Keep More Laundry Energy Dollars in Your Pocket

Do you know where your energy dollars go each month? Most people don't. It's like shopping in a store where prices aren't marked. You know it is expensive to heat your home in winter, but you may not realize that you could be wasting energy for laundry and heating water in your home each year.

Here are a few tips to help you conserve energy and keep more dollars in your pockets.

Laundry Tips

  • Most people in the appliance industry agree that cold water rinses just as effectively as warm. By eliminating warm rinse cycles, the average consumer will save about $25 per year.
  • Soak cycles can allow for shorter wash times. For heavily soiled clothes, instead of a heavy wash cycle, try soaking and then using a shorter wash cycle.
  • Sort clothes by degree of dirtiness. Use shorter wash cycles for lightly soiled clothes.
  • Match the load setting to the size of the load. The load setting on your washer determines how much water is used and smaller loads require less water.
  • Washing two small loads uses approximately twice as much energy as combining them into one full load. By combining loads, you reduce the number of loads you wash, which in turn reduces your energy use.
  • If you are thinking of replacing your washing machine, consider a horizontal axis, or front-loading unit. These machines can reduce energy use by over 50 percent, use significantly less water, require less detergent and shorter drying cycles, and reduce wear and tear on clothes.
  • Don't overload the dryer. Overloading makes the dryer work harder and may cause excessive lint and wrinkling.
  • Clean the lint filter after every load. Lint on the filter reduces airflow and makes the dryer work harder.
  • Lightweight items take less time to dry than heavier items like towels. Dry similar weight items together. Dry loads consecutively to take advantage of heat build-up in your dryer.
  • Removing clothes as soon as the cycle is complete not only saves energy but also prevents wrinkling. Your dryer is most efficient when fully loaded. Combine smaller loads of wash into one dryer load, but be careful not to overload.
  • Line dry clothes during periods of nice weather to take advantage of the free, clean energy from the sun.  
    		•
    Return to What's New
    Please send your questions or comments to Kathy, Executive Assistant, or Contact Us
    Last updated: 12/2009
    Copyright © 2009 by Public Utility District #1 of Klickitat County
    This is a secure web site, for the sole purpose of providing information to Klickitat PUD customers. Any information given to Klickitat PUD will not be used for any purpose other than it's intended use. We do not share our client information with mailing companies or telemarketing firms.
    Site designed by