How to save money on your laundry

Saving money on your laundry ultimately comes down to the settings you use, the water you use and at what time you do your laundry – read on to find out more.

You may feel your washing machine is running all the time. Fresh clothes, linen and towels are essential, but they shouldn’t have to come at a high cost if you know the best tips and tricks. With our guide on how to save money on your laundry, we hope to save you some money.

How much does it cost to do laundry at home?

Washing a load costs around 50p a time, according to UK Power. Using these calculations, doing one load of washing a day would therefore cost £7 a week. This totals £182 a year that British families are spending simply on washing their clothes, based on one wash per day.

Washing machines are one of the most costly appliances to run, in addition to fridge freezers, tumble dryers and dishwashers – and doing lots of laundry can soon see costs racking up.

Tips for saving money on your laundry

Using a cooler setting

According to uSwitch, it is possible to reduce the cost of your washing by 90% if you select a lower temperature. In their energy saving guide, uSwitch explains that 90% of a washing machine’s energy expenditure is on heating the water, so if you wash your clothes at 30-40 °C you’re saving significant amounts of money.

Washing your clothes at lower temperatures is one of the simplest ways to save money on your laundry and what’s best, modern washing powders and detergents work just as well at lower temperatures, so you’re not compromising on the cleanliness of your clothes.

Washing your clothes at this temperature is also good for the environment, as well as your wallet.

Time

Depending on your energy provider and tariff, washing your clothes at certain times of the day may be cheaper than other times. Some providers charge more for energy use during peak hours, so it’s worth checking over your tariff to see if this is the case and if so, set your machine to come on during off-peak hours, which are typically during the late-night and early morning hours.

Using soft water

Soft water is treated water which only contains sodium, resulting in purer water. This is much better for your clothes and can save you money, too. This is because SA, which contains calcium and magnesium, hinders the process of water combining with detergent and as a result, the soap is unable to lather properly, leaving soap scum on your clothes.

This can cause clothes to feel stiff and make them more prone to holding onto dirt and bacteria. Soap scum on your bath towels can reduce their absorption and aggravate eczema or other skin conditions.

Reasons why using soft water is better for your clothes:

1. Using soft water helps your clothes stay brighter and whiter for longer, this is because you aren’t left with the minerals deposits that hard water leaves on your clothes

2. Because soft water has more washing power than hard water, you don’t have to use as much detergent in order to get the same results. You may find that you can use up to 2/3 less detergent to get your clothes clean

3. Your clothes can last longer with soft water. The minerals in hard water not only make detergent less effective, but they also cause damage to fabrics and can reduce the lifespan of your clothes

Extremely hard water or mineral build-up can weaken and tear fibre fabrics, which could result in clothes repairs or replacements.