Wash with cold water.
Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load's energy use in half, and using cold water will save even more. Cold water detergents can be helpful to ensure items get clean, and high-efficiency detergents (indicated by the "he" symbol) should be used when required by the manufacturer.
Wash with a cold cycle
Washing with a cold cycle can save you more than 80% of your energy consumption and cost. This is because most of the energy is used just to heat up the water in warm washes. Cold washes are just as clean as warm washes in most situation.
A colder cycle is better
For example, a 30-degree cycle can cut your washing machine's energy use in half, in comparison to a 40- to 60-degree cycle.
Given that energy prices are at their lowest between 10pm and 5am, I would advise scheduling your washing machine to run into the early hours of the morning. Doing this can help you to significantly cut down energy costs."
The colder the cycle the better
Washing your clothes at cooler temperatures, and for less time, can greatly increase your machine's energy efficiency - a 30 degree cycle can cut your washing machine's energy use in half, in comparison to a 40-60 degree cycle.
By using less energy, a quick wash will also save you money, too. But a quick wash isn't the best option if you need to wash stained clothes. The temperature is too low to lift a stain properly, so always use a full wash for this.
The quick wash isn't just quicker than the regular wash, though. You can quickly wash a few clothes without using a lot of energy, in fact, a quick wash can save up to 60% of energy* compared to a regular cotton cycle, and that's not all.
Take a look at your energy account and check your tariff rate. 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.
It's cheaper at night, when demand for power is at its lowest. This quieter period is called the off-peak hours, which usually falls between 10pm and 8am. Conversely, peak hours are during the daytime, when more people are using electricity and demand is higher. Not all energy suppliers follow time-of-use tariffs.
You want to know when electricity is cheapest. The cheapest time of day to use electricity is late nights and early mornings. These are the times of day when most people are sleeping, therefore not washing clothes or dishes. They are not watching TV and don't have many lights on throughout the house.
I always wash bedding on a Tuesday and towels on a Wednesday because these are the days that I am at home the most, and I can move everything through the laundry cycle as soon as the last stage has finished.
Choose the Right Wash Cycle
A regular cycle is best for sturdy and dirty clothes, while the permanent press setting is fine for the average load. Use the delicate cycle for lacy and loosely woven fabrics.
How can a programme like the Eco mode save energy when it takes longer? It's surprisingly simple: with the longer wash-cycle, the water doesn't need heating up as much when compared to shorter programmes.
Electricity is often cheaper late at night or early in the morning, so if you run your heaviest loads during those times, you'll be able to save on your electric bill.
Bear in mind some appliances (like fridge/freezers and TVs on standby) use electricity overnight. Visit the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to get free and impartial advice on the energy usage of your appliances.
Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves.
Using a prepayment meter
A prepayment meter is a pay-as-you-go way of funding your gas and electricity. It involves feeding a meter with tokens, using a key, or topping up online. But it's one of the most expensive ways of paying for your energy.
Try washing before 4 p.m. or after 7 p.m. – Many energy companies charge extra for electricity during their “peak hours,” which see increased energy usage. During the summer, run your washer early in the morning – energy use peaks on hot afternoons.
(1) Don't wash clothes on Thursdays
Jupiter is the planet of fortune. He is able to clear all the doshas and negativities just with his sight. They believe that our fortunes will go away if we wash the clothes on Thursdays. In those days, the people were wearing saffron coloured clothes.
Depending on how you fill your washing machine, the sort of clothes you wear and how fresh you like your clothes, the average person does laundry anywhere between one to three times a week. While this may not seem like a lot, it adds up to between 50 and 150 laundry loads every year.