March 12, 2020

Doing laundry can seem like the chore that never ends. What most people don’t realize is that the task can consume more than time: washing machines and clothes dryers can be some of the biggest energy hogs in your home.

But there are plenty of ways to save money and energy in the laundry room and, while you’re at it, reduce wear and tear on your clothes. Here are a few simple  tips:

• Wash with cold water.
  Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load’s energy use in half, and using cold water will save even more.
• Wash full loads.
  Your washer uses about the same amount of energy no matter the size of the load, so fill it up.
• Dry right-sized loads.
  If the dryer is too full, it will take longer for the clothes to dry. Loads that are too small can also take longer, plus you spend more per item when running the dryer to dry only a few things.
• Switch loads while the dryer is warm.
  This will allow you to use the remaining heat inside of the dryer for the next cycle.
• Clean the lint filter.
  The dryer will run more efficiently and safely. Also, if you use dryer sheets, scrub the filter once a month with a toothbrush to remove film buildup that can reduce air circulation.

Don’t let dirty laundry hang your wallet out to dry. You can find  more laundry saving tips on the Departm​ent of Energy’s website*​.

*By clicking the link in this article, you are entering a website maintained by an outside party, which is entirely responsible for the site’s content.