The majority of French households have a washing machine but many are unaware of the real cost of a cycle. Find out what it really costs you when you do laundry.
The washing machine is the essential household appliance, which we use almost every day depending on the composition of the household. But, as practical as it is, it also represents a cost to take into account in your budget. So if you want to know how much a washing machine cycle really costs, read what follows!
According to Ademe (Ecological Transition Agency), an average household carries out around 200 washing cycles per year. You should know that during one cycle, an average washing machine (class B or C) consumes around 50 liters of water and 0.5 kWh of electricity. However, this data varies from one washing machine to another and depending on the energy rating of the device. Indeed, a machine classified A will consume less water and electricity than a device classified F or G, which is why it is important to take this criterion into account when purchasing to avoid unpleasant surprises on arrival.
For an average washing machine, this represents 0.74 euros per cycle, or 148 euros per year for 200 machines. This amount includes electricity, water and standard laundry detergent. Washing at cold or low temperature significantly reduces the electricity consumption of a washing machine and the cost drops to 0.50 euros per cycle. Although this type of cycle preserves the colors, you should know that it is not suitable for removing stubborn stains. A cycle at 60°C increases the price to almost 1 euro per cycle.
In terms of laundry, an average household would consume around 8 cans of liquid detergent each year, the equivalent of around 80 euros. And if you add to this a softening budget of around 4 or 5 euros per can for 40 washes, this equates to a cost of around twenty euros per year. And, as practical as they are, anti-fading wipes represent a significant budget if you add them to each cycle because the average cost of a pack of 20 wipes is 6.50 euros.
Good to know: ready-to-use single-dose detergents, sold in the form of tablets or capsules, are more expensive than liquid or powder detergents and therefore generate a higher average cost per wash.
