Over the last year, we’ve been at home more and so our energy use has been on the rise. It’s important, therefore, to try and save energy – and money – where we can.

According to a recent study, the average household in the UK does around 270 wash loads a year and 95% of the energy used by your washing machine is used purely to heat up the water!

We’ve put together some simple tips for you to save money (and the environment) below.

Wash your clothes at 30°

Just by washing your clothes at 30° instead of 40°, you’ll use up to 38% less energy. Not only will you save money on your utility costs but you’ll save energy and therefore help the environment.

Although some materials may need a higher temperature, 30° is the recommended setting for most clothing types (including wool) and if you use the right detergent, can work just as well for other fabrics too.

Fill your washing machine up

Filling up your washing machine helps conserve energy, by limiting your need to do two or three washes instead.

However, it’s important you don’t overload your machine as this will impact the efficiency of the wash and potentially damage your washing machine’s drum. If you can’t place your hand into the top of the machine’s drum, you’ll need to remove some clothing.

Avoid pre-washing where possible

Typically, you’ll use this to tackle stubborn stains, but it can waste litres of hot water each year.

Nowadays however, washing machines and detergents have become advanced enough that pre-wash settings are generally not needed.

Quick wins

• Washing your clothes at a higher speed spin will allow your clothes to be as dry as possible if you’re planning to use your tumble dryer
• If you’re planning to buy a new appliance, you can check the product’s energy rating. Anything above a C is considered to be energy-efficient.

General Maintenance

Keeping your washing machine well maintained will help you save money and energy, as well as prolonging the lifespan of your appliance. It will also help to keep your clothes clean and fresh after every wash, as you’ll prevent the build-up of limescale, mould and detergent.

Find out more about keeping your washing machine clean.

To find out more about our home appliances cover or other types of home care cover plans, such as boiler and heating insurance, plumbing and drainage insurance and Complete Home Emergency plan contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can also request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a free quote online in minutes.