As anyone who’s ever properly looked at their energy usage will tell you, home appliances are some of the main culprits for sky-high electricity and water bills. As we all want to save energy, save money, and help the planet at the same time, a wide range of high-tech washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers have been launched over the past few years. These new appliances are much more energy efficient than their predecessors, and offer a wide range of functions. But even if you don’t have a new washing machine, there are several simple things you can do to reduce your bills and help save the planet.
Turn the Dial Down
By far the simplest and most effective thing you can do to make your wash more eco-friendly is to do your wash on a lower temperature. This small change can make a huge difference, as 90 percent of the energy used by a typical washing machine is used to heat the water. It may be a good idea to experiment with a few settings to ensure the quality of your wash is not affected, but wash on the lowest setting you can get away with and you’ll save money and help the planet. Moreover, washing on a lower temperature may even help the lifespan of your clothes, as hot washes can cause clothes to shrink or fade more quickly than colder washes.
Watch your Load Size
Make sure you plan your washing routine to ensure that you’re only ever washing full loads, as too many half loads will simply waste energy that could be more productively used elsewhere. Of course, there’s bound to be the odd occasion where you need an item urgently and therefore can’t do a full wash – but, in general, good planning should ensure you’re usually washing full loads and therefore using your washing machine in the most effective way possible.
Get Back to Nature
It’s all too easy to throw your wet clothes in the tumble dryer after washing. After all, they’ll be dry in a few hours with a minimum of effort, and you can get on with doing more interesting things. However, dryers use huge amounts of energy and should be avoided if you’re trying to cut your bills and save the planet. Instead, hang your clothes to dry on a clothesline or airer – this process will admittedly take longer to complete, but it is well worth it in the long run.