Brits could slash their energy bills if they make one simple change to how they wash their clothes. It may seem simple, but people can actually manage their bank balance a little better by paying more attention to when they use the washing machine. The tip was recently shared online, and people have been left stunned by the vital money saving piece of information. The time of day you wash actually has an impact on how high your bills are, and there’s a simple thing you can do to lower it – you just need to turn to a simple hack, according to experts.
It turns out, all you need to do is wash your clothes around midnight to see your energy bills reduce. This is because it can actually be more expenisve to use your washing machine during certain points of the day.
Selecting the right time to do laundry can make a big difference to how much you’re spending on electricity, and the piece of information has left people stunned.
After Brandy Bride shared the tip on TikTok, many people have been left floored. One wrote: “Really? I will never wash during the day again.”
Another said: “Oh really? Thanks for sharing.” A third also replied: “Yeah it works, I do that.”
In the UK, it can be cheaper to wash your clothes at night, especially if you have a time-of-use tariff like Economy 7. Several energy providers offer lower electricity rates during off-peak hours, and this is usually between 10pm and 7am.
If you use your washing machine during these hours, there is potential to save money on your electricity bill. However, it’s not the same for everyone, so you should always check with your provider first.
Candy Home states: “Take a look at your energy account and check your tariff rate. Most people will see that they have a lower tariff overnight, usually between 11pm and 7am. This is the best time to do your washing as you’ll save money.
“Saving money on electricity is only part of the equation. In order to get the best possible wash, you also need to use top-quality products. Fortunately, the concentrated ecological fabric softener of Care+Protect made with biodegradable vegetable raw materials is the perfect ally to soften fabrics and facilitate ironing.
“Combine this with the right time, and you will save money on electricity and reduce ironing time, meaning further savings are possible.”
Even though it can be cheaper to wash your laundry at night, it’s not the only factor you need to consider. As most of us are safely tucked up in bed during the night, turning the machine on and leaving it to run can also leave wet washing sitting in the machine.
This isn’t great either, according to Candy Home. Due to this, people are advised to check how long their cycle takes, and then set the machine on a timer.
This should ensure it finishes washing when you get up or the when the cheap tariff ends – whichever is earlier. Washing machines use different amounts of water – it all depends on the model.
Generally, modern washing machines are super efficient and can finish a wash on between 10 to 25 gallons of water. Older machines tend to use around 40 to 45 gallons, so this means there’s quite a big difference between the two.
If you’re automating your washing cycle to try and make the most of the cheap overnight tariff then you’ll be limited to doing one wash per night, unless you get up to empty the machine. It’s worth noting that many tariffs also offer cheap electricity between 3pm and 5pm, which could also help some familes to save cash.