Energy prices are set to increase again in October by 2% which is about £35 a year for a typical household. With this in mind, many will be looking for any quick and easy way to save on their energy bills. One way to do so is through laundry habits, particularly the time of day you turn on your washing machine. Large appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers consume a lot of energy, so doing your laundry during cheaper times can really help to bring down your bills.
However, since most of us are in the dark about when energy tariffs are at their lowest, it’s all too easy to miss the opportunity and wash during peak times. Luckily, taking advantage of off-peak energy tariffs is simple, according to Allie Ogletree, an expert from Save On Energy.
Allie explained: “Your washing machine uses the same amount of energy regardless of when you run it. However, depending on your energy provider’s rates, you could still save on your energy bills by changing up what time of day you do your laundry.”
Numerous energy firms impose additional charges if you consume more electricity during peak periods, which is when most British households are more likely to use more energy at the same time.
This is frequently termed time of use rates (TOU), and if you wish to reduce expenses, it is advisable to examine your electricity plan to discover what time of day your energy rate will be most economical.
Nevertheless, the most unfavourable time to tackle laundry is probably the late afternoon or early evening, as this is when most individuals finish work and start doing household tasks immediately upon returning home.
Allie said: “A common range for peak hours is between 4pm and 7pm. So the cheapest time to do laundry for an energy plan with these higher TOU rates would be before 4pm or after 7pm and not between these three hours.”
If you take the time to organise your day and tackle laundry at the most economical time in the morning, then you’re more likely to cut costs.
The bulk of the energy required to power a washing machine is used to heat the water, so you can also reduce bills by using a cold water wash cycle.
It’s crucial to wash towels, bedding and baby clothes on a high heat of at least 60C to eliminate germs, but everyday clothing like jeans or t-shirts is perfectly fine to wash on a cooler setting at 30C.
Allie explained: “Sometimes using a super hot cycle on heavy duty is necessary to remove stains. For everyday wash cycles, though, avoid using settings that increase your energy consumption and stick with just a simple wash cycle.”
Washing machines will also consume the same amount of energy regardless of how many clothes you wash, so ensure you’re always doing larger laundry loads, as this will also help save you a little bit more cash.