Saving in the laundry
The washing machine
It’s time to clean up your act when it comes to the weekly wash!
- Use cold water whenever possible.
- Front-loading machines use less energy and water than top-loaders.
- Washing machines use the same amount of electricity for a full load as they do for a single item. If you can't delay until you have a full load, adjust the clothes washing cycle to match the load size.
- Never overload your washing machine, or it will not clean effectively.
- Take advantage of energy (and money) saving features on your machine. Soak cycles remove stubborn stains on a one-wash cycle and a suds-saver allows you to recycle soapy water if required.
The dryer
Is it really necessary? How's the weather out there?
- If it's a sunny day, ditch the dryer. Hang your washing outside instead.
- Spin dry clothes before putting them in your dryer.
- Clean the lint filter on your dryer regularly to maintain full air flow. Do this little job frequently, and you maximise drying efficiency and minimise fire risk.
The iron
The best way to save energy here would be not to iron at all! But seeing as the crumpled look is not for everyone, here are some energy saving tips for ironing.
- Iron large batches of clothing at one time to avoid wasting energy reheating the iron.
- Steam ironing uses more energy, so use a dry iron wherever possible.
- Sort ironing by fabric type and iron lighter fabrics on lower settings first.
- Turn the iron off and use residual heat for delicate items.
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