With the price cap hike less than a week away, which will drive energy bills up, experts have shared money-saving advice
An expert is urging UK households to follow a specific rule in the coming months to help reduce their energy bills. His advice echoes what energy suppliers, such as Octopus and E.ON, have also said.
The energy price cap is rising by another 4% on October 1, 2026, meaning bills will be going up, and many Brits will be looking for ways to cut costs. Washing machines use a lot of power, so it’s worth considering small changes to your weekly laundry routine to significantly lower your overall energy bill this autumn and winter.
Laundry expert Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap, recommends running your washing machine at night. He says there are certain times when running your washing machine or tumble dryer can drive up your energy bill, as increased demand can make electricity more expensive, depending on your tariff.
He says the most expensive time to wash or dry your clothes is between 4pm and 7pm. “Try to avoid using your machines during these hours, if possible,” he said.
Offering a “handy” way to cut costs when running your washing machine, Deyan recommends using its time-delay setting, which lets you control when a cycle starts. Putting your washing in during the evening and setting the machine to run into the early hours of the morning could greatly reduce your electricity costs, he said.
“Energy prices are lowest between 10pm and 5am”. As a result, Deyan urges UK households to follow this 10pm-5am rule to keep costs as low as possible when using energy-guzzling appliances like washing machines amid the price cap hike.
Do Octopus and E.ON say the same thing?
The ’10pm rule’ Deyan mentions is similar to the advice Octopus and E.ON share on their websites. In its ‘off-peak hours’ blog post, Octopus says: “Laundry after 10pm: Run your washer and dryer during off-peak hours. Most machines have a delay-start option – set it and forget it.”
In a separate blog post on E.ON’s website, titled: “When is the cheapest time to use your washing machine?”, the energy supplier explains “how to cut your laundry bills”. It says: “Run your washing machine during off-peak hours (7pm to 2am) or super off-peak hours (2am to 5am) when electricity costs drop by more than half. Stay clear of the expensive 4pm to 7pm weekday rush hour when grid demand and energy prices are at their highest.”
As for tumble dryers, Deyan says: “If you need to dry your clothes during the day, the timing of your tumble drying cycles can also help save you money. Switching loads while the dryer is still warm from its previous cycle can conserve the remaining heat inside the dryer for your next load of clothes. This can help shorten drying time, as the machine won’t need to work as hard to dry your clothes.”
Do colder cycles cost less?
Another tip Deyan recommends is using a cold cycle, as he claims: “The colder the cycle, the better”. He says washing your clothes at cooler temperatures, and for less time, can greatly increase your machine’s energy efficiency: a 30 degree cycle can cut your washing machine’s energy use in half, in comparison to a 40-60 degree cycle.
He added: “It’s more cost-effective to save your hot washes for any bedding, towels and sportswear, as these items are most likely to host a multitude of bacteria. For even further savings, use the eco setting on your washing machine, if it has one.
“When it comes to drying your laundry, it’s also more efficient if you run a cooler cycle. Even if this means it’ll take longer to dry your laundry, your overall energy consumption will be much lower and you’ll also be less likely to over-dry your clothes. If your clothes come out warm to touch, they’ve been in for too long.”
Should you use bio or non-bio?
If you would like to start washing your clothes at cooler temperatures, it’s best to buy bio capsules or bio laundry detergent, as they contain enzymes that can be activated at lower temperatures than non-bio products, Deyan says. “These detergents will be better at breaking down your clothing’s dirt and stains during a colder wash,” he said.
“There are even detergents specifically for cold water washes. However, it’s worth noting that non-bio detergents are better for sensitive skin, as they contain less harsh enzymes.”
Does filling washing machines with the right loads matter?
Deyan says: “It’s much more efficient to do a large load of laundry rather than lots of smaller ones, so make sure you fill your machine with a suitable load. An overfilled washing machine may not wash your laundry thoroughly enough, and an overpacked dryer can take too long to dry your clothing.
“A good way to ensure that your machine will run as efficiently as possible is to check if you can still touch the top of the basin after filling either machine with your laundry. If you can’t fit your hand in and amongst your clothing, the machine is overpacked. Also, make sure to untangle your laundry before putting it in the washing machine or dryer, as smaller items could become stuck or wrapped up in larger items, (such as duvet covers or pillow cases) which can prevent them from getting properly washed or dried.”
Is it worth investing in dryer balls and air drying?
“Adding wool or rubber dryer balls to your dryer during a cycle, will help to separate your clothes and increase their exposure to airflow, which can overall reduce drying time and the length at which your dryer needs to run for, saving you energy. Wool balls can even soak up some of the moisture in your machine and cut down drying time even more,” Deyan said.
“Your tumble dryer uses the most energy out of all standard household cleaning appliances, so, if possible, drying your clothes on a drying rack in front of a radiator would be much more energy efficient. Equally, you could make the most of any crisp and sunny weather this autumn and hang your laundry outside, as outdoor breezes are great for drying clothes.”
