Energy saving laundry tips

Use a colder setting: is washing clothes in cold water effective?

Yes, washing clothes in cold water can be effective for everyday laundry, especially lightly soiled clothing and fabrics that do not need a hot wash. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a 7kg washing machine used 220 times in a year typically costs around £25-£35, while lower temperatures and fuller loads can help reduce waste over time.

Heating water is one of the biggest drivers of washing machine energy use, so choosing 20°C or 30°C cycles where care labels allow is one of the most practical energy saving tips for washing machine use. Modern detergents are designed to work effectively in cold water, and this makes sure that your washing is still sparkling clean on a 20 or 30-degree cycle.

Optimise load size: how much water does a load of laundry use?

Modern UK washing machines commonly use around 40–60 litres per cycle, depending on the model, drum size and programme. To reduce wasted water, aim for a full but not overpacked drum: clothes should still have space to move. For smaller loads, choose an eco, half-load or sensor programme if your machine has one. These are simple tips for laundry that can reduce extra cycles and help your machine clean more efficiently.

Air dry or use a clothesline: when is drying clothes outside best?

When the sun's out, harness its drying power if you can. Drying clothes outside is usually the lowest-energy option because it avoids tumble dryer use altogether. For best results, choose a dry, breezy day, leave space between items and turn heavier garments inside out so air can circulate. The sun's UV rays can even act as a natural disinfectant and freshener.

When British summertime isn’t playing ball, place a drying rack in a well-ventilated room and avoid covering radiators, as that can make heating work harder. A dehumidifier can also help; put it next to your drying rack and the moisture will get filtered out of the air quicker. These energy saving laundry tips are especially useful in summer, but they can also help year-round when you plan around the weather.

Understand your clothes labels

Most of us don’t understand clothing labels, but did you know you can save energy by getting to know them better? Those tricky laundry symbols offer temperature guidelines and recommended water levels. They advise you on what the right amount of detergent is to reduce pollution and extend the lifespan of your clothes by providing useful instructions. The labels also recommend how to properly dispose of certain materials to lower waste.

Laundry instruction symbols can be confusing at first glance, so we've developed a guide to help crack the code and finally make sense of those symbols. Download our new easy-to-use laundry label guide to better understand your laundry labels.

Getting a smart meter: can it show washing machine energy use?

A smart meter and in-home display can help make laundry costs easier to understand, but they usually won’t show your washing machine’s energy use separately. Instead, they show your household’s overall energy use in near real-time, which can help you keep track of the impact of changes you make around the home.

Washing machine electricity use varies depending on the model, how long the cycle runs, the programme you choose, the wash temperature and the price you pay per unit of electricity. By looking at your overall electricity use before, during and after a wash, you may be able to estimate how different habits affect your energy use, such as washing full loads, choosing lower-temperature washes, using eco cycles where available and avoiding overloading the drum.

If you are on a time-of-use tariff, you may also wonder, “does washing clothes at night save energy?” Running your washing machine at off-peak times may reduce costs if your electricity is cheaper then, but it does not automatically reduce the amount of energy your machine uses. Time-of-use tariffs are not available to everyone, so check with your supplier to see what options are available. It is also important not to leave appliances running unattended, so only use your washing machine when someone is home to keep an eye on it.

To learn more about washing machine energy use, read our guide to washing machine energy-saving tips.

For anyone new to managing household washing, these laundry tips for beginners are a good place to start: sort by colour and fabric, check care labels, use the right amount of detergent, wash full loads where possible and dry naturally when you can. Pairing these habits with a smart meter can make it easier to see which changes are working for your home.