Doing Laundry for Less: Temperatures, Loads, Drying and Detergent

Laundry is one of those household jobs that never ends, and its cost hides in several places at once: the electricity or gas used to heat water, the electricity for the machine and any tumble dryer, the water itself, the detergent and conditioner, and the gradual wear on clothes. Small changes to each of these add up, and many of them also make clothes last longer — which may be the biggest saving of all.

This guide explains what really drives the cost of a wash and how to cut it without compromising on clean clothes.

Where the cost of a wash comes from

For a typical washing machine, most of the energy used during a wash goes into heating the water. That is why temperature is the single most important setting for running costs. Other factors include:

• The programme: longer cycles, extra rinses and high spin speeds all change energy and water use.
• Load size: half-empty machines use more energy and water per item washed.
• Detergent: overdosing wastes money and can leave residue that needs extra rinsing.
• Drying: a tumble dryer can use far more electricity per load than the washing machine.
• Clothing wear: hot washes, harsh programmes and high-heat drying shorten the life of fabrics.

Wash at lower temperatures

Modern detergents are designed to clean effectively at lower temperatures, and many everyday loads come out clean at 30°C or even 20°C. Washing at a lower temperature reduces energy use per wash substantially, because less water has to be heated.

Lower temperatures are suitable for most lightly soiled everyday clothing. Higher temperatures still have a place:

• Heavily soiled items, such as muddy sports kit or work clothes, may need a warmer wash.
• Towels, bedding and underwear are often washed warmer by households that prefer it for hygiene; follow the care label and your own judgement.
• Laundry for someone who is unwell, or items soiled with bodily fluids, may need higher temperatures; health agencies in some countries give specific guidance for this situation.
• Occasional hot "maintenance" washes, run empty or with a load according to the manufacturer's instructions, help keep the machine free of odours and build-up.

Always check care labels, which tell you the maximum temperature a garment can safely be washed at.

Fill the machine properly

A full load is more efficient than two half loads. As a rule of thumb, many manufacturers suggest that a drum is properly full when you can fit a hand between the clothes and the top of the drum. Overloading, however, stops clothes moving freely, leading to poorer cleaning and more creasing.

If you regularly wash small loads, check whether your machine has a half-load or quick setting, and use it — but bear in mind that very short programmes may not clean heavily soiled items well.

Choose the right programme

• Eco programmes usually save energy and water by washing at lower temperatures for longer, allowing detergent more time to work. The longer cycle does not mean higher energy use; often the opposite.
• Quick washes are useful for lightly worn clothes but may use more energy per kilogram if they heat water quickly.
• Extra rinse options use more water; use them only if needed, for example for allergy sufferers.
• Spin speed: a higher spin removes more water, which shortens drying time — particularly valuable if you use a tumble dryer. Delicate fabrics may need a gentler spin.

Get detergent dosing right

Detergent is a surprisingly large part of laundry costs, and most people use more than they need.

• Read the dosing instructions on the pack. They usually vary by load size, how dirty the clothes are and water hardness.
• Use a measuring cap or scoop; pouring by eye almost always overdoses.
• Soft water needs less detergent. If you live in a soft-water area, you can often use the lower dose.
• Compare price per wash, not price per bottle, especially between concentrated and standard products (our unit-pricing guide explains how).
• Fabric conditioner is optional. Many people skip it entirely; others use less than recommended. It is not suitable for some items, such as towels you want to stay absorbent and some sportswear.

Overdosing can leave residue in clothes and the machine, which may need extra rinsing to remove — wasting water and energy.

Wash less often

The cheapest wash is the one you do not do.

• Wear items more than once where hygiene allows. Jeans, jumpers, coats and trousers rarely need washing after a single wear.
• Air clothes between wears to freshen them.
• Spot-clean small marks instead of washing a whole garment.
• Use aprons and old clothes for messy jobs like cooking, painting and gardening.

Washing less often also reduces wear on fabrics and the release of microfibres from synthetic clothes into wastewater.

Drying: the biggest opportunity

A tumble dryer is often one of the most energy-hungry appliances in a home. Reducing its use can make the largest difference of all to laundry costs.

Air-drying

• Dry outside when weather allows. It is free, and sunlight can help freshen fabrics. Bring colours in before strong sun fades them.
• Use a clothes airer indoors in a well-ventilated room. Open a window a little or run an extractor fan to remove moisture, because drying laundry indoors adds humidity that can lead to condensation and mould.
• Hang clothes promptly and shake them out to reduce creases and ironing.
• Space items out so air circulates.
• Avoid draping wet clothes directly on radiators, which adds humidity, blocks heat from the room and can make the heating work harder.

If you use a tumble dryer

• Spin clothes at a high speed first so they go into the dryer with less water.
• Dry full loads, but do not overfill.
• Clean the lint filter after every use; a clogged filter makes the dryer work harder and can be a fire risk.
• Empty the water container on condenser dryers.
• Dry similar fabrics together: towels and heavy cotton take much longer than synthetics.
• Use sensor or timed programmes sensibly rather than over-drying.
• Dryer balls may shorten drying times slightly by separating items.
• Consider a heat-pump dryer if you are replacing your dryer; they generally use considerably less energy than older vented or condenser models, though they cost more to buy.

A dehumidifier can also help indoor drying in damp homes, and many use less electricity than a tumble dryer, though this depends on the models compared.

Look after the machine

A well-maintained washing machine works more efficiently and lasts longer:

• Clean the detergent drawer and door seal regularly to prevent mould.
• Leave the door and drawer slightly open after washing to let the drum dry.
• Clean the filter according to the manual; blocked filters slow draining and spinning.
• Run maintenance washes as the manufacturer recommends.

Our guide to making appliances last covers more maintenance tips.

Time-of-use tariffs

If your electricity tariff charges less at certain times of day, running the washing machine and dishwasher during cheaper periods can reduce costs. Many machines have delay timers. Follow safety advice about running appliances overnight or when nobody is home, and make sure smoke alarms are working.

Make clothes last longer

The most valuable laundry habit may be protecting your clothes, because replacing them costs far more than washing them.

• Turn clothes inside out, especially dark colours and printed items, to reduce fading and pilling.
• Close zips and fasten buttons to avoid snagging other items.
• Use mesh bags for delicates.
• Sort by colour and fabric weight.
• Avoid unnecessary high temperatures and high-heat drying, which shrink and weaken fibres.
• Mend small holes and loose buttons promptly (see our guide to mending clothes).

Stain removal without expensive products

Treating stains quickly often avoids a hot wash or a second wash altogether, and most stains respond to simple methods:

• Act fast. Fresh stains are far easier to remove than dried ones. Blot rather than rub, which can push the stain deeper.
• Rinse from the back of the fabric with cold water, pushing the stain out rather than through.
• Use cold water for protein stains such as blood, egg and dairy; hot water can set them.
• Rub a little washing-up liquid or laundry detergent into greasy stains before washing.
• Pre-soak heavily soiled items in a bowl of water with a small amount of detergent.
• Check before drying. Heat from a dryer or radiator can fix a stain permanently, so make sure it has gone before drying the garment.

Always test any treatment on a hidden area first and follow the care label, especially for delicate fabrics such as silk and wool.

Do you need a new machine?

An old washing machine that still works does not usually need replacing just to save energy, because making a new appliance has its own environmental and financial cost. When the time comes to replace one, compare energy labels, water use per cycle and the drum size you really need — a larger drum is only efficient if you fill it. Our guide to making appliances last explains how to keep your current machine running well for longer.

A laundry checklist

1. Wash most everyday loads at 30°C or lower.
2. Wait for a full load, but do not overfill.
3. Use eco programmes when time allows.
4. Measure detergent according to the pack and your water hardness.
5. Wear jeans and jumpers more than once.
6. Spin well, then air-dry whenever possible.
7. Clean the dryer lint filter after every use.
8. Clean the washing machine's seal, drawer and filter regularly.
9. Use cheaper tariff hours if you have them.
10. Look after fabrics so clothes last longer.

The bottom line

Laundry costs come from heat, water, detergent, drying and wear. Washing cooler, filling the machine, measuring detergent, washing less often and air-drying whenever you can bring each of those costs down — and as a bonus, your clothes stay in good condition for longer. Very little effort is needed; the main change is simply resisting the habit of a hot wash and a long tumble dry for every load.