Press releases

Washing with Miele – more sustainable, more convenient and smarter than ever before

Gütersloh/Berlin, August 31, 2022 No. 072/2022
  • All models tested to last 20 years
  • Almost all frontloaders achieve the top A energy efficiency class
  • Up to 30 percent lower detergent consumption* through TwinDos two-phase dispensing system

Over and over again, Miele keeps on confirming its leading role in the field of sustainable laundry care – for example with excellent consumption but also with top-class performance and the ultimate in user convenience. No excessively long cycle times in the Eco programme, no trade-offs in terms of results, and even small quantities are washed energy-efficiently. Even under the clearly stricter regime of the new energy label, almost all frontloaders from Miele are now in the top A energy efficiency class. And, not to forget: As the only manufacturer in its branch, Miele tests all its front-loading washing machines to last 20 years and manufactures them with a metal content of up to 80 percent for a long, glitch-free life cycle and good recyclability. With all these efforts, Miele is making sustainability fit for everyday use – and those opting for a washing machine from Miele are making their own personal contribution towards the active protection of the environment and the climate.

To test for a life expectancy of 20 years under real-life conditions, Miele performs a battery of challenging and strenuous endurance tests to simulate 5 cycles per week or a total of 5,000 programme cycles. Other valuable contributions towards product longevity include a robust technical design and the use of high-quality materials. All models from the current W1 generation, for example, consist of up to 80 percent metal, an aspect which makes for better recyclability.

Miele also sets examples in terms of energy efficiency: Through to conversion to the new energy label in 2020, all washing machines were in the top A+++ energy efficiency class or even better by up to 50 percent – even despite the comparatively short programme cycles. Under the new label system, almost all frontloading models achieve the current top A rating.

Several Miele washing machines also feature a second inlet valve for connection to hot water, allowing further power savings of up 65 percent to be achieved. In total, average electricity consumption based on the energy label has dropped over the past 20 years by around 72 percent.

Proof that Miele washing machines are particularly environmentally friendly is provided by the most recent test by the German consumer watchdog Stiftung Warentest, in which the Miele WWD 320 WPS boasted the best environmental properties ('test' magazine, 11/2021 edition).

PowerWash – innovative wash process for lower water and electricity consumption

The basis for excellent energy efficiency combined with short cycle times is Miele's PowerWash system which uses an additional circulation pump to repeatedly transport wash water to the top of the drum. Furthermore, a special drum rhythm ensures that laundry is plastered against the walls of the drum, creating a tunnel through the middle. Thanks to this combination of features, detergent is able to penetrate the laundry load faster and more uniformly. Multiple short interim spin cycles followed by respraying the laundry with wash water (Spin&Spray) further reduces water consumption and the energy needed to heat the water. At the same time, the machines adjust the water volume effectively to the load size in hand. This not only saves time, it also reduces electricity bills.

SingleWash for washing individual garments efficiently

If only individual items need washing, cycle times can be further reduced. With SingleWash, laundry is washed fast and energy-efficiently in only 39 minutes. SingleWash adjusts water and electricity consumption and indeed the cycle time to the precise needs of the smallest of loads. For this purpose, PowerWash features additional parameters which more precisely detect the degree of drenching. This allows even individual garments to be washed where necessary without excessively high consumption.

Detergent savings and maximum convenience – with TwinDos

A significant contribution to particularly efficient detergent use comes from the TwinDos automatic liquid dispensing system. With TwinDos, up to 30 percent* of detergent can be saved, as has been independently confirmed by the reputable Freiburg-based Öko-Institut. The world's only dispensing system for two-phase liquid detergents uses the Miele UltraPhase 1 detergent to remove soiling such as grease and protein before UltraPhase 2 sets in to remove persistent stains such as those left behind by grass, red wine or coffee. The relative amounts of the two products dispensed is dictated by the type of laundry and the load size. TwinDos dispenses automatically at precisely the right point in time in the correct ratio: Over- and underdosing and the need to physically handle detergent is a thing of the past – for maximum convenience and laundry care at the touch of a button.

Intelligent energy management for washing and drying

Full transparency regarding energy consumption during washing and tips on how users can operate their machines even more sustainably and efficiently – all this is offered by the new Consumption Dashboard, which will be available on the Miele App for connectivity-enabled washing machines from 2023 onwards. The dashboard provides information on how much water and electricity has actually been used by a programme. The deeper analysis of the data is simple and concise and compares, for example, averages for all the programmes used. This reveals at a glance that the Eco 40-60 wash programme uses far less electricity compared with Cottons (40 or 60 °C). The Consumption Dashboard also shows how often a programme has been run each week, month or year. Last but not least, the total number of cycles run is listed here as, after all, operating a machine 26 instead of 30 times a month goes easier on both the wallet and the environment.

To enable the intelligent management of a solar power system, Miele is cooperating with a new partner called Smappee. The principle: Miele domestic appliances and other smart energy-using devices start automatically when the demand for electricity is low and/or a rooftop PV array is generating a plentiful supply of energy. To this end, domestic appliances – ideally washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers – are switched to AutoStart mode after loading. And there's no risk that laundry or crockery will not be ready in time: Should solar generation equipment be unable to provide sufficient power, the machines automatically switch to the grid. A similar cooperation with a focus on the integration of domestic appliances in smart energy management systems was launched in early 2022 in cooperation with Loxone, the Austrian specialist for home automation. See also Press release No. 083/2022.

*Compared with manual dispensing.

**The applications described in the text are additional digital services from Miele & Cie. KG or Miele partner companies respectively. All smart applications are enabled by the Miele@home system. The range of functions may vary depending on the model and the country.

 

Company profile: Miele is the world's leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floor care products. Their product portfolio also includes dishwashers, air purifiers, washing machines and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications. Founded in 1899, the company has eight production plants in Germany, one each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China, Romania and Poland as well as two production plants belonging to its Italian medical technology subsidiary Steelco. Sales in the 2021 business year amounted to around € 4.84 bn. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries/regions. Throughout the world, the family-run enterprise, now in its fourth generation, employs a workforce of around 22,300, of which approx. 11,200 employees work in Germany. The company has its headquarters in Gütersloh in Westphalia.

 

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Laura Friedrich
+ 49 5241 89-1961
laura.friedrich@miele.com

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As the only manufacturer in its branch, Miele tests its products to last up to 20 years, making the products particularly durable and hence sustainable. (Photo: Miele)

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With SingleWash, laundry is washed fast and energy-efficiently in only 39 minutes. (Photo: Miele)

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With the integrated TwinDos dispensing system, up to 30 percent detergent* can be saved compared with manual dispensing – as confirmed by the Öko-Institut. (Photo: Miele)

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Full transparency regarding energy consumption during washing and tips on how users can operate their machines even more sustainably and efficiently – all this is offered by the new Consumption Dashboard, which will be available on the Miele App for connectivity-enabled washing machines from 2023 onwards. (Chart: Miele)

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