7 ways to cut your summer laundry costs
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Whether you’re planning a staycation or a family holiday away, with the kids at home during the school summer holiday, you may feel your washing machine is running all the time. Fresh clothes, linen and towels are essential, of course, but they don’t have to come at an extra cost if you know the best time to do laundry to save energy. With these energy-saving laundry tips from our experts, you’ll be able to save a few pennies too.
Laundry energy saving tip 1: Keep it cool
The top energy saving laundry tip is to turn down the temperature. Hotter water adds to your electricity bill, so if your clothes are not too dirty, running a wash below 30 degrees will do the trick. Using a good detergent like Bold2in1 will lift all stains and leave your clothes smelling great too.
Laundry energy saving tip 2: Keep it white
Sun lotion and chlorine can wreak havoc on white clothes. But before you rush out to buy new basics, try Ariel Excel Gel in your summer laundry to give last year’s whites a new lease of life. This washing powder is specially formulated to give you a brilliant clean every time by lifting dried-in stains and reducing the grip of dirt.
Laundry energy saving tip 3: Keep it fresh
In warmer weather, try to hang your clothes to dry outside if you have outdoor space instead of using the tumble dryer (that is if you have an outside space!). Ditching the tumble dryer is a great laundry energy saving tip. Drying may take a little longer, but the fresh air will do wonders for your clothes and you may even find that some garments won’t need any ironing after being on the washing line.
If you absolutely do need to use the tumble dryer a good laundry energy saving tip is to shake out your clothes completely before loading them. This will help to get more warm air to make contact with the fabrics, so they dry faster. Another great tip to save ironing time is to take the clothes out before they’re completely dry. It’s much easier to get rid of stubborn creases when clothes are still damp.
Laundry energy saving tip 4: Keep it full
A good laundry energy saving tip is to only run a wash when the drum is full. A very full load means you’ll use less water and energy per item of clothing.
Laundry energy saving tip 5: Keep it short
Most washing machines come with a range of cycle options. Try using the shortest cycle – unless you have to deal with caked-on mud after football practice, of course! Not only does this save on wear and tear on fabrics, but it also helps to reduce the use – and cost - of energy and water.
Laundry energy saving tip 6: Keep it clean
Over time soap, softener and dirt build up in your washing machine and tubes. If this is not cleaned on a regular basis, your washing machine has to work a lot harder (which means higher water and energy bills), and could even start to smell mouldy. Using soda crystals is a great way to clean the drum, remove smells and flush away bacteria. Simply add 300g to the drum when it’s empty and run it on the longest hottest wash.
Laundry energy saving tip 7: Keep it timely
Depending on your energy provider and tariff, there could be a best time to do laundry to save energy. Some providers charge more for energy use during peak hours, so find out if this is the case for you. If it is, try to fit your summer laundry into the off-peak times.
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