‘Simple changes’ that could ‘slash laundry costs by £134’ | Personal Finance | Finance

Families struggling with soaring household costs could save as much as £134 a year on laundry bills by making a handful of simple changes.

The savings can be achieved through everything from turning down the washing temperature and switching detergent to cleaning a tumble dryer properly, according to experts at Which? Its experts calculated that households doing around four washes a week could cut annual laundry costs by £134 without compromising on cleaning performance. The biggest saving comes from washing clothes at lower temperatures.

Which? found that reducing the temperature from 40C to 20C can cut energy use by 62%, saving the average household around £40 a year. The consumer champion said modern washing machines are generally capable of delivering good cleaning results at 20C or 30C, particularly when used with liquid detergent.

Rebecca Jakeman, senior researcher at Which?, said consumers do not always need to wash clothes at higher temperatures unless items are heavily soiled. Another significant saving comes from switching laundry detergent.

Which? testing found some branded detergents cost as much as 36p per wash, while top-performing alternatives can cost as little as 9p per wash.

For a household running four washes a week, that difference could amount to an annual saving of around £56. Meanwhile, homeowners with tumble dryers are being urged not to overlook maintenance.

Which? found that blocked filters can dramatically increase energy consumption. In tests of heat-pump dryers, some machines used 50% more electricity after repeated loads because filters became clogged with fluff and lint.

Keeping filters clean could save around £27 a year on running costs, according to the organisation. Households may also be wasting money through frequent small washes.

Research found that carrying out a few full loads each week is generally more efficient than running smaller daily washes, even when using quick-wash settings.

Switching from daily small washes to fewer full loads could save around £11 a year, Which? said. The findings come as households continue to look for ways to reduce energy bills and everyday spending.

Laundry appliances are among the most frequently used household devices, meaning even modest reductions in energy consumption can add up over the course of a year.

Which? also advised consumers shopping for new appliances to consider energy-efficient washing machines and heat-pump tumble dryers, which can deliver further long-term savings through lower running costs.

Adding together the potential savings from lower-temperature washing, cheaper detergent, improved tumble dryer maintenance and fewer small loads, the organisation said households could reduce annual laundry costs by around £134.

For families facing ongoing pressure on household budgets, it may be one of the easiest money-saving measures available – and it requires little more than turning a dial, cleaning a filter and choosing a different detergent. More details here.