If you wash and dry weekly, you probably don't think that every load costs money. But all energy and detergent use costs around £ 160 a year.
Small changes can lower these costs and make big savings later, saving you around £ 100 a year.
Check out the video below and read our tips on how to save money. And if you need a replacement, check out our washer and dryer reviews .
Video: Save € 100 per year on laundry costs
1. Wash at 30 ° C or 20 ° C if possible
- Total Savings: £ 24
We tested a number of washing machines in 2020 to see how washing at lower temperatures affected cleaning and energy consumption.
On average, a change from 40 ° C to 30 ° C saved 38% energy and a descent to 20 ° C 62%.
The average washing machine costs around 38 euros per year for four washes per week. So changing to 30 ° C would reduce £ 13 of that, while 20 ° C would reduce £ 24.
Lowering the temperature doesn't mean you have to sacrifice stain resistance either.
Our instant test found that modern machines (especially our best purchases ) still work well most of the time, unless you're doing very dirty laundry.
Follow our tips for cleaning at low temperatures:
- If you cannot find a 30 ° C or 20 ° C program in your washing machine, you may be able to reduce the temperature of a laundry manually to 40 ° C using the temperature control.
- Switching to a liquid laundry detergent will help remove stains. We have found that stubborn stains are easier to remove with a liquid than with a powder at 30 ° C and 20 ° C.
- Pre-treat stubborn stains with a drop of diluted detergent for easier removal.
According to recommendations from the NHS and the government, doing normal laundry reduces the risk of spreading germs such as the coronavirus. While there are a few times you might want to wash at a higher temperature, read our story on washing clothes and killing germs to learn more.
Find out more: Break your laundry habit and help reduce the carbon footprint of 400,000 cars
2. Take proper care of your dryer
- Total savings: £ 20
When we tested the performance of a number of heat pump dryers with 20 loads, we were surprised by the results.
Some ended up using 50% more energy than they did at the beginning. The average heat pump dryer costs around € 39 per year for three washes per week. So you can quickly see how this could add almost € 20 to your annual laundry bills.
This is because the filters are clogged with dust and lint from your clothes.
To prevent your dryer from becoming ineffective, just follow these simple steps:
- Find your filter on the bottom of the dryer; it can be hidden behind a flap. You may have to push two small levers inward to unlock them.
- Once unlocked, remove the filter by removing lint and larger hair from the heat exchanger and its housing.
- Rinse the filter under a cold tap until it is completely free of dust and dirt. Do not start cleaning the lower filter before the dryer has cooled down after the last drying cycle.
- Make sure the filter is completely dry before putting it back in the machine.
Learn more in our full article on how to effectively dry your heat pump dryer .
If you are looking for a new dryer, buying an Eco Buy model instead of a condenser model can save you an average of up to € 60 per year. Visit our Green Shopping Filters & Dryers Reviews.
3. Stop doing little washes every day
- Total savings: £ 7
It is very easy to put some clothes in the wash and put them on a quick program.
These quick programs or speed buttons slightly reduce energy consumption when washing, but not in the same way as capacity.
Therefore, it is much more economical to handle fewer large loads than small daily loads.
When we checked the effect of the booster functions on cleanliness and energy in May 2019, we saw significant differences between the three tested.
One reduced energy consumption by almost 20%, another cut it in half. But that's not enough to justify daily washing.
A larger, regular wash four times a week consumed 17% less energy than the average of the three daily quick washes.
That would save around £ 7 a year for the average washing machine. It may not sound like much, but keep in mind that using your laundry detergent slowly will also save you money. more on this below.
4. Switch to a Best Buy detergent
Total savings: £ 50
It is no longer worth spending on detergent. We have found some better, more affordable purchases that are as low as 7p per wash.
Compare that to some of the most expensive on the market, which can cost 31p per wash.
Add that on for a year and you'll save almost £ 50 based on four washes a week.
Best of all, of course, since it's a Best Buy, you always get a top notch stain resistant cleaner.
You can find out which inexpensive detergent won our tests in our detergent test reports .
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