Water used includes the fills and rinses of the cycle, as well as any corrections made by the control system. There is no single volume for all washing machines of the same format.
What changes the amount
The program, load mass and absorbency, rinse options, the selected level when available, and automatic adjustments all play a role. A correction for suds or imbalance can also change the total. The designation HE does not replace the measured value.
How to compare or measure
Use data from the same test, or record a cycle with the load and options identified. For a home reading of the supply meter, avoid other water use during the measurement and recognize that leaks or shared use make the appliance attribution invalid. Do not open piping or dismantle meters.
Liters per kilogram = liters per cycle ÷ dry mass washed. As an illustrative example, 48 liters for 6 kg equals 8 L/kg; those same 48 liters for 3 kg equals 16 L/kg. This does not mean that any program uses the same amount with a half load.
If the figure is in gallons, identify the system: one U.S. gallon is approximately 3.785 liters and one imperial gallon is 4.546 liters. The regional labels may use different comparison bases.
Cost and scope of the data
Convert liters to cubic meters by dividing by 1,000 and apply the local variable water supply and sanitation rate that applies. Hypothetical example: 50 liters and a total rate of 3 monetary units/m³ give 0.15 monetary units, excluding fixed charges.
Some washer-dryers use additional water during drying. A sudden increase may also require diagnosis; it should not be explained only by normal settings or corrected through improvised reuse.
Compare total water for the same washing need, with the result and dry mass recorded.