With the cost of living weighing on UK households and energy bills taking an even greater toll on family budgets, finding ways to cut costs is becoming increasingly important.
From care to washing temperature, here are some tips from consumer group Which? to help you save up to £162 on laundry costs this winter.
1. Wash at low temperature
The average washing machine costs around £77 a year to do four washes a week.
Who? tested a range of washing machines to see how washing at low temperatures affected cleaning and energy consumption. Going from 40°C to 30°C saved an average of 38% energy or £29. An even lower temperature of 20°C saved 62% energy or £48 per year.
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Lowering the temperature of your laundry doesn't mean you have to compromise on cleaning power. Instant proof of which? found that modern machines do a good job most of the time, unless you're washing heavily soiled clothes.
2. Keep your dryer in good condition
Who? He tested the performance of heat pump dryers on 20 drying loads and found that some machines used 50% more energy on the 20th load than on the first.
The main reason dryers become less efficient is that the bottom filters often become clogged with dust and lint.
The average heat pump tumble dryer costs around £68 a year to run three loads a week, so the extra energy use due to clogged filters could add around £34 to the annual cost.
To prevent your dryer from becoming inefficient, you should clean and drain the filter regularly.
3. Stop doing small daily washes
The most efficient way to wash clothes is to fill the drum instead of washing fewer clothes with a quick cycle.
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The quick programs or the speed up buttons reduce energy consumption slightly, but not as effectively as larger regular washes less regularly.
Who? It previously verified the effect of the Boost features on cleaning and energy in May 2019, finding dramatic differences between the three machines tested.
One machine reduced energy use by only about 20%, while another halved it, not enough to justify daily washing.
A larger normal wash four times a week ended up using 17% less energy than the average of three daily quick washes. This would mean an annual saving of around £13 on the average washing machine. You'll also save more by using less detergent.
4. Change the detergent
Don't assume that the well-known powder, capsule or liquid detergents wash your clothes better.
Who? tested 36 different detergents and found that the most expensive detergent tested cost 40p per wash, but one of the top rated supermarket detergents costs just 8p per wash and cleans just as well.
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Switching to a cheaper detergent could save you nearly £67 a year if you use your machine four times a week.
5. Look for value for money
If you love bargains or are on a tight budget, look for the value for money badge from which? in reviews. The badge is awarded to products that offer good value for money.
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