According to a study by Dr Beckmann, more than half of Britons admitted to washing their laundry during the most expensive time of the day. The experts said the most expensive time of the day is between the hours of 8am and 10pm, when energy bills are at their highest. This is because energy is often in demand during these hours, but it depends on your tariff.
In addition, some people admitted to washing their clothes between 4pm and 7pm despite these three hours being “the most expensive” of all. The laundry pros said, “Depending on your energy tariff, the time of day you wash your clothes can also drastically impact the cost of running your washing machine.
“Electricity suppliers usually increase their prices during peak times of day when usage is at its highest.”
Instead, it is recommended to do laundry in the morning if possible, and the experts called this the “magic hour”.
This is between 7am and 8am when energy costs are at their lowest.
A spokesperson for the company said: “One of the simplest ways to cut household costs is by regularly cleaning and maintaining your washing machine and also by doing laundry during off-peak hours.
“We recommend the optimal time for laundry as 7am and 8am. It’s also crucial to regularly service and clean your machine every two months or 30 washes to reduce unnecessary costs on repairs.”
Britons can also cut their energy usage by washing at a lower temperature, as higher heat uses more energy.
According to experts, reducing the temperature to 30C can cut costs massively, but it doesn’t affect the quality of the cleaning.
In fact, most modern-day detergents work just as well at a lower temperature, so always check the manufacturer’s label.
With spring just around the corner, Britons can start drying their laundry outside.
However, households can cut costs in the meantime by using dehumidifiers to dry wet washing and avoiding the tumble dryer.
If you are still using the heating now and again, placing an airer near the heat source can also speed the process up.
Other ways to reduce bills when washing include making sure you’re only washing full loads and using less detergent.
