Premium
THE COST OF WASHING CLOTHES: SOURCES OF VARIATION
Author(s) -
PURCHASE MARY E.,
BERNING CAROL K.,
LYNG ANNE L.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of consumer studies and home economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.775
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1470-6431
pISSN - 0309-3891
DOI - 10.1111/j.1470-6431.1982.tb00608.x
Subject(s) - laundry , clothing , pulp and paper industry , environmental science , waste management , business , engineering , geography , archaeology
This paper develops the national average cost of washing clothes by examining consumer research data on the frequencies of using various water temperature settings and laundry additives and by utilizing national surveys of laundry product prices. Variations in these costs are shown to be significantly affected by three variables: (1) costs increase with family size due to the higher number of loads washed, (2) costs increase in areas where phosphate detergents are not available due to an increased use of hot water and laundry additives and (3) costs increase in harder water areas due to an increased use of hot water and fabric softener. The average increased cost for energy and laundry additives per family due to the nonavailability of phosphate detergents exceeds $11.00 per year. In addition to this amount, increased wear on washing machine parts and fabrics from the use of carbonate‐built detergents significantly increases the costs to consumers in nonphosphate areas.