Cheapest hours of the day to use your washing machine to avoid a surge in costs
Liz Hunter, Commercial Director at online comparison site Money Expert, spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about saving money on your energy bills. In light of the increased energy price cap coming into effect from April 1, 2025, Hunter shared her insight.
“Over the years, washing machines have become more energy efficient,” said Hunter. “Despite this, they are often one of the most frequently used appliances in the home.” Washing machines “use a lot of water and can be expensive to run”, so to reduce costs, there are specific times you must avoid putting on a wash. Hunter elaborated: “Electricity demand is highest between 7am and 9am when most people are waking up, and after school or work between 3pm and 6pm.”
Instead, Hunter encouraged households to use the washing machine “before 7am, or late at night” to avoid a surge in costs.
Another top tip is to “make sure that the washing machine is completely full before turning it on”.
Hunter added: “If you do have to put on a smaller wash, you could try washing clothes on the shortest cycle, which means less water, less energy, a shorter spin cycle and a lower temperature.”
As for the best temperature to wash your clothes, Hunter recommends an eco-friendly 30-degree wash to save on energy costs.
“However, if you mainly run low-temperature washes, you’ll need to do the occasional hot wash to get rid of any bacteria and the build-up of odours in the machine,” Hunter cautioned.
When it comes to drying clothes, “a tumble dryer uses a lot of energy”, with one load typically costing around 49p.
An A-rated heat pump dryer, on the other hand, would only cost 14p per load, which is a significant saving on energy and costs.
“If you do have a tumble dryer, cleaning the lint filters every time you use the machine can help save money,” added Hunter. She explained: ” A blocked filter stops the air from circulating freely and takes clothes a lot longer to dry.”
If you are going to air-dry clothes, but it’s too cold to put the wash outside, it’s best not to put them on radiators.
Hunter explained that hanging wet clothes on radiators “can cause condensation and cause the radiators to run inefficiently, costing you more money in the long run”.
While these small adjustments can help to dampen energy costs, sometimes it’s simply not enough. Hunter said: “Some households may need extra help or support to pay their energy bills.
“If this is the case, contact your energy supplier as soon as possible. Your options could include agreeing a payment plan to pay each month by direct debit, signing up for a different tariff, more time to pay, payment breaks or they may have grants and schemes or hardship funds you could access.
“For immediate help, if you are in an urgent financial crisis, there are many organisations and charities that can help provide support too, including Citizens Advice, MoneyHelper, National Energy Action, National Debtline and StepChange.”
