Is it cheaper to wash clothes at night? (2023)

Energy efficiency is essential at any time of the year. However, during the scorching summer and freezing winter months, this becomes a priority.

To save some money, you might be wondering if it's cheaper to do your laundry at night.The answer depends on the season.

In a general way, d.During cold weather months, it's more economical to do laundry late at night, during what energy companies call peak hours. Some power companies offer a discount for off-peak power usage throughout the year.

To maximize your savings, it's best to use energy efficient appliances. Depending on your provider, savings can be up to 30%. So if you typically spend $15 off your electric bill doing 12 loads of laundry a month, you could save $60 a year!

Cheapest loads of laundry

A good rule of thumb is to always use appliances when temperatures areGood.

This means that in the summer, you want to use your braces at the coolest time of day, first thing in the morning. On the contrary, in winter, these machines should work when it is warmer outside, at night.

Why?The washing machine,and especially the dryer, emit heat, which warms the house. In summer, you prevent the air conditioning from working too much.

It's usually cooler at night or very early in the morning. During these parts of the day, it won't take long for the unit to adjust to the extra heat generated in the house.

On the other hand, in winter, the pipes take longer to warm up in the morning. So running your appliances late at night can ensure you don't have plumbing issues.

In spring and autumn, it is not necessary to be so strict due to the milder outside temperatures.

However, it is still recommended to do laundry at night as these are considered "off peak hours" by the electric company. This equates to being charged a lower rate on your monthly bill.

Peak hours x off-peak hours

Peak hours are the times of day when a region's energy consumption is highest.

The highest demand usually falls between 7am and 5pm. m. and 22h m., being 16h. m. at 7 p.m. the peak of afternoon heat.

These deadlines are when the kilowatt-hour rate will be the most expensive. On the other hand, off-peak hours are usually from after 10 pm to early morning.

This is another reason why it's cheaper to do laundry at night! Some areas also have partial peak times, which occur in the late morning and early afternoon.

These times can also be adjusted depending on the current season. Each region is slightly different due to different weather patterns.

Therefore, it is best to check with your energy supplier to determine your specific timeframes.

See Also

Doing laundry at night: does it save money and is it rude?What is the best time to wash clothes? - Best time to do laundryBest time to do laundry to save energy

Match the cost of laundry

Did you know that doing laundry can cost an average of $132 to $208 a year?

Average Monthly Energy Costs

Let's break down the math. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a measure of electrical energy. A low consumption washing machine will use 5 kWh to run a single cycle(1 hour duration).

An electric dryer uses between 2 and 6 kWh for each cycle. This equates to 7 to 11 kWh to wash and dry a load of laundry.

So if you run 3 loads a week for 4 weeks(twelve loads per month), this would be equivalent to 84 to 132 kWh used for laundry every 28 days.

The national average for each kilowatt-hour is 13.19 cents. Calculating your monthly cost, the average is between US$ 11.08 and US$ 17.41.

However, this is an average number. Many energy companies offer a lower hourly rate if you concentrate your usage during off-peak hours.

On the other hand, some companies raise rates during peak heating times to discourage customers from wasting energy.

Important note—These areaveragenumbers. With an older machine, you can have longer cycle times, which means higher costs.

Also, these calculations are done assuming you don't run a load every day.

If you upload daily, with these averages it will cost you between $337 and $530 per year,just for laundry!

Average monthly energy savings

Looking at your savings potential, each company offers a different incentive to reduce energy consumption during the day.

By meeting the right criteria and adjusting your usage to nighttime hours, you can save up to 30% on any energy used during that time.

So if you wash a load of laundry every night and typically spend $400 a year in energy to complete that task, you could save $136!

So talk to your provider and see what the price differential is in your region. It's almost always cheaper to do laundry at night.

While this might seem like pennies on the dollar when looking at the cost per hour, if you do the math, the total price can be quite exorbitant.

You can save a few hundred dollars a year just by adjusting wash times.

Laundry tips to save energy

It will always be cheaper to do laundry at night. However, if you are not using the proper tools and techniques in the laundry, you will not be able to optimize your savings.

So make sure you use these laundry hacks to get the most out of every cycle!

How to save money doing laundry at night

As the phrase goes,"Work smart and not hard". Therefore, do not overload the washing machine. This can unbalance you and prolong washing times.

However, you also don't want to run this appliance when it's only half charged. It will also waste energy.

Then choose to use the cold cycle when possible. Unless your clothes are heavily stained or dirty, washing them at a lower temperature is just as effective for cleaning them.

Also, opt for shorter wash cycles. If you follow the instructions on the detergent package, an extra long rinse cycle is not necessary.

Also, turn on the "high spin" setting. This removes excess water, which reduces the dryer's work.

How to save money when drying clothes at night

As for the dryer, make sure the lint filter is always empty,before performing a load. Don't overload this machine either. It will also increase the time needed to dry the items, increasing your costs.

To speed up drying time, place a dry, fluffy towel along with the wet garment. This will soak up any excess moisture.

After about fifteen minutes, remove it and continue with the rest of the cycle.

Something to be aware of -These Cooling Drying Sheets are great for softening our clothes, but they can also leave residue in the lint tray.

Over time, this can inhibit airflow. Make acleaning habitthis appliance regularly to keep your machine running efficiently.

Finally, dry your clothes with the humidity sensor activated. This tells the machine to turn off sooner if the clothes are dry.

If you have the option of staying dry, this is also another way to cut your energy bills.

Buy the right appliances

Another way to save money is to invest in energy efficient appliances. According to the people ofpower star, its certified washers “consume approximately 25% less energy and 33% less water than regular washers”. That could amount to nearly $400 in savings!

Additionally, the company notes that "if all tumble dryers sold in the United States were ENERGY STAR certified, Americans could save more than $1.5 billion a year in utility costs."

If you take the time to read the bright yellow label titled EnergyGuide, it tells you the potential average annual savings with each device.

Also, when buying a washing machine, also consider choosing afront loadingon a top loading machine. These use less water, saving you even more money!

Common questions

How often should I wash clothes per week?

How often a family should do laundry depends on the number of people living in the household.

However, an average family of four does up to ten loads of laundry a week. Therefore, as it is more economical to wash clothes at night, we recommend that you plan to run a load each night.

This helps distribute the work while maximizing your savings. It also ensures that you won't be up all night waiting for the last wash cycle to finish on a particular wash day.

Finally, it's important to note that if you don't have a full charge, it's best to wait until it's full.

Could operating my dryer at a high temperature create a fire hazard?

According toNational Fire Protection Association, "In 2014-2018, local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 13,820 domestic structure fires per year in which dryers were involved in ignition."

While this is an incredible statistic, they also point out that 32% of fires were caused by failure to clean the lint catcher.So clean your unit after every use!

However, another 27% of fires were caused by faults and 16% by electrical problems.

Therefore, it is also important to change the dryer at least every ten years. Always consult your owner's manual to determine the manufacturer's recommendations.

Finally, make sure your dryer tube has ample flow. If the metal becomes twisted, it can restrict airflow and cause a possible fire.

Sometimes having your dryer installed by a professional can ensure that these types of issues do not occur.

How do I know if my dryer needs replacing?

Watch out for signs that you're starting to have problems. Dryers must run quietly, without odors.

If your unit shuts down randomly or doesn't dry efficiently, invest in a new, safer unit.

Newer models tend to have more security features like humidity sensors and temperature controls.

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final thoughts

Save your money and help your regional power grid run smoothly by doing your laundry at night!

Also, don't forget to follow the suggested tips for energy efficient laundry.

Not only will this be cheaper, but it will also help your clothes last longer!