The average American household washes 300 loads of laundry a year. Washing and drying your clothes more efficiently can really take a load off your energy and water budget. Clean up with these cost-saving laundry strategies:
- Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.
- Unless you're dealing with oily stains, the warm temperature setting will clean most fabrics. By switching from hot to warm, you can cut energy use in half.
- Wash full loads whenever possible. If you must wash a small load, use the appropriate water level setting.
- Clean the lint filter after each dryer load; this will increase air circulation and improve dryer efficiency.
- Avoid drying towels and heavy cotton materials with lightweight clothing.
- If your dryer is equipped with a moisture sensor, use it to prevent over-drying.
- Consider air drying clothes in your laundry room or outdoors, if possible.
- Inspect your dryer vent periodically to ensure that it's not blocked.
By using these free tips, you can enjoy the fresh scent of newly and cleaned clothes, and the lower energy bills.