As electricity prices are being hiked, you might be wondering where you can save a few kilowatts in your home.
WATCH: How to make your own laundry labels
We’ve talked about the air conditioner temperature that will save you money in winter. But what about the rest of your home?
The laundry can be a bit of a power sucker, depending on your appliances, but there are some things you can do to save money on electricity in this room.
Of course, the cheapest way to save money in the laundry room is to ditch the dryer and let the sun work its magic drying your clothes. But in winter, drying clothes quickly can be challenging without a dryer.
Thankfully, there are two washing machine settings that can help save you money.
Cold wash cycle
As Choice laundry expert Ashley Iredale says here, the cost of a warm water wash cycle isn’t worth it.
“Cold water washes clothes almost as well as warm water, and the difference is so small that the energy and cost of a warm cycle are just not worth it. Modern enzyme-based laundry detergents are designed for cold water washing, so your clothes will get a great clean,” she says.
Extra spin cycle
Regardless of how you plan to dry your clothes, whether on the clothesline or in the dryer, running an extra spin cycle will remove excess water. Your clothes will dry faster and you will save money using your dryer less.
If you need the dryer, running it on medium heat instead of high will take longer but still use less energy.
More laundry money-saving tips:
- Use less detergent. Nicole Gibson is the Laundry Queen at Soka Australia. She said it all comes down to how much detergent you use when washing your clothes. “Less is more with detergent”, she says. “People think using more detergent will give you a better clean, but it does the opposite.” Using too much detergent is also making your clothes crunchy.
- Stop buying fabric softeners. Many fabric-softer ones contain ingredients that don’t break down in the water. Instead, they remain on your clothes, building up over time. If you want to soften your clothes, try adding a cup of vinegar to the cycle.
- Choose your washer and dryer carefully. Read our list of 5 top-rated energy-efficient clothes dryers to invest in for greener laundry.
You might also like:
5 ways to makeover your laundry
The 15 best laundry hacks of all time
Why you shouldn’t always use the quick setting on your washing machine
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