What time is cheapest to do laundry? We've already established that overnight is the cheapest time to do your laundry. However, that's not the only factor to consider.
During high-use energy periods in the winter, meaning in the early morning hours when people click their heaters on to warm their houses, electricity costs more. So, you save a bundle by washing and drying clothes on winter evenings, when electricity usage is at a low level and rates are much lower.
In most places (in the US anyway) after midnight is generally the best time because utility rates are cheaper. That is why when I was an appliance rep and my focus was laundry, the delay start was a feature that I pushed because if you scheduled a load of clothes to wash after midnight you could save some money.
Yes, it can be less costly to run your washer and dryer at night if you live in a region where they charge premium rates for electricity during peak hours (day time). Hot weather months have higher rates overall than more temperate months due to all the consumption by air conditioners.
Early Morning or Late at Night
Just remember one thing, avoid washing your clothes during peak hours when the units of electricity consumption get doubled, as it is not the best time to run the washer and dryer.
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer for an hour? According to Heatable, a 2500W tumble dryer costs about 85p to use for an hour. However, the tumble dryer cost per hour depends on the energy efficiency rating of your tumble dryer and the cost of energy at the time.
Off-peak hours are when electricity demand is low, usually in the afternoon and at night. They typically span from 8 PM to 4 PM and are when electricity is cheapest. Electricity tends to be cheapest at night because large power plants and wind turbines continue to produce electricity at night, even when demand is low.
This means it is best to do laundry during off-peak hours or when other households use energy less frequently. Generally, off-peak hours are between 11:00pm and 7:00am on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays, but check with your local energy provider for more details.
All in all, however, Itamar recommends avoiding laundry between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am to ensure a harmonious living environment.
Don't do laundry on New Year's Day, or a member of the family will be washed away (i.e., die) during the coming year.
Off-peak hours
So, is electricity cheaper at night? Usually, yes – the cheapest times to use electricity tend to be from 10pm-8am. * With most people in bed during this time, energy is at its lowest demand.
In the summer months, peak hours are 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. “This means you will want to decrease energy usage during the weekday peak hours in the afternoons from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.” the website states. In the winter months, peak hours are 5 a.m. until 9 a.m.
Abandon Your Clothes Overnight
Martha Stewart says leaving wet clothes overnight is “perfectly alright.” Martha's blog even says this can be a smart move if you're air drying the next morning—because sitting overnight helps get rid of excess water.
One of the most prevalent New Year's superstitions is that on January 1 no washing should be done. However, some people go one step further and make it a custom to keep any dirty clothes unwashed from Christmas until New Year's Day.
Every time you wear them: tights, leggings, yoga pants, exercise clothing, T-shirts, socks undershirts/underpants and swimming suits. Every two days: hand towels and dish towels. Every three to four times you wear or use them: bath towels, bras, slips, dresses, sweaters, skirts, pajamas, slacks and jeans.
Most people will see that they have a lower tariff overnight, usually between 11 pm and 7 am. This is the best time to do your washing as you'll save money. Saving money on electricity is only part of the equation. In order to get the best possible wash, you also need to use top-quality products.
The times for off-peak electricity vary depending on your meter, however it is normally a 7 hour window between 11pm - 8am, for example 11pm - 6am. If you're not sure when your off peak rate starts get in touch with your energy supplier.
“It's a shorter dry time for the smaller amount of clothing,” she says, adding that you're likely still saving energy and emissions as well as preserving fabrics by exposing them to less time in the dryer. Your laundry sheds tiny polluting plastic fibers.
hang the clothes as neatly with the least overlap of material. Think 3/8 on 1 side of string & 5/8 on other side. If you have a fan, have it blow towards the clothes. check & rotate the clothes every couple hours or so.
One of the main drawbacks is that washer-dryer combos often have a smaller drying capacity compared to traditional dryers. While the washing function is equivalent to that of a full-size washer, the drying function can handle only about half the load.
When demand is lower, the cheapest electricity can be found during “off-peak” hours. An example of one time-of-use rate schedule with Pacific Gas & Electric in California. Energy is usually cheapest at night, regardless of region or time of year.
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.
No. While there are reasons for utilities to give cheaper rates at night and other off-peak times for electricity, I've never heard of time-of-use rates for water. As David Samules points out, you MIGHT save on your electric bill if you have an electric water heater and your utility has a lower night rate.