A simple change to your washing machine settings could cut almost £50 a year from your energy bills, according to consumer experts.
In lab tests conducted by Which?, experts tested a range of washing machines to see how running cycles at lower temperatures affects cleaning and energy use.
The average washing machine costs about £77 a year to run four washes a week. Which?'s test revealed that lowering the temperature of your wash doesn't mean you need to compromise on cleaning power - and it could save you money in the long run.
Experts found that switching from 40°C to 30°C saved on average 38 per cent energy, or £29. Going down even further to 20°C saved 62 per cent energy, or £48 per year.
According to the experts, unless you're washing really soiled clothes, modern machines will do a good job of getting them clean most of the time at a lower setting.
Using its unique washing machine, tumble dryer and laundry detergent lab tests, Which? tested a range of appliances to come up with four other simple steps consumers can take to save up to £162 on their laundry costs this winter.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Home Products and Services Editor, said: “Many consumers are worried about huge energy bills this winter, especially given a lot of people are already feeling the pressures of the cost of living crisis. However, Which? has identified a few simple ways to cut laundry costs.
“By making changes including washing your clothes at a cooler temperature, doing a larger load rather than smaller daily washes and switching to a cheaper detergent – you could potentially save more than £150 this winter.”
Keep your tumble dryer well maintained
Which? tested the performance of heat pump dryers over 20 loads of drying and found that some machines ended up using 50 per cent more energy on the twentieth load than they did during the first load. The main reason for the dryers becoming less efficient is because lower filters often get blocked up with dust and lint. The average heat pump dryer costs around £68 per year to do three loads a week, so this additional energy used due to blocked filters could add around £34 to the annual cost.
To stop your dryer from becoming inefficient, be sure to clean and empty the filter regularly.
Stop doing daily small washes
The most energy-efficient way of washing clothes is to fill up the drum, rather than washing fewer items on a quick wash programme.
Quick programs - or speed-up buttons - slightly reduce how much energy is used, but not as effectively as doing bigger normal washes less regularly. Which? previously checked what effect speed-up functions have on cleaning and energy in May 2019 and found dramatic differences between the three machines tested. One machine only reduced the energy used by around 20 per cent, while another cut it in half - not enough to justify a daily wash. Doing a bigger normal wash four times a week ended up using 17 per cent less energy than the average of the three fast daily washes. This would add up to an annual saving of around £13 for the average washing machine. Plus, you’ll make additional savings by using less detergent.
Switch to a Best Buy laundry detergent
Don’t assume that big brand washing powder, capsules or liquids will wash your clothes better. Which? recently tested 36 different laundry detergents and found that the most expensive detergent tested cost 40p per wash, but one of the top-rated supermarket own brand washing powders costs as little as 8p per wash and cleans just as well. Switching to a cheaper detergent could save close to £67 per year - if you are using your machine four times a week.
Look for Great Value
If you love a deal or are on a tight budget, make sure to look out for Which?’s Great Value badge on reviews. While Which? Best Buys remain the gold standard when it comes to product recommendations, when you see the consumer champion’s Great Value badge you can be sure that the product does a good job and represents excellent value for money. Across the Which? site you'll find more than 500 Great Value products from more than 70 product areas.
Great Value washing machines and Great Value heat-pump tumble dryers start at around £400 and you can buy Great Value washing powder from just 8p a wash.
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