Easy Changes Can Slash £134 Off Your Laundry Bills

With rising living costs putting pressure on households, simple changes to your laundry habits could save you up to £134 each year. According to experts at Which?, straightforward measures such as washing clothes at lower temperatures, switching to more affordable detergents, maintaining tumble dryers, and optimizing wash loads can all add up to significant savings without compromising cleanliness.

Which? researchers found that an average family doing around four washes weekly could cut their laundry expenses by £134 annually without sacrificing cleaning effectiveness. The biggest savings come from washing clothes at cooler temperatures. Lowering the wash temperature from 40°C to 20°C reduces energy use by 62%, translating to around £40 in yearly savings for a typical household. Modern washing machines, especially when combined with liquid detergents, are effective at cleaning at these lower temperatures.

Rebecca Jakeman, Senior Researcher at Which?, explains that high temperatures aren’t always necessary unless clothes are heavily soiled. Another major saving opportunity lies in detergent choices. Testing by Which? revealed that some branded detergents cost up to 36p per wash, whereas top-performing, budget-friendly options can cost as little as 9p. For families washing four times a week, switching detergents could save approximately £56 annually.

Tumble dryer maintenance is another area where homeowners can cut costs. Blocked filters cause dryers, particularly heat-pump models, to consume significantly more energy—up to 50% more after repeated use. Regularly cleaning dryer filters can save about £27 a year on running costs.

Additionally, doing fewer full loads instead of frequent small washes is more energy efficient, even when using quick-wash cycles. This simple change can yield savings of around £11 annually.

With laundry appliances among the most used in the home, these small adjustments can accumulate to meaningful reductions in energy bills over time. Which? also recommends choosing energy-efficient washing machines and heat-pump tumble dryers when shopping for new appliances, as they offer further savings in the long run.

By combining lower wash temperatures, cost-effective detergents, proper dryer maintenance, and smarter load management, households could reduce their annual laundry expenses by around £134. For families managing tight budgets, these practical steps offer an easy and effective way to cut costs without compromising on cleanliness.