5 Ways to save energy on your Laundry bill
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Avoid using the clothes dryer: Weather permitting, hang laundry to dry in the sun instead of drying them in the dryer. Not only do you save on your laundry bill, but your clothes come out smelling fresh. Clothes dried in the dryer also suffer far more wear and tear, so you will even increase the life span of your laundry. Invest in a clothes horse, or string a line in your basement. A useful tip is to half dry the clothes and then hang them up to dry on a line. No drips, and quicker drying of your laundry, besides saving on electricity
Use cold water: Heating water for the wash load consumes almost twice the electricity than if you ran your wash in cold water. Cold water detergents will help extract the dirt. Collect the really dirty laundry till you have enough for a full load and run only those in warm water. Run colored loads especially in cold water to protect the color from fading faster. Washing laundry in cold water also slows down wear and tear on your clothes, especially clothes with elastic in them.
Iron clothes while still damp: Remove laundry that needs to be ironed from the line or dryer when still damp and iron them right away. Driers with moisture sensors will help you avoid over drying your laundry. You’ll find ironing slightly damp laundry is a lot easier and your ironing will acquire a professional finish to it. Dry several loads of clothes consecutively. A warm dryer will dry laundry faster, and save more energy.
Wait for full wash loads: Save energy by waiting until you have a full load of laundry before you run it. However don’t overload either the washing machine or the dryer. Clothes wash and dry better when they have the room to move and tumble. The circulation of water or warm air as the case may be helps streamline the process and makes it more efficient. Use correct quantities of water and detergent. Too much soap not only makes the washing machine work harder, but it also causes yellowing of your laundry due to inadequate rinsing. It’s a win-win situation - save on soap, and save your laundry. Don’t dump clothes in the wash just because you have used them for a couple of hours. Hang them up instead for a second wear! Frequent washing strips fiber from the laundry reducing their shelf life. If you live in a place that has “peak” electricity rates, run your wash load at times when the rates are lowest.
Maintain your washing machine: Clean out the lint from the machine frequently. Buy energy efficient washing machines to save electricity while doing your laundry. Frequent laundry loads collect dirt and grime in the washtub. Run an empty load periodically, with 2 cups of chlorine bleach or vinegar or a descaling product, as recommended by your washing machine manufacturer. Clean the fabric softener, bleach and detergent containers or dispensers with a soft brush and hot water. A little maintenance will optimize the quality of your wash as well as save your laundry bill.
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