Laundry bills 'slashed by £134' with 'simple' changes

Households grappling with rising living costs could slash as much as £134 from their annual laundry expenses by implementing a few straightforward adjustments. The potential savings can be made through measures ranging from lowering washing temperatures and changing detergent brands to ensuring tumble dryers are maintained correctly, according to specialists at Which? Researchers at the organisation worked out that families carrying out approximately four washes weekly could reduce yearly laundry spending by £134 without any negative impact on cleaning effectiveness. The most substantial saving stems from washing garments at cooler temperatures. Which? discovered that dropping the temperature from 40C to 20C can slash energy consumption by 62%, delivering savings of roughly £40 annually for the typical household. The consumer watchdog said contemporary washing machines are typically able to achieve satisfactory cleaning outcomes at 20C or 30C, especially when paired 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 considerable saving derives from changing laundry detergent products. 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 consumed 50% more electricity after repeated loads due to filters becoming blocked with fluff and lint. Keeping filters clean could save around £27 a year on running costs, according to the organisation. Households may also be throwing money away by doing 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 seek ways to cut energy bills and reduce everyday expenditure. Laundry appliances are among the most regularly used devices in the home, meaning even modest reductions in energy use can accumulate significantly over the course of a year. Which? also advised consumers shopping for new appliances to look at 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, better tumble dryer maintenance and fewer small loads, the organisation said households could cut annual laundry costs by around £134. For families facing continued pressure on household budgets, it may be one of the most straightforward money-saving measures available - requiring little more than turning a dial, cleaning a filter and making a smarter choice at the shops. More details here .