How much water does a washing machine use?

Standard washing machines use about 23 gallons of water on average, per load. Older models of washing machines use between 40 and 45 gallons of water. That is about 12,000 gallons of water each year for a family of four.

Most modern washing machines are at least partially energy-efficient, using an average of 14 to 25 gallons of water per load. This is less than half of what older models use. By switching to this type of machine, about 6,000 gallons of water is saved each year. High-efficiency models, like Energy Star, only use 15 gallons of water for every load. This not only reduces water usage, but also reduces wear and fading on clothing.