How to save £100 a year on your washing machine costs with tiny tweaks

WASHING machines are typically used three or four times a week, but half of homes are not using them correctly, research has found.

Price comparison site uSwitch found just 50% of households run their machine when it’s not full, which could add another £8 to yearly bills.

There are other mistakes to be made, like putting them on at the wrong temperature, and not running service washes.

Here we explore how to get the most from your machine.

What’s the right temperature?

The consumer group Which? tested a range of washing machines to see how laundering at lower temperatures affects cleaning and energy use.

It found switching from 40°C to 30°C saved an average 38 per cent energy and washing at 20°C saved 62 per cent.

The average washing machine costs about £59 a year to run four washes a week, so switching to 30°C cycles would shave off £22 off, while washing at 20°C will cut that cost by £37.

It also found that unless the clothes were badly stained, modern machines would still do a good job most of the time regardless of the lower temperatures.

Katy Phillips, of price comparison site Idealo, said: “Washing clothes at 30 degrees is usually sufficient for a thorough clean, and running dishwashers on eco or lower temperature settings can significantly reduce energy use”.

Load it up efficiently

The most energy-efficient way to wash clothes is to run a normal cycle with a full drum rather than washing one or two items on a quick wash program.

Quick programs – or speed-up buttons – slightly reduce how much energy is used, but not by the same amount that the capacity is reduced. So it’s much more economical to do fewer big loads than daily smaller ones.

Which? worked out the difference would amount to an annual saving of around £9 for the average washing machine, with additional savings by using less detergent.

But never overload the machine as it could damage your machine, according to researcher and expert Hannah Jackman.

That’s because machines are designed to wash a certain weight, and overloading could damage the way the drums spin. There should be a space about the width of your palm between the top of the load and the top of the drum.

Experts say if you’re not doing any particularly messy or strenuous activities, you can wear underwear once, bras up to three times, tee-shirts up to two times, jeans up to 10 times and jumpers up to six times. 

Get the right detergent

Choosing the right washing powder might feel like a choice between quality and cost.

But in fact our tests – run in January this year – found the best performers were some of the cheaper supermarket brands.

Sun tester Lynsey Hope found Sainsbury’s non bio powder to be among her favourites, leaving her clothes stain-free, soft and smelling fresh, but without a heavy scent. 

A 2kg box cost £4.75 for 40 washes, or 12p a wash, scored 10/10 for effectiveness and 9/10 for value.

Lidl’s Formil non bio powder also did a great job at keeping whites bright, and clothes soft after washing, scoring 9/10 for effectiveness and 10/10 for value.

It currently costs £3.75 for a 40-wash pack, amounting to 9p a wash.

In contrast Lynsey found that Fairy’s Non Bio, which costs £9 for 40 washes, or 22.5p a wash, was no better than Sainsbury’s. 

Assuming one wash a day and an approximate 14p saving on each wash between the most expensive and cheapest powders considered, there would be an annual saving of just over £50. 

Keep it serviced regularly

Keep your machine in tiptop condition by running a regular, hot, service wash at least once a month. Check your instruction manual for which cycle is best for this.

Clean the rubber seal with a microfibre cloth dipped in warm water and washing up liquid, and use an old toothbrush to scrub off any dirt.

Leave the machine’s door and drawer open to prevent mould.

One tablespoon of detergent will suffice, too much can leave marks on your clothes.

Liz Hunter, director at Money Expert, said: “If you’re in the market for a new appliance such as a refrigerator, washing machine or tumble dryer, choosing one with a rating of A+ or above (A+++ is the top rating) will ensure that it’s more energy efficient but also kinder to the environment too.”