Every little helps when it comes to saving money on your energy bills, and a cheap and easy cleaning hack could make a big difference
In the quest to slash energy costs, an unexpected hack involving simple household cleaning could contribute significantly to the savings.
While it’s not an obvious connection, maintaining appliances at their peak efficiency has been touted as an effective strategy to reduce energy bills.
The cleaning gurus at End of Tenancy Cleaning have divulged their wisdom on cleaning routine kitchen gadgets to enhance their energy effectiveness. Ivan Ivanov from End of Tenancy Cleaning revealed a surprising trick with white vinegar that can cut down on kettle-induced consumption.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo he advised: “If your kettle is full of limescale, you will need to use more energy to boil the same amount of water.” He continued: “You should be descaling your kettle every two months or less, especially if you are using hard water from your tap.”
He then detailed the method: “Simply fill your kettle with half white vinegar and half water, then boil it. After pouring it out, repeat this step. You can also soak it overnight and wait for the limescale to come off.”
Those living in the limestone-rich southern and eastern parts of the UK may find this tip particularly useful, given the especially hard water in these areas. According to the experts at End of Tenancy Cleaning, white vinegar – claimed to be the most cost-effective hack in their book – can be snagged for a mere 29p at Tesco.
Beyond kettles, another energy-efficient cleaning tip offered by the professionals extends to the increasingly popular air fryer, a new staple in British kitchens. Ivan advised: “It is important to clean your air fryer after every use to keep it energy efficient, high-performing and safe.”
He warned that if left uncleaned, grime and wasted food can become baked onto the tray, becoming more and more stuck on over time. To tackle this, Ivan suggests cleaning it with a soft sponge and standard washing-up liquid, which costs around 58p.
The process involves removing the tray and gently scrubbing away the grime with your finger. When it comes to the oven, Ivan recommends a £2 oven cleaner or even using your vacuum cleaner.
He said: “This will get rid of any leftover charcoaled bits and crumbs before scrubbing the dirt away.” The cleaning guru suggested cleaning the oven racks in the bath for more space to scrub. However, he cautioned that chunks of grime could block your drains, so it’s advisable to use a bathtub hair catcher or sink strainer, available at Tesco for about £1.50.
In total, these cleaning hacks would cost less than five pounds but could help save on your energy bills by keeping your appliances running efficiently.
