Do you ever look at your utility bills, shake your head, and Laundry Tips wonder what you’re doing wrong? Most people do, at least once in a while.
But that doesn’t mean you need to sit back and take it…not when there are numerous ways to conserve energy and water.
Take clothes washing day, for example. No doubt you have your routines, they work for you, and they come out nice and clean. And yet, if you really are intent on cutting back on energy expense, here are some proven ways to go about it.
Wear clothes more than once.
Not everything needs to be washed after just one wearing, so don’t be as quick to toss garments in the laundry basket. Tweens and teens are often especially guilty of the “one and done” syndrome.
Rinse your clothes in cold water. Nearly 90% of the energy it takes to run a load of clothes is used to heat the water.
Only wash full loads. Why waste all that water and energy for a partial load when waiting another day might be all it takes to fill the washer.
Hang your clothes out to dry. Yes, we live in New Jersey and no, it’s not always practical to hang up your clothes out to dry. So, don’t throw out your dryer, but do change things up when the weather permits. When you do, your clothes will smell terrific and some electricity will have been saved.
Set your dryer to the “auto setting”. This ensures that that when your clothes are dry, the dryer will turn itself off, thus conserving energy. If you don’t have an auto dry setting, reduce the dry time from your norm. When the buzzer goes off, check the clothes – with any luck, they’ll be perfectly dry.
Remove dryer lint filter after every load. A lint-free filter improves air circulation, speeds up drying time, and helps prevent a fire.
Check your dryer exhaust. If your exhaust vent isn’t tightly closed, outside air can enter and force your dryer to work harder. Harder work means greater energy consumption.
While it’s okay to rinse your clothes in cold water, most white loads require either warm or hot water to fully clean them. But what happens when you don’t have enough hot water for the job? You end up having to rewash your clothes, thus doubling your energy consumption. Instead, contact Anthony’s Plumbing, Heating & Air for a water heater inspection and, if necessary, system repair or replacement. We maintain and repair all makes and models of gas and electric water heaters…including tankless units.
