Laundry isn’t anyone’s favorite home chore, and it doesn’t help that washers and dryers are among the most expensive appliances. Most of us do laundry at least a few times a week, so it pays to take steps to reduce our energy consumption.
Here’s how your home washer and dryer compares to two other heavy-duty users of your refrigerator and dishwasher:
If you’re looking to buy a new washer and dryer, you have effective new options that can save you money in the long run.
But there are ways to save money and energy in the laundry room and reduce wear and tear on your clothes. Some cost nothing. Here’s what you can do to keep it in your laundry room.
Wash with cold water.
Using cool water instead of hot water can cut a consumer’s energy consumption in half, and using cold water saves even more. Cold water detergent will help ensure items are washed. In addition, if required by the manufacturer, a high-efficiency cleaner (identified by the symbol “is”) must be used.
Wash well
A washing machine uses about the same amount of energy regardless of the size of the load, so add more clothes to it and make it a full load.
Dry loads are suitable for the machine.
When the dryer is full, your clothes will take longer to dry. Too little and drying can take a long time, and running the dryer to dry multiple items will cost you more each.
Let it dry as naturally as possible.
To avoid using the dryer, hang the laundry outside or on a drying rack.
Change loads when dryer is warm.
This allows the residual heat in the dryer to be used for the next cycle.
Wool or rubber drying balls help separate the clothes and let in more air, speeding up the drying process. It also reduces static so you don’t need dry paper. Balls of wool are designed to absorb moisture, which shortens the drying time. We use them in my house and have noticed a noticeable difference in the drying time of the clothes.
Clean the dryer lint filter.
Dryers work more efficiently and safely. If you use dryer sheets, clean the filter with a toothbrush once a month to remove film build-up that restricts airflow.
Use a high speed or long spin cycle in the washing machine.
This removes as much moisture as possible before drying, reducing drying time and wear and tear on clothes from the high heat of the dryer.
Lower the dryer temperature setting.
A longer drying cycle also uses less energy and is less likely to overdry your clothes.
Dry towels and heavy cotton separate from light clothing.
Lighter clothes take less time to dry.
If your dryer has a refrigeration circuit, use the refrigeration circuit.
This cycle allows clothes to be dried while the heat remains in the dryer.
If your dryer has a humidity sensor, use it.
Many new tumble dryers are equipped with humidity sensors that automatically turn off the machine when the laundry is dry. This saves energy and reduces wear and tear on clothes due to excessive drying.
Subscribe to the Time in the utility program.
These programs reduce energy costs at certain times of the day, often at night. If you plan to wash your clothes overnight (or use the washing machine controls to set the wash or dry cycle), you can pay less to finish the wash. Please contact the utility company for more information.
Use a company-approved washer and dryer.
A new washing machine uses around 25% less electricity than a conventional washing machine.
Consider using a gas dryer.
Depending on gas and electricity prices in your area, it may be cheaper to run a gas dryer, but it may be slightly more expensive to purchase. Note that gas dryers require special gas lines.
Consider using a heat pump dryer.
Although initial costs can be slightly higher, heat pump dryers can save you 20% to 60% over traditional dryers by absorbing, heating, and recycling ambient air. There are a few things to consider when deciding to buy a heat pump dryer that will include the vents and Close drains of an old dryer. If you have some problems in working with your washing machine consider hiring a Washing Machine Repair Service to solve this issue.