Vinegar: Not Just for Fries
Give your laundry a boost by adding ½ cup of vinegar to the wash cycle. Vinegar equalizes the pH of your laundry detergent, resulting in cleaner, softer clothes (that won’t smell like you’ve been eating fish and chips).
Green Laundry Facts
- A typical washing machine uses 90% of its energy to heat the water; only 10% is actually required to run the motor. Cold water washing reduces the machine’s energy needs dramatically.
- Every household could save some 45kg (99 lbs) of carbon dioxide emissions each year if they ran only full loads of laundry.
- The average increase in energy efficiency for a washing machine between 1981 and 2003 is 88%.
- A front-loading washing machine saves approximately 26 498 litres (7,000 US gallons) of water each year compared to a top-loading washing machine.
Laundry by The Numbers: Water Temperature
For optimal cleaning results, water temperature must be above 15°C (60°F). Otherwise the ingredients in laundry detergent will not activate. In other words, if your water is too cold, your detergent won’t work.
Tip: wash your hands – if the water is too cold for your hands, it is too cold for your washer.
Manufacturers recommend the following water temperatures:
- Hot water – most white & heavily-soiled laundry 49-60°C (120-140°F)
- Warm water – most other types of fabric 26-40°C (80-105°F)
- Cold water – bright & lightly-soiled laundry 18-24°C (65-75°F)
How Cold Should I Keep My Refrigerator?
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recommends that refrigerators be set at or below 4°C (40°F). Food kept above this temperature for two hours or more may grow pathogenic bacteria and should not be eaten. Use a refrigerator thermometer to routinely check the temperature of your appliance.
Microwave Cooking, By Accident!
Microwave cooking technology was discovered accidentally by American engineer Percy Spencer in 1946 as he was working near a magnetron – a device that emits microwave radiation – with a chocolate bar in his pocket. The chocolate melted and sparked an idea: after further experiments with eggs and popcorn, Spencer discovered that microwave radiation could raise the temperature of food. The finding revolutionized modern cooking.
How Does a Microwave Oven Work? (?)
Microwave ovens use radio waves that operate at an extremely high frequency. Safe and clean waves are introduced into the food, absorbed by fats, water and sugar, which are then transformed into atomic energy, or heat, that cooks food from the inside out.
Microwave energy is not absorbed by plastic, glass and most ceramics. It is, however, reflected by metal, so never, ever use aluminum foil in the microwave.
Increase the life of your clothing
Clothing damage can be seen in the amount of lint in your dryer! Front load washing machines are gentler on fabric and can increase the life of your clothing.
Convection Tips
- When converting standard recipes to convection recipes, the rule of thumb is to reduce oven temperature by 15°C (approx. 25°F).
- When switching from conventional to convection, be sure to write down the new cooking time or oven temperature on your recipes for future reference.
- Best types of pans per cooking method:
- Convection – cookie sheets, shallow pans
- Conventional – covered casseroles, deep pans or dishes
- Keep the oven door closed! Every time you open the door, precious heat escapes, affecting the evenness of your cooking and your energy bill. Look through the window instead.
- Shiny, reflective pans are best for baking in a convection oven as they will prevent the crust from browning too fast, which might happen in pans of a darker finish.
Do Energy Star-qualified products cost more?
No! Energy Star products don’t cost more than conventional models. They do, however, save you money thanks to reduced energy consumption.
Are EnerGuide and Energy Star the same thing?
No, but you often see them together when shopping for an appliance. Both help you to identify a product’s energy performance: EnerGuide gives you the energy performance and Energy Star points out the most energy-efficient models in that product category.
Energy-saving laundry tips
- Clothing damage can be seen in the amount of lint in your dryer! Front load washing machines are gentler on fabric and can increase the life of your clothing.
- You waste 64 litres (17 gallons) of water each time you use a non-Energy Star qualified washing machine. Switch over, and you could save enough to pay for your Energy Star dryer.
- If your clothes washer is over 10 years old, you are paying about $135 more per year on your utility bill than if you were using a new Energy Star model.