Overview
- Plumbworld highlights three money-wasting habits—too much detergent, small or unnecessary loads, and over-washing—that together can add more than £200 to annual bills.
- Elec Training’s Charanjit Mannu says a 90°C wash costs roughly £1.60 per cycle versus about 37p at 30°C, estimating around £220 extra per year for frequent hot washes based on typical use.
- Experts advise using the eco programme, which typically cuts energy and water by 30–40%, and checking energy labels that show kWh per 100 cycles to compare running costs.
- Overdosing detergent creates excess suds that prolong rinsing, leaves residue in drawers, seals and hoses, and can make fabrics stiff and irritating to wear.
- Practical steps include washing most loads at 30°C, running full loads, cleaning the filter monthly, doing an occasional 60°C maintenance cycle, and reserving hotter washes for heavily soiled items or illness-related bedding.