Modern washing machines and dishwashers always have an eco program. During such an eco-wash cycle, the appliance can be busy for more than three hours. Can such a long procedure really protect the environment?

Why does the Eco program take so long?

Washing and rinsing require a lot of energy to heat up the water. To live up to the name "Eco program," the machine doesn't heat the water as much for the Eco wash cycle, so it uses less electricity.

To ensure that the machine's contents still get clean at lower wash temperatures and also with less water and are dry at the end of the program, the machine has to process dishes or laundry for longer to do so.

How long does the Eco program last?

Due to the longer rinsing and washing time as well as soaking time, the Eco programs can sometimes take up to four or five hours. The decisive factors here are the model, the appliance and the water temperature. 

For dishwashers, the eco mode can take up to four hours. For washing machines, the range is between two and three hours.

Eco program: How high is the temperature?

Legislation does not stipulate that eco programs must reach the temperature indicated on the machine, only that they must achieve a certain washing performance. 

Manufacturers take advantage of this and reduce the water temperature. How much they do this varies among the products of different brands. The water may be at 40 degrees or below on a washing machine's 60-degree Eco program.

Will the laundry still get really clean?

In a private household, washing moderately soiled laundry at temperatures of 40, 30 or even 20 degrees is usually enough. Washing and subsequent drying usually sufficiently reduces germs. 

Those who have a contagious disease or a weakened immune system must wash their laundry at higher temperatures for reasons of hygiene. But even with the 60-degree program, you should rather avoid the Eco setting in such cases. This is because Stiftung Warentest has found that washing machines do not achieve this high water temperature in eco mode despite the 60-degree setting. 

Will the dishes get clean in the Eco program?

Even with the dishwasher, it can make sense to clean the dishes without an Eco program. Although several studies and tests have confirmed that germs, bacteria and viruses are also removed at lower wash temperatures, pathogens can still settle in some hard-to-reach places. Moreover, if the item is then not properly placed in the dishwasher, even the detergents and the water jet cannot remove them.

Stiftung Warentest also found that cleaning performance is also achieved in the Eco program. Due to the longer rinsing process or the longer exposure time, even "burnt oatmeal or dried minced meat sauce" could be removed, according to the testers.

Does the Eco program really save energy?

Those who use the Eco program not only protect the environment, but can also save money. A 60-degree Eco program has the washing performance of a normal wash at 60 degrees, but uses cooler water and thus requires less electricity.

And it pays off: because if you wash once at 60 degrees, you can wash twice at 40 degrees or even three times at 30 degrees instead. 

Comparing the Eco program to a highway trip makes it even clearer: You can cover 100 kilometers at breakneck speed and use a lot of fuel in the process. You can also work the pedal less hard and thus save fuel - but you'll just be driving a little longer.