Washer and dryer
Typical households wash nearly 400 loads of laundry each year. Conventional
clothes washers consume 40 to 50 gallons of water per load. Energy-efficient
washers use as little as one-third the water. Follow these tips to help reduce the
cost of doing laundry.
-
Approximately 90% of the energy used to wash clothes goes to heating water; so
wash as many loads in cold water as possible.
- Fill washer tub with the least amount of water necessary.
- Dry consecutive loads to take advantage of the heat stored in your dryer.
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Do not over-dry your clothes. Instead, combine clothes that require approximately the
same amount of drying time.
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Vent the dryer to the outside to reduce heat and moisture in your home. Periodically,
inspect the dryer vent, and clean when necessary.
- Clean the lint filter after each dryer load.
-
Run your dryer during the cooler parts of the day, early morning or late evening,
to avoid adding heat to your home during the hottest part of the day.
