People across the country are being advised to put their washing machines on at night because it will 'cost them less'. The theory goes that your electricity is cheaper at night than it is in the day.
Unfortunately, for the vast majority of people, this just isn't the case. Most homes across the country pay a 'flat' rate for electricity - meaning the cost is the same whatever time of day you use it.
A few homes are still on a tariff called Economy 7 - a system which does give you seven 'off peak' hours in the day when your electricity is cheaper. Unfortunately most energy companies don't offer this to most new customers, so usually only those with legacy meters still have access.
There are other similar legacy tariffs such as Economy 10 - which is more complicated but still usually only available to existing customers. Meters that offer cheaper electricity at certain times of day are known as multi-rate or complex. You can contact your energy company to find out if you are on a multi-rate tariff.
EDF Energy says: "Most suppliers don't offer Economy 7 tariffs or meters anymore." Most energy companies are not taking on any new customers because of the state of the market.
SSE does take new customers on a multi-rate tariff, with cheaper electricity after 11pm. Electricity for the rest of the day is more expensive than its standard tariff. Other companies that have legacy multi-rate customers offer cheap electricity after midnight or 1am.
If you did want to switch to multi-rate, and can find a company that will do it, you are likely to need a new meter - and may be charged for installation.
The Government is considering a scheme which will give people discounts for cutting electricity use at peak teams - between 4pm and 7pm. If that scheme is introduced it will become cheaper for most people to run machines such as washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers at night.
Deyan Dimitrov, laundry expert and CEO of Laundryheap., says putting washing on at the right time of day would be cheaper if you are one of the few on the multi-rate tarrifs.
He said: "Depending on your energy tariff, demand for electricity can greatly impact your energy bill. This means that the time you choose to run your washing machine and tumble dryer can greatly affect your spending. When drying or washing clothes, make sure to avoid any time between 4pm and 7pm, as this is the most popular and expensive period.
"If possible, I would recommend using the time delay setting on your washing machine, as this function allows you to control when a washing cycle starts. Given that energy prices are at their lowest between 10pm and 5am, I would advise scheduling your washing machine to run into the early hours of the morning. Doing this can help you to significantly cut down energy costs."
Deyan also suggested a couple more things that we can do to slash costs when washing our clothes.
And one of them is as simple as opting for a colder cycle, as it could make your washing machine more energy efficient.
Deyan explained: "By washing your clothes at lower temperatures, and for less time, you’ll be able to increase your washing machine’s efficiency. A 30 degree washing cycle can reduce your machine's energy output by 50% in comparison to a 40-60 degree wash.
"Use hot washes sparingly, and prioritise any items which are exposed to lots of bacteria (such as sportswear, bedding and towels). Using the eco button on your machine will allow you to make additional savings."
Finally, if you tumble dry your clothes, Deyan suggests making a couple of simple changes to the way you do this, which could mean your bills aren't as high.
He continued: "When drying your laundry, try to use a cooler cycle. Whilst this may take a little longer than a hotter cycle, your energy consumption will still be much lower. This will prevent you from over-drying the items. If your clothes are warm when you remove them from your dryer, they’ve been in for too long!"
Deyan added: "Timing your tumble drying is another great way to save money. If you’re able to switch between different drying loads quickly, your tumble dryer will stay warm. This will conserve any leftover heat and reduce the drying time of your next load."
