Latest news with #laundrytips
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
The secret button on your washing machine that can slash your energy bills by £72
WASHING machines are a busy household's best friend, but they can be a drain on your wallet. Luckily, experts have revealed a handy little tip to help make your laundry cheaper. 1 You can save around £72 a year on your energy bills by flicking the spin button before popping wet clothes in the tumble dryer. Miele kitchen appliance expert Ryan Adams, director of Ati Harrogate has revealed why this handy tip can save big money. 'Placing wet clothes directly into a tumble dryer forces the appliance to work much harder. "Running a second spin cycle in the washing machine to remove excess water and untangling items before drying helps the clothes move freely in the drum, reducing strain on the dryer. 'Including a thorough spin cycle before tumble drying can help households potentially save between £29 to £72 annually.' And that's not the only tip guaranteed to save you some cash - Ryan also has strong views when it comes to mixed washing. We often chuck all sorts of clothing and bedding together, but one mixture to avoid is washing towels and bed linen. This combination can also cause damage to your washing machine drum too. Ryan said: 'Washing towels and bed linen in the same load can cause excessive strain on a washing machine. "The added water weight often exceeds the recommended load capacity, potentially damaging the drum shaft and bearings. "Additionally, these items tend to form a single heavy ball during the cycle, which can bounce around and harm the machine's internal parts.' Another tip is to always check pockets, as coins can wreak havoc on washing machines and driers. "These items can bang around inside the drum, leading to expensive repairs. A quick check of pockets before starting a load can save your machines and prevent unnecessary costs.' Finally, another thing to keep in mind when you're next working through a pile of dirty washing is to remember to empty the lint trap. Ryan said: 'Neglecting the lint trap can have serious consequences. "A clogged trap reduces airflow, forcing the dryer to work harder, which not only wastes energy but also risks overheating the appliance. 'Regularly cleaning the lint trap before each drying cycle makes it more efficient and safer, preventing fire hazards.' More ways to save on laundry bills It's not just eco settings that can slash your energy bills when doing the laundry. Make sure you only run the machine when it's fully loaded. Cutting down on a half full cycle each week adds up to significant savings over a year. Consider using colder washes more frequently. A large part of the energy consumer by a machine is to simply heat the water. When drying clothes, try to ditch the tumble drier where possible. Drying clothes outside is easy and quick in the summer. When temperatures are cooler, consider investing in a heated clothes airer which use far less energy than a drier. And put your clothes on an extra spin cycle first to wring out as much water as possible. If you do use a tumbler drier make sure all lint is removed from the filters, which can impact the efficiency of the machine and means it has to work harder and use more energy. Popping an old tennis ball in a tumble drier with your laundry can help clothes to separate out and dry faster to help you use less energy. 4 ways to keep your energy bills low Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips. 1. Turn your heating down by one degree You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70. 2. Switch appliances and lights off It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills 3. Install a smart meter Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used. 4. Consider switching energy supplier No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
How to dry laundry without a dryer when it's cold or wet outside
Getting clothes and linen dry in constant wet weather can be frustrating. Maybe you don't have the luxury of a tumble dryer, or you're reluctant to use it to save on your next power bill. Add a sudden drop in temperature and the process of drying our washing can become even tricker. Some experts, like Lish Fejer, a science communicator and ABC reporter in Ngambri/Canberra, discourage the use of tumble dryers because of the amount of energy they consume and the impact they can have on your clothes. "[Tumble] drying is bad for your clothes; it wears them down," Lish says. Lish runs The Fix It Chicks with co-creator Jenny Edwards, teaching people cheap ways to wash and dry laundry. Here are some of the alternative methods you can use for drying clothes and linen in wet or cold weather. If the clothes can withstand it (avoid wool, linens and silks, for example), put them on a high-spin cycle in the washing machine, and repeat. "You can give drying a head start by spinning to get rid of as much water as possible," Lish says. When you take your clothes out of the washing machine, she suggests rolling them up in a clean, dry towel to remove excess moisture. Lish says when using a rack for air drying, make sure the clothes are spaced out well so air can circulate around each item. Using pegs means you won't have to fold the items over. "Look at any glass or window that is being hit by the sun — put your drying rack there, that will activate the drying process," Lish says. If heading out for the day, hang sheets and towels over chairs and tables. "I love a coat hanger; I hang shirts on them and put them over door frames and architraves." Ventilation is important to minimise condensation and avoid mould. "Humidity in the house is a big one [if drying clothes indoors]," says Lish. "How do you get rid of that moisture in your house without it causing mould and mildew and the health effects that come with that?" She recommends opening a window to manage this (weather dependent). You can also increase air flow indoors by using a pedestal or ceiling fan which Lish says uses little energy and helps with evaporation. The extraction fan in your bathroom will be effective when drying in there. Some split-system air conditioners have a dehumidifying mode that doesn't cool or heat (and therefore costs less to run). Drying happens best outside, so if you have the space, take advantage. If its overcast or rainy, using a balcony or undercover area is ideal — even if shady and cold. A windy day is a bonus, as items will dry faster. If you're strapped for time (or motivation), throw the wet load of washing onto an outdoor table on a towel in the sun, on a picnic blanket, on the trampoline, or on the heated floor. For small items, Lish lays them on a towel in the back of her car and parks it in the sun while at work. "You do have to occasionally go turn them over, and I leave the windows open a little." If you have a hot water system in the cupboard, you could also fold clothes that are nearly dry and place them on top. "Be careful not to cover the pressure valve," warns Lish. Lish says to throw in a clean, dry towel with your wet items. "That will significantly reduce the amount of time it needs to be on for as it absorbs some of the moisture." Susan Toft, the CEO and founder of a nationwide domestic laundry business, says the biggest mistake people make is simply "putting items in that are not meant for the dryer, because you can damage them". "Wool, in particular, will shrink. And that's probably the thing we see the most," she says. But, she says, you should also take great care with bras, other delicate items (such as anything with silk), and clothing with prints on it. "The best tip is to always follow the care label," she says. Consumer advocacy group CHOICE also advises caution when drying anything with lycra in it — so throwing in your activewear might not be the best bet. But if you do end up shrinking something, it's not the end of the world. For jumpers, you can wet them and pat them out with towels to try and stretch them back out, and then leave them to dry in a shady spot.
