Energy Efficiency in the Laundry Room | Teems Electric

There are only a few things in life that you will never run short of—and one of those things is laundry. The battle to keep clothes clean is one that we all fight daily.

Whether you are a once-a-week marathon washer or “a load or two a day” kind of person, there is no way around spending time in your laundry room. Along with the cost of the soaps and stain removers and fabric softeners, washers and dryers also pull a lot of energy. So not only does your laundry room drain your personal time and mental and physical energy, it can also be a literal energy drain that reflects on your power bill.

The good news is that while that laundry pile may never get smaller, with energy-efficient choices in your less-than-favorite room, your electric bill can.

Simple Upgrades

Upgrading your appliances will always be the best way to ensure you have the most energy efficient models in your home. This might be a challenging step to take when you begin to consider the cost of purchasing new items, especially a new washer and dryer.

However, if your machines are more than 10 years old, upgrading to newer versions will, in the long run, not only save you a fair amount of money on water and electricity, but it will also ensure you have the latest features ensuring your home’s safety.

If upgrading isn’t in your budget at the moment, or your machines haven’t passed their prime, consider other areas of your laundry room that could be upgraded at a lower cost. It’s likely you use the light nearest to your washer more often and for longer periods of time than most places in your house, so switch it out to an LED bulb or fixture. Since drying clothes produces a good deal of warmth, blackout curtains for sunny days and a good screen that allows you to crack the window can keep things cooler.

No-Cost Energy Savers

Along with updating what you can to make your laundry room energy-efficient, there are several no-cost choices you can make that will lower your energy usage and make a decent dent in your electric bill every month.

Washing your clothes on cold is a pretty widely known tip that cuts cost, but you can also set your dryer to a lower heat setting and a longer drying time. It may seem like needing to lengthen the time your items spend in the dryer would negate any savings lowering the heat provided, but since the true energy draw comes from maintaining the temperature, lower and slower is more energy-efficient.

Choosing the best time of day to wash and dry your clothes is another great way to cut costs. If your utility company charges more during peak hours, waiting until you are outside of that timeframe can make a big difference. Avoiding other high-traffic times in your home when other appliances are in use can also help.

As much as possible, only wash clothes when you have a full load and avoid opening the dryer door while it is running. Always clean the lint filter after every use—this can not only keep your dryer running well, it can protect your home from fires.

You may never be able to stop the endless flow of dirty clothes and towels in your home, but you can make cleaning them as energy-efficient as possible.

Ready for more energy-efficient tips and simple changes for your home? Contact us to find out everything we have to offer.