If you’re looking to save money, there are a number of things you can do – including how you use your washing machine.
If you’re seeking ways to cut costs as the cost of living continues to rise, one expert has suggested that there are three specific times of the day when you should avoid doing your laundry.
These times are often the most tempting as they coincide with when many of us finish work. As prices continue to soar, many Brits will have received notifications informing them that their bills are set to increase again.
This is far from ideal, but there are some simple methods to save money, including choosing when to do your laundry. Vivien Fodor, laundry category manager at home appliance brand Indesit, has shared her top tips for keeping laundry costs down.
Did you know that the size of the drum affects the efficiency of your machine? Vivien suggests a 5kg capacity for those living alone, while a 10kg capacity machine is suitable for families.
However, regardless of the machine’s size, always wait until you have a large enough load before running a cycle. Remember, an overfilled machine “won’t properly wash your clothes”, so although it can be tempting to stuff in as many clothes as possible to wash them all at once, it’s not cost-effective.
According to the expert, for those on a “time of use” tariff, there are three hours in the day when it is “more expensive” for households to run their washing machine. Energy bills can skyrocket during peak hours, typically between 4pm and 7pm, as people return home from work and start using their appliances. This surge in electricity demand often leads to higher prices per kilowatt hour.
To check if you’re being charged more during these times, it’s best to get in touch with your energy supplier. Additionally, opting for a cooler wash can cut costs significantly; a 30-degree cycle uses about 40 per cent less energy than a hotter one and is usually sufficient for most laundry.
For stubborn stains, Vivien suggests “dabbing the garment with lemon juice and baking soda before loading into the machine.” To extend the life of your washing machine and avoid the expense of a new purchase, it’s crucial to tackle limescale. Vivien advises: “To destroy any limescale, add limescale remover to a hot wash every three months.”
Although hot washes cost more, this periodic maintenance could lead to long-term savings by keeping your machine running efficiently.
