an axis that is between vertical and horizontal.

Typically, front-loaders use less water  from one-third to one-half the amount that top-loaders require.

The clothes tumble in the tub, rising above the water and then falling back into it as the tub rolls on its side.

Because less water is used, less gas or electricity is required to heat the water; because the machines spin faster,

clothes get wrung out more completely, reducing the cost of running a clothes dryer.

Horizontal-axis washers (front-loaders) have one major drawback: They can cost more than vertical-axis

machines. Still, with the energy savings they provide, front-loaders may save you money in the long run. In

some areas of the U.S., utility companies, environmental groups and government agencies help sweeten the deal

by offering incentives to consumers who buy front-loaders. At the same time, there are many highly efficient

top-loaders available, too. Use the EnergyGuide to find efficient products at the price thats right for you.
Reading the EnergyGuide

The bright yellow-and-black EnergyGuide label helps consumers factor an appliances energy consumption

or efficiency and its annual operating cost into their purchasing decision. The law requires manufacturers to

place the label on most major appliances so that consumers will see it when they are considering various

models.

The EnergyGuide for clothes washers uses kilowatt-hours (a measure of electricity use) to tell how much

energy each appliance uses in a year and compares the appliance with other appliances of the same or similar

size. The range on the label  where the appliances energy use is on a continuum  is of particular benefit to

consumers: A marker shows where the particular model falls in the range and how it stacks up against the

competition.

The EnergyGuide also gives the estimated cost per year to run the particular model when it is used with an

electric water heater and with a natural gas water heater.

Saving Energy

Getting the best energy value from any washing machine depends on several energy-saving wash-day

practices. For example:

 If possible, wash one big load rather than two small ones.

 Load the washer to capacity.

 If you must wash smaller loads, select lower water levels, if possible.

 Use cold water rinses.

 Use lower temperature settings and pre-treat or pre-soak stains or heavily soiled clothing.

 Use the recommended amount and type of detergent.

 Set the thermostat on your water heater to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

For More Information

For more information on a variety of consumer protection issues, contact the FTCs Consumer Response

Center by phone, toll-free, at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) (TDD: 202-326-2502); online at www.ftc.gov;

or by mail, at Consumer Response Center, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580.

June 2000

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