The cost of living crisis has caused everyone to take extra care of their spending habits as energy prices continue to soar.
A range of new measures to help combat the current crisis were announced in Budget 2023, including €600 worth of energy credits that will be paid in three sums of €200 over the coming months.
However, while the measures will provide some relief, it is likely that people will still struggle to keep their energy bills at a manageable rate.
With this in mind, experts are helping with advice on how to save money with their heavy usage appliances.
Deyan Dimitrov, laundry expert and CEO of Laundryheap, has revealed how using your washing machine and tumble dryer at specific times can actually lower soaring energy bills.
According to Dimitrov, there is a seven-hour window in the day that is a much more cost-effective time to put a load on.
He explained: "Depending on your energy tariff, demand for electricity can greatly impact your energy bill. This means that the time you choose to run your washing machine and tumble dryer can greatly affect your spending.
"When drying or washing clothes, make sure to avoid any time between 4pm and 7pm, as this is the most popular and expensive period.
"If possible, I would recommend using the time delay setting on your washing machine, as this function allows you to control when a washing cycle starts.
"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."
Dimitrov also explained how a couple of subtle changes when drying your clothes could make a difference to your bills.
He continued: "When drying your laundry, try to use a cooler cycle. Whilst this may take a little longer than a hotter cycle, your energy consumption will still be much lower.
"This will prevent you from over-drying the items. If your clothes are warm when you remove them from your dryer, they've been in for too long!"
Deyan added: "Timing your tumble drying is another great way to save money. If you're able to switch between different drying loads quickly, your tumble dryer will stay warm.
"This will conserve any leftover heat and reduce the drying time of your next load."
READ NEXT:
- Stop condensation on windows with 'wonder' hack involving common kitchen item
- Met Eireann forecast date for 'cold blast' to hit Ireland as temperatures drop below freezing
- Inside Colin Farrell's private life as new film Banshees of Inisherin hits cinemas - marriage rumours, children's health battle and net worth
- Love Island's Gemma and Luca spark split rumours as Paige drops hint over couples
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
