Is domestic washing machine use sustainable?

Clothes will often automatically be washed without too much consideration because it involves little effort and because the environmental effects of that washing process remain unseen and consequently unconsidered. This essay will examine what sustainability means in the context of the use of domestic washing machines. Initially the term 'washing machine' will be defined. These are household appliances commonly used in developed countries such as Australia which require inputs of electricity, water and detergent in order to wash clothes and linen. There are a myriad of brands and model variations available, with the main category choice being between front loading and top loading machines. Front loaders use between 50% and 143% less energy than top loading machines. The use of these machines generates a significant proportion of domestic water and electricity demands, while the use of detergents releases potential pollutants into the environment via the grey water that is produced. In meeting our present requirements for clean clothes and linen by using washing machines are we depleting resources and creating pollution that may affect future generations in a negative way