The winter temperature your washing machine should run at to save money, experts say
THE cold weather is upon us.
T-shirts and shorts are being replaced by chunky sweaters and jeans – and it’s a trade that could increase our energy bills.
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That’s because we can put fewer sweaters, jeans and sturdy clothes in our washing machine, compared to filling it with endless T-shirts and shorts in the summer.
More washes are needed to clean dirty winter clothes, which means we use more energy.
Luckily, the home appliance experts are here Energids have shared how we can use our washing machine cycles to keep our energy bills from rising too much this winter.
The key to any energy saving tip is to make it as easy and simple as possible, with little fuss.
read more about energy bills
“Did you know that up to 95% of the energy your washing machine uses is used to heat the water?” said the experts.
“So wash at 30 degrees.
“In most cases this is sufficient and is kinder to your clothes.
“If you wash at a lower temperature, choose a liquid detergent.
“These are more effective because they have already been solved.”
They also recommended running at night (after you’ve gone to bed) or on weekends, when fewer other appliances are using energy.
“If your laundry is not really dirty and your machine allows it, you can also use the ‘quick’, ‘express’ or ’15 minutes’ program,” say the experts.
“The shorter duration of this program compensates for the electricity consumption.”
The energy bill will increase in October.
A new price cap will see the average bill for around 28 million households rise from £1,568 a year to £1,717 – an increase of 10%, or £149.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we show you how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you will pay for your energy bill, you need to know your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate is usually stated in p/kWh on your invoice. The fixed charge is a daily rate that is paid 365 days a year, regardless of whether you use gas or electricity.
You must then record your own annual energy consumption from a previous bill.
Once you have this information, you can calculate your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your consumption in kWh by the unit price in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type. This is how you get your consumption costs.
You must then multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to your usage totals. This is how you get your annual costs.
Divide this amount by 12 and you can determine how much you have to pay each month from April 1.
Please note that this is based on a typical household on a dual fuel Standard Variable Rate (SVR).
Therefore, from next week you can pay more or less than € 1,717 per year, depending on your consumption.
If you’re looking for a new machine, consumer group Which? says choosing a more efficient washing machine can save up to £55 a year.
It may cost more up front, but you will spend less over the life of the product.
