How to Save Money - and Energy - in the Laundry Room

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How to Save Money and Energy in the Laundry Room. 11 tips designed to save energy and cash without sacrificing clean shirts and socks.

Washing Machine:

1 Set the water heater thermostat at 120 degrees F. Each 10-degree reduction will cut the cost of washing clothes by up to 13 percent.

2 Wash most clothes in warm or cold water. And always select cold for the rinse. (Detergent and bleach work best in warm water but any temperature rinse will wash away suds.)

3 Read the laundry detergent directions. Use only the amount recommended. Over-sudsing makes your machine work harder.

4 Select settings carefully. Delicate clothes don't need as long a wash cycle as the children's dirty play clothes. Over-washing clothes is an energy and cash drain, and also makes garments wear out faster.

5 Presoak or use the soak cycle when washing heavily soiled garments. You'll avoid two washings.

Clothes Dryer:

6 Make sure your dryer is vented properly.

If you vent the exhaust outside, use the straightest and shortest metal duct available. Skip the flexible vinyl duct - it restricts air flow, is easily crushed and may not withstand high temperatures from the dryer.

7 Check te outside dryer exhaust vent regularly to see that it closes tightly. If not, replace it.

8 Clean the lint filter after every load.

9 Dry only full loads. Small loads waste energy. Separate clothes and dry similar types together. Lightweight synthetics, for example, dry much more quickly than bath towels and cotton robes.

10 Dry in batches (two or more loads in a row). This takes advantage of the already warm dryer drum.

11 Keep heat-producing appliances (like washers and dryers) away from the thermostat. The hot air will make your cooling system work harder.

How to Save by Lightening Up

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Return to Laundry & Stains

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