HOUSEHOLDS could be wasting much-needed cash when doing the laundry by not tweaking the settings on their washing machine.
This is because many aren’t aware of a clever setting to help save energy and cut your bills.
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Most models of washing machine come with an eco-mode, that can be used to save the environment – and some cash.
These settings use less water and mean you’ll use less energy to heat it when washing your clothes.
An eco wash usually has a temperature of 30C, lower than the the typical wash setting. And despite running for a longer time too, they are more energy efficient.
Running a washing machine on normal settings three times a week could cost households around £56.57 a year in energy, according to USwitch.
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Using the eco mode on a washing machine can save between 35% and 59% of energy depending on the make and model of your appliance.
It means households could save up to £26.59 on their annual energy bills by running their appliance on eco mode.
But the exact amount depends on how much you use your washing machine, and the energy it uses, so you could stand to save more.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch said: “Eco settings on washing machines work by heating the water to a lower temperature, which uses less energy.
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“This means washing cycles can take longer to ensure the appliances leave clothes clean.
“A temperature of 30C should be sufficient for most clothes, with the exception of particularly dirty or stained items.
“If your clothes are still very wet when you take them out of the washing machine, you could make use of the spin cycle setting.
“Using the spin cycle will remove excess water, meaning your clothes will dry faster on an airer, or need less time in the tumble dryer.”
If you’re an airier, it could be a good idea to use a dehumidifier too.
Leaving clothes to dry on radiators, cooking without ventilation and failing to open windows can all create excess moisture in the air.
One of the best ways to protect your home is to invest in a dehumidifier that will keep your home moisture free.
The Sun recently tried a bargain dehumidifier from B&M to dry cloths – and we’ll never use a tumble dryer again.
More ways to save on your laundry and reduce bills
If you’re shopping for a new machine, choosing a more efficient washing machine could save up cash in the long run.
It might cost more upfront but you will spend less over the lifetime of the product.
An extra washing machine spin before you tumble dry your load could shorten the time you have the dryer on.
Tumble dryers use far more energy, so reducing this cost can add up, and of course in better weather avoid it altogether if you can hang it out to air dry.
Reducing the number of loads you do can cut your usage and bill, and making sure your doing a full load each time is one way to do this.
What energy bill help can I get this winter?
Thousands of households are due up to £25 in free cash after cold weather payments were triggered in hundreds of postcodes.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hands out the free cash to help support hard-up Brits during cold spells.
And eligible households get the cash paid directly into their bank accounts within 14 days.
The cold weather payments are made in locations where residents experience continuous below-zero weather.
Households can get £25 during each seven-day period of low temperatures from now until March 31.
Cold weather payments were triggered in almost 300 postcodes in November – meaning that thousands of households are owed cash.
Plus, millions are due up to £600 in winter fuel payments.
You should have received yours by January 26, 2024 at the latest.
If you haven’t got your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits.
Those details can be found in the letters they have sent you.
And if you’re found to be ineligible for the winter fuel payment but want to challenge that decision, there’s a government form for that, too.
Millions on benefits will also receive the final £299 cost of living payment in February.
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We’ve previously explained who’s eligible and whether you’ll need to act to get it.
Additional support is also offered by councils in the UK through the Household Support Fund.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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