Álvaro Navarrete, consultant and savings specialist, warned consumers about the dangers of using functions that accelerate washing cycles on clothes washing machines, such as VarioSpeed or SpeedPerfect. In statements to the Spanish newspaper El Español, Navarrete left a clear recommendation: "Never touch it unless you really need to". The specialist explained that there is a mistaken idea that shorter cycles consume less energy, when in reality the opposite can happen, since to complete the wash more quickly, the equipment may need to use more energy.
Navarrete argued that acceleration functions should be reserved for moments of real need and that the alternative for those who are not in a hurry is the longer programs designed to reduce consumption. The specialist gave the Eco program as an example, which although it takes about two hours and 40 minutes, can consume substantially less energy than faster alternatives, using lower temperatures and prolonging certain phases of the cycle.
The European ecodesign regulation itself uses the Eco 40-60 program as the reference for the energy efficiency of domestic washing machines. In addition to this recommendation, Navarrete pointed out other habits that can help reduce consumption, such as better utilizing the drum capacity instead of doing washes with little laundry, periodically cleaning the filter to avoid difficulties in the equipment's operation, and using delayed start to concentrate operation during periods when electricity is cheapest.
