Top five ways to save money with your appliances

Washing machines tend to be one of the most expensive appliances to run. Especially if you like working up a sweat at the gym – or you have a dog/child who loves rolling around in the mud. Whatever the state of your laundry pile (or floordrobe), there are things you can do to help cut the cost of running this essential household appliance.

Try these tips:

• Pre-soak heavily soiled clothing – so you don’t have to wash it twice 
• Always fill your machine properly before running a cycle (that usually means two thirds full, not half-empty or completely jam-packed)
• Unless your laundry is seriously dirty, go for a 30-degree wash (or cooler)
• Choose shorter cycles for lightly soiled loads
• If your machine has eco settings, use them

And it might sound obvious, but it’s also important to keep your washing machine clean.

A dishwasher tends to use much less water than washing things by hand. So, it’s already a great appliance for keeping your water bills down – as long as you use it in the right way. When it comes to other energy costs, there are ways to trim those too.

Remember:

• Don’t waste water by pre-rinsing your dirty dishes – but do scrape off solid leftovers
• Fill your dishwasher to capacity – don’t run it half empty
• Load it in the right way, so everything comes out clean first time
• Use your eco settings (most dishwashers have them now)
• If you’re on a time-of-use energy plan, use the timer and set your dishwasher to start when it costs less to run

Looking after your dishwasher should also help to keep it running more efficiently. If any issues crop up, it’s best to deal with them as soon as you can.

Here’s what to do if your dishwasher isn’t cleaning properly.

As one of the few household appliances that hardly ever gets switched off, it’s sensible to keep your fridge freezer working in tip-top condition. These hints and tips should help you look after yours – so it doesn’t use extra energy and cost even more to run.

Top tips:

• Don’t over fill your fridge freezer, as this can stop the cold air from circulating properly
• Keep the temperature of the fridge between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius – keep the freezer at minus 18
• If the freezer section isn’t designed to defrost automatically, defrost it yourself at least once every 6 months
• Keep your door seals clean – and if you spot a fault, get it fixed straight away
• Close the doors as quickly as you can after opening (to keep the temperature down)
• Never put hot food straight in the fridge – let it cool first

It’s also a good idea to take food out of the freezer the night before you need it – so it can defrost naturally. Cooking from chilled always uses less energy than cooking from frozen.

Handy reminder: Here’s how to check the temperature of your fridge freezer.

If your oven gets plenty of action, there are some simple things you can do to help keep your energy use in check. Remember, if your energy use comes down – so should your bills. And even if you’re not the most enthusiastic baker, it’s worth bearing these points in mind.

Handy hints:

• Always keep the oven door closed while you’re cooking, or the heat will quickly escape (keep the door clean, so you can easily look in)
• Cook from chilled, not frozen
• Check how long your oven takes to pre-heat – and be ready to get the food in as soon as it’s up to temperature
• Where possible, use ceramic or glass dishes in the oven, rather than metal (they’re better at retaining heat)
• Position your racks at the right levels for optimum cooking time
• Check the door seals regularly and keep them clean

It’s also worth thinking about the differences between gas and electric ovens.

The not-so-humble tumble dryer… Of all the appliances around your home, it’s likely that this one is the most expensive to run. But what can you do to help bring costs down and keep it working smarter, not harder?

Try these tips:

• Don’t start with a soaking wet load – get rid of some of the water first by spinning it at a high speed in your washing machine 
• Keep your filters clean and make sure they’re not clogged with lint (otherwise the motor will need to use more energy to do its job)
• Dry similar fabrics together – so none of them are in the dryer for longer than they need to be
• As with your washing machine, always fill the dryer properly before running a cycle (two thirds full, not half-empty or completely jam-packed)
• With multiple loads, dry them one after the other – to make the most of the residual heat

Naturally, one of the best ways to save money on tumble-drying is to do it less. So if you have enough outdoor space, just swap the dryer for fresh air and sunshine. (Weather permitting, of course.)