Do My Washer and Dryer Emit EMF Radiation?


radiation and washer dryers

When we think of EMF radiation the first things that come to mind are usually items such as cellphones, laptops, and T.V.s; however, did you know that common household appliances such as washing machines and dryers can also emit EMF radiation?

Do Washing Machines and Dryers Emit EMF Radiation?

Yes, washers and dryers, like other appliances, do in fact emit EMF radiation. As with other appliances, the amount of radiation your washer and dryer emit depends on your proximity to the machines. The closer you are to your washer and dryers the more EMF radiation you will be exposed to.

For this reason, it is recommended that you leave the room when your washer and dryer are in use. Although leaving the room may not eliminate your exposure entirely, as we will discuss later on, getting away from the machines when they are in use will help to reduce your exposure.

How much EMF radiation does my washing machine emit?

The amount of EMF radiation that you are exposed to when using your washing machine will depend on how close you are to your washing machine as well as what part of the machine you are closest to. As was previously stated the closer you are to the machine the higher the amount of radiation that you will be exposed to.

The average washing machine will emit EMF radiation within the following ranges:

1-inch Distance: 7 mG – 400 mG (milliGauss)

1-foot Distance: 0.8 mG – 3 mG

3-foot Distance: 0.2 mG – 0.48 mG

This is quite high when you consider the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, recommends that you limit your exposure to between 0.5 mG and 2.5 mG.

However, not only does proximity effect the amount of EMF radiation that you will be exposed to, but which part of the washing machine you are closest to will effect your exposure as well. The parts that emit the most EMF are the control panel of the washing machine and the motor of the washing machine.

How much EMF Radiation does my dryer emit?

Similar to a washing machine, the amount of EMF radiation that you are exposed to from your dryer will depend on your proximity to the machine as well as which part of the machine you are closest to.

The average dryer will emit EMF radiation within the following ranges:

1-inch Distance: 30 mG – 70 mG (milliGauss)

1-foot Distance: 1.5 mG – 29 mG

3-foot Distance: 0.1 mG – 1 mG

As you can see, clothes dryers can potentially emit MUCH more EMF radiation than washer machines can; however, just like washing machines, the part of the clothes dyer that emits the most radiation will be the control panel.

How to minimize the amount of EMF radiation that your washer and dryer emit?

For starters, one of the simplest ways to reduce the amount of EMF radiation that your washer and dryer expose you to is to leave the room when the machines are in use. As was previously mentioned the closer you are to the appliances the more radiation that you will be exposed to.

Sometimes though simply leaving the room is not enough. For example, if your washing machine is located in the laundry room, and directly behind the wall that the washing machine is connected to is a bed or a couch, then the person sitting or lying in that space will be hit with large amounts of EMF radiation.

For this reason, it is best to assure that things such as beds and couches are not placed directly behind walls that have washers and dryers on the opposite side.

Another way to help minimize the amount of EMF radiation that you are exposed to from your washer and dryer is buy purchasing a machine that is very basic. These days washers and dryers are becoming so advanced that you can link them to your smart phone and control them from your phone.

Obviously, washers and dryers that are this advanced will emit more radiation than those that do not have WiFi capabilities.

All in all it may be impossible to completely eliminate the amount of EMF radiation that your washer and dryer emit, but considering things such as proximity to your washer and dryer as well as the complexity of your machines can go a long way in reducing your exposure to the EMF radiation.

How to measure the amount of EMF radiation your washer and clothes dryer emit?

One of the best ways to measure just how much EMF radiation your washer or dryer emits is to purchase an EMF meter. You can get an EMF meter for as little as $20 and they can be found at stores such as Walmart, Home Depot and Best Buy.

However, if you are serious about measuring EMF radiation in your home, then I recommend getting a good quality EMF meter like the Trifield (click to see it on Amazon). This EMF meter is considered the industry standard is is the one that I use personally.

Recommended Products and Conclsuion

If you are concerned about your exposure to EMF radiation, then you have to check out these products below:

In conclusion it is very difficult not to expose yourself to EMF radiation when you are using your washer and dryer; however, as was mentioned above, there are many things you can do to help reduce the amount of EMF radiation that you are exposed to such as:

  • leaving the room when your washer or dryer is in use
  • avoid placing washers or dryers on the opposite side of areas that people may occupy such as beds and couches
  • purchase washers and dryers that are simple.

Another important thing to consider if you are concerned about how much EMF radiation your washer or dryer is emitting is purchasing an EMF meter. These meters are cheap and can be found at places such as Home Depot or Walmart.

It is important to do all you can to try and reduce the amount of EMF radiation that you are exposed to. Reducing the amount of EMF radiation that your washer and dryer expose you to is only another step to helping reduce your exposure to EMF radiation.   

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