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Nov 13, 2023

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AMERICANS might be unaware of secret laundry room tricks that could save them

AMERICANS might be unaware of secret laundry room tricks that could save them more than $70 per year.

Washing and drying machines take up a huge chunk of your energy bill each month, so it's natural to look for any way to save during the process.

The average American family spends around $115 for the electricity of running their laundry each year, according to IGS Energy.

Since inflation has led to price hikes in nearly all sectors and Americans are spending more on grocery, clothing and energy bills, there's never been a better time to cut down on your energy consumption.

Experts recommend using a 'double L' setting when it comes to your dryer: low and longer.

While it may not be obvious, running your dryer longer will actually save you more money if you run it at a low setting.

This is especially true for newer appliances, which are built to be more energy efficient.

One of the easiest ways to cut your spending in this regard is to invest in newer, more efficient washer and dryer machines, but if this is out of reach, there are still ways to curb your bill.

It's not commonly known, but washing with warm water instead of hot can earn you major savings.

You will likely cut down your load's energy usage by half, and if you opt for cold water, you’ll save even more.

If the average family spends around $115 for laundry energy every year alone, that comes down to at least $55 in savings.

Cold water detergents generally will help ensure your clothes get clean. These typically have the "he" symbol and have higher efficiency than many of the other brands on the market.

Every time you run your machines, you’ll be using around the same energy, no matter the size of the load.

That means making sure you’re running a full load has the potential to save you some significant cash at the end of the day.

You’ll ultimately use less energy when you run fewer cycles.

If you don't have a full load, you can choose to share a cycle with a friend for greater energy efficiency.

On the other hand, you should make sure you’re not overloading your machine because this can cause your clothes to take longer to dry.

If you really want to save on your next electric bill, opt to skip the dryer altogether.

Air drying your belongings on a drying rack will allow everything to dry without adding up any extra energy usage.

If you really prefer using the machine dryer, though, then make sure to switch your loads while the dryer is still warm because you’ll end up using less energy.

There are several strategies you can take to guarantee your standard dryer is running at its most efficient if you decide air drying is not for you.

For one, consider using rubber dryer balls.

These help separate your clothes, which gives them more air and cuts your drying time down significantly.

When you’re about to run your load, opt for lower heat settings. Even if the drying cycle takes longer, you’ll actually use less energy in the process.

If your dryer has a cool-down cycle, that's also the best one to use for energy savings.

Also, turning on the moisture sensor mode on newer dryers will stop your dryer from using any more energy immediately once it senses your clothes are dry.

It also helps to dry towels and heavier items separately from lightweight clothes.

And of course, clean your lint filter between each cycle to make sure your dryer is working properly.

When it comes to the best settings for your washer, on the other hand, you should choose the high-speed or extended spin cycle options.

This removes as much moisture as possible before drying, which will end up cutting down your drying time (and overall energy usage).

Another pro is that your clothes will experience less wear and tear from the high heat in the dryer.

By signing up for a time-of-day program with your utility company, you’ll unlock some serious savings based on when you decide to run your laundry load.

Certain times of day inherently cost less because they are less popular times to use energy.

So by choosing one of these programs and keeping your laundry usage to non-peak hours like overnight, you’ll pay less.

The non-peak hours tend to be from 10p.m. to 5a.m.

Additionally, there are certain appliances that will always give you a lower utility bill.

That includes ENERGY STAR certified washers and dryers, which use 25 percent less energy than traditional models.

That could earn you more than $25 in savings every year, plus whatever you earn back with the other strategies.

Gas and heat pump dryers also tend to use less energy.

While the initial costs are higher, total savings could be up to 60 percent, according to the Department of Energy.

You can also save hundreds of dollars each year by flipping one switch on your refrigerator.

You also could soon be eligible for tax credits between $500 and $1,000 if you’ve installed clean energy equipment in the home.