Win at washing: how to save money on your laundry without getting in a spin
Whether you live alone, with your partner, in a house share or with kids (hello, never-ending laundry basket), these top tips will help you become more energy- and cost- efficient before throwing in the towel
If you want to reduce your energy costs this winter (so, that’ll be all of us then), rethinking how you wash and dry your everyday staples is a great place to start. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the easiest ways to make your cycles more efficient and save pounds in the process.
The launder-for-less lowdown
Keep it cool – According to Which? a 60˚C cycle increases costs by more than half when compared to a 40˚C cycle, while washing at 30°C uses 38% less energy than washing at 40°C. So, following care instructions and turning down the heat will not only save on energy usage but your purse strings, too. Traditionally, of course, bedding has been washed at 60˚C, but the entire John Lewis range has been designed to be washed at 40˚C to ensure you don’t waste energy or your hard-earned cash trying to keep clean. ‘Our Quality and Technical team tests all our bedding to ensure the care instructions help get the best care and most longevity out of your linen,’ says Yasmin Khan, Partner & Product Development Technologist at John Lewis. ‘For bed linen, fibre type and weave structure can impact how we recommend you care for it, so always check the care label.’
If you have allergies… The majority of people with eczema will find that they are sensitive to house dust mites, so Allergy UK recommends that you wash all bedding not encased in barrier covers, such as sheets or blankets, once a week at 60˚C to kill the critters. House dust mite allergen dissolves in water, so while washing at lower temperatures will wash the allergen away temporarily, the mites themselves will survive and produce more allergen afterwards.
Smooth the process – If you’ve been known to iron your bedding, firstly, hero; secondly, why not save time and energy with the John Lewis Easy Care Organic Cotton range? Pre-relaxed using carefully controlled, high-pressure water jets, each piece has been designed to de-wrinkle after washing, which, let’s face it, is the dream for everyone.
Try the dry-rack hack – Using an indoor airer is more efficient than draping washing over doors as it allows more air to flow through. Plus, airers come in a variety of different designs to fit into smaller spaces, making them ideal for small utility rooms, flats or studios. Our top tip? Make the drying process quicker and double-spin your bedding and towels. ‘A spin cycle is usually very short, so it doesn’t use much energy compared to a tumble dryer,’ says Khan. ‘Removing excess water also helps to speed up the drying process.’
How often should you wash your bedding?
When it comes to how often to load your linen, there isn’t much room for manoeuvre. ‘The average person loses about half a pint of sweat a night and we spend approximately 56 hours a week in bed, so bed linen ideally needs to be washed weekly,’ says Khan.
How often should you wash your clothing?
When it comes to clothing, wash times are down to personal preference, but temperature is – again – where you can save. Always check the care label, but most high-quality detergents can clean effectively at 30˚C (which, don’t forget, means you’ll be using 38% less energy than washing at 40°C).
Lastly, if it’s time for your washing machine or tumble dryer to be replaced, you can save money over its lifetime by choosing one of the market’s most energy-efficient models. Hit our guide for the lowdown on how to match the right machine to you and your needs.
