Save Energy on Laundry Day

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When is the best time to wash clothes to save electricity?

Your washing machine uses the same amount of energy regardless of when you run it. However, depending on your energy provider’s rates, you could still save on your energy bills by changing up what time of day you do your laundry. Here are the best times to wash clothes to save electricity.

Avoid washing clothes during peak hours

Many energy companies charge extra for electricity usage during their peak hours. These price differences are called time-of-use (TOU) rates. Plans with a TOU structure offer different rates depending on the time of day. Your energy plan may have cheaper energy rates during low-demand or off-peak hours and more expensive rates during high-demand times.

If you want to save the most money, read your plan’s Electricity Facts Label (EFL) to figure out when your energy rates are cheapest. For instance, a common range for peak hours is between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. So the cheapest time to do laundry for an energy plan with these higher TOU rates would be before 4 p.m. or after 7 p.m.

Wash clothes on summer mornings

Wondering if it’s cheaper to wash clothes at night or in the morning? Well, it depends. During the summer, it’s cheaper to run your washer early in the morning, when your home is coolest and energy demand is lowest. Once the sun comes out, it’s only a matter of time before energy usage peaks on those hot afternoons. By that time, most homes will have the AC cranking — and your energy provider is more likely to increase rates for the higher demand.

Run the washer on winter nights

Unlike during the summer, winter weather drives demand for electricity earlier in the morning when your furnace is busy working to keep your home warm and comfortable to combat the cold outside. The cheapest time to do laundry in the winter is at night when your thermostat is set cooler for sleeping.

How to save money when doing laundry

When you combine the cheapest time to do laundry with money-saving strategies, you can achieve an even lower monthly energy bill. Here are a few tips to follow to save money when doing laundry:

• Run a cold water wash: According to ENERGY STAR, your washer uses about 90% of its energy to heat water. Switching your temperature settings from hot to warm can cut energy consumption in half — and shifting from warm to cold can save even more.
• Switch to ENERGY STAR-certified appliances: ENERGY STAR-certified washers consume around 20% less energy than traditional washers and use around 30% less water. Meanwhile, ENERGY STAR-certified dryers use 20% less energy than standard dryers.
• Limit loads to two per day: If you do too much laundry in a single day, you risk running your washer or dryer during peak hours. This will cost you more in the long run than if you spread out one or two loads per day during low-demand hours.
• Ditch the fancy settings: Sometimes using a super hot cycle on heavy duty is necessary to remove stains. For everyday wash cycles, though, avoid using settings that increase your energy consumption and stick with just a simple wash cycle.
• Turn on the high spin option: If your washing machine offers spin features, choose a high spin speed or extended spin cycle. While this might sound like it uses more energy, it can ring out more water from your clothes and decrease the amount of time your clothing takes to dry, cutting down on higher dryer costs.
• Wash bigger loads: Your washing machine will use the same amount of mechanical energy whether you select “small” or “super.” Take advantage of the electricity you’re already using by washing larger loads.
• Air-dry your clothes: Instead of using a dryer, consider hanging your clothes on a clothing line or drying rack to dry them and reduce your energy consumption. Opting to air-dry your clothes spares your energy bill an extra dry cycle and may help you preserve your clothes in the long term.
• Clean the dryer’s lint trap: When you use your dryer, be sure to remove the leftover lint after each cycle. This improves air circulation and allows your dryer to work faster, wasting less electricity, and also reduces fire risk.
• Dry on moisture sensor mode: Instead of setting your dryer for an exact amount of time, try the moisture sensor mode, which automatically ends the cycle as soon as the clothes are dry. This can save time and reduce your bill.
• Use wool dryer balls: Instead of using dryer sheets, switch to 100% wool dryer balls to cut down on static and increase heat circulation in your dryer. This can help shorten the time it takes to dry your laundry and increase the longevity of your clothes and towels.

Peak planning isn’t limited to laundry. By doing your part to prevent an energy-demand traffic jam, you can also take advantage of savings on other electric essentials like air conditioning, heating, and lighting. Learn more tips in our guide for saving energy in your home.