Laundry is a bit of a chore, isn't it?

Not the washing itself, that's the easy part. It's everything around it: the guessing game of what counts as a full load, the dryer running longer than it needs to, and an electricity bill that creeps up without you quite knowing why.

If you're trying to bring that cost down without living out of a laundry basket, there's some surprisingly simple things that can help.

And no, we're not going to tell you to stop using your dryer altogether. This is about making laundry day a little smarter, not harder.

How can you save electricity doing laundry?

The easiest ways to reduce laundry electricity use are to wash in cold water, wait for full loads, use a high spin speed, air-dry whenever you can and avoid overdrying clothes. If you do need the dryer, partially air-drying first and keeping the lint filter clean will also help cut down the energy it uses.

The quick version

• Wash in cold water when you can.
• Wait until you have a full load.
• Use a high spin speed before drying.
• Let the sun and wind do as much drying as possible.
• Use your dryer efficiently on the days you genuinely need it.

Simple changes, but when you're doing load after load of washing, they add up.

1. Wash your clothes in cold water

This is one of the easiest places to start.

For everyday washing that doesn't need a hot wash, cold is our go-to! Heating water is easily the biggest energy user when doing the laundry, so choosing a cold wash cycle can make a real difference to what each load costs you.

Of course, always follow the care instructions for your clothes and washing machine, and use an appropriate cycle where hygiene requirements call for something different.

But for the average everyday load?

Cold is beautifully simple.

2. Wait until you have a full load

We know. Someone needs that one shirt tomorrow. We've all been there.

But when you can, wait until you've got enough washing for a full load. Washing machines often use a similar amount of energy and water for a partial load as they do for a full one, unless yours has load-sensing or half-load technology.

That means fewer, fuller loads can be a much smarter use of both water and electricity. Just don't go too far the other way and stuff the machine until the door barely closes... your clothes still need room to move around and wash properly.

3. Give your clothes a really good spin

This one makes a real difference to how long your clothes will take to dry .

The more water your washing machine removes, the less water you need to remove afterwards. If the clothes are going into the dryer, a high spin cycle first means less energy and time is needed to get them dry. It makes sense. You're using the washing machine to remove more water mechanically rather than asking the dryer to evaporate all that moisture using heat.

Check what's suitable for your fabrics first, especially with delicate items, but for appropriate loads, a higher spin speed is a handy laundry trick.

4. Use the sun (and wind) whenever you can

Our favourite clothes dryer will always be the sun! Free. No electricity. No fancy settings.

You don't need a scorching hot day to dry clothes outside either. Air movement helps just as much as heat does, so if the forecast gives you a few dry, breezy hours, take them. Hang the washing outside and let the sun and wind do as much of the work as possible. Even if things don't dry completely, partially air-drying your clothes before finishing them in the dryer means the dryer has less moisture to remove.

The sun and air are free resources, which is a nice reminder that the cheapest dryer is the one already sitting outside your window.

Our little laundry trick

This is where our Stainless Steel Sock Hanger becomes super handy.

It has 36 pegs, so you can hang socks, underwear, reusable wipes, baby clothes and all those tiny things together.

Put the whole hanger outside when the weather is behaving. Clouds suddenly rolling in? Bring the entire thing inside in one go. No running around trying to rescue piles of socks while the rain starts.

5. Use reusable stainless steel pegs outside

If you're going to take advantage of every little patch of sunshine, good pegs make life much easier (and cheaper in the long run). 

Our Go For Zero Stainless Steel Pegs are made from 316 marine-grade stainless steel. We chose 316 because it has excellent corrosion resistance, including in salty and coastal conditions.

They're strong, reusable and don't contain a plastic body that becomes brittle after sitting outside in the weather. And when you've got sheets and towels blowing around on a blustery day, a strong peg suddenly becomes far more exciting than a peg has any right to be.

Use what you already have first, of course. But when your old plastic pegs eventually crack or snap, stainless steel is a great long-term replacement.

Right now our Stainless Steel Pegs are 15% off as part of our Spring Cleaning Sale, so if your old pegs are on their last legs, this is a good time to make the swap.

6. Air-dry first, then use the dryer

Sometimes the washing simply isn't going to dry in time. It's been raining for four days. The kids have somehow used every towel in the house. And someone needs clean clothes tomorrow.

Use the dryer.

Sustainable living doesn't require making your life unnecessarily difficult. But rather than putting soaking-wet washing straight into the dryer, see if you can get some of that moisture out first. Hang clothes outside for a few hours, or use an indoor drying rack in a warm, well-ventilated area. Then use the dryer to finish them off if they're still damp.

This way, you're letting free air do some of the work before paying for electricity to do the rest.

7. If you're using the dryer, use it efficiently

The dryer is sometimes unavoidable, so let's make the most of it. Here are a few really simple things you can do.

• Clean the lint filter after every load. A blocked lint filter reduces airflow, which means your dryer has to work harder. It's also a fire hazard, so this one is about safety as well as efficiency.
• Don't run tiny loads if you can avoid it. Many dryers use a similar amount of electricity for partial and full loads, so make the load count while staying within your dryer's capacity.
• Don't over-dry your washing. If your dryer has an auto-sensing setting or a timer, use it. There's no point continuing to tumble already-dry clothes.
• Ventilate the space. A vented dryer working in a closed-up room pushes heat and moisture straight back into the air around it, making it work harder than it needs to.
• Use a high spin first. The less water going into the dryer, the less moisture it has to remove.

8. Use wool dryer balls when you do use the dryer

When we need our dryer, we also throw in our wool dryer balls.

Wool dryer balls tumble between your clothes, helping separate fabrics, reduce clumping and naturally soften washing without disposable dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener. They can also help to speed up drying time and reduce ironing! 

We love them because they're simple and reusable. Our Eco Max Wool Dryer Balls are hand felted from natural 100% New Zealand wool (soooo pretty) and sold individually, so you can choose the number that suits your household and dryer.

A quick comparison: your drying options

Method	Electricity cost	Speed	Best for
Line drying outside	None	Depends on weather	Sunny or breezy days
Indoor drying rack	None	Slower	Wet weather, well-ventilated rooms
Dryer, well-spun load	Lower	Faster	Finishing off damp clothes
Dryer, wet load straight from the wash	Higher	Slowest	Avoid where you can

What's the cheapest way to dry clothes?

Whenever the weather allows, line drying is the cheapest option because the sun and wind don't appear on your electricity bill (hehe).

If you don't have a clothesline, a drying rack placed outside or in a warm, ventilated indoor area is another good option. If your clothes are still damp afterwards, you can use the dryer just to finish them. Think of it as letting Mother Nature pick up the first shift.

Is it cheaper to wash clothes in cold water?

Yes.

Heating the water requires energy, which is why a cold wash typically uses less energy than a warm or hot wash. For us, that's one of the easiest laundry changes because you don't need to buy anything at all. 

Just change the setting.

Does the eco setting on a washing machine save electricity?

This is one of those slightly confusing ones because eco cycles can take longer.

Surely longer means more electricity? Not necessarily.

Eco programs are usually designed to reduce energy and water consumption, often by using lower temperatures and allowing more time for the wash instead. The exact performance depends on your machine, so check your appliance manual and Energy Rating label rather than assuming the shortest cycle is automatically the cheapest.

Longer doesn't always mean more energy.

How can I dry clothes faster indoors?

Step 1: Remove as much water as you can in the washing machine with an appropriate high spin speed.

Step 2: Give your washing space. Avoid piling clothes on top of one another on the drying rack, and leave gaps so air can move around the fabric.

Step 3: Place your rack somewhere with good airflow and ventilation. If your heating happens to be on, an indoor clothes rack can make use of that warmth rather than you switching on the dryer as well.

Tip: One thing we wouldn't recommend is filling a closed room with wet washing and forgetting about ventilation. Wet clothes release moisture into the air as they dry, so airflow matters.

So, how can you make laundry more energy-efficient?

Start with the free changes. Wash cold when appropriate. Wait for a full load. Spin out as much water as you can. Use the sun and wind whenever they're willing to cooperate. 

If you need the dryer, don't feel guilty about it. Just use it thoughtfully. Partially air-dry first when you can, keep your lint filter clean and avoid running it longer than necessary.

Then look at the products in your laundry and replace disposables for toxin-free & waste-free laundry productsonly when you actually need to. Sustainability doesn't have to mean doing everything perfectly. Sometimes it's just looking at a boring everyday job like washing and thinking: how can I make this a little better?

We don't claim to have this perfected either. Laundry is one of those never-ending jobs, and some weeks the dryer just has to earn its keep. What we do promise is that we'll keep researching, learning and sharing the small swaps that help, rather than the ones that just sound good.

If you ever want to swap notes on what's working in your laundry or ask a question, we'd love to hear from you at askusanything@goforzero.com.au.

With love, 
Ellie x

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save electricity when doing laundry?

Wash in cold water when appropriate, wait for full loads, use a high spin speed and air-dry your clothes whenever possible. If you need a dryer, partially air-dry first, clean the lint filter after each load and avoid overdrying clothes.

What is the cheapest way to dry clothes?

Drying clothes outside on a clothesline is generally the cheapest option because it doesn't use electricity. If the weather isn't suitable, try a drying rack in a warm, well-ventilated area and use the dryer only to finish clothes if needed.

Does washing clothes in cold water save electricity?

Yes. Cold washing generally uses less energy because electricity or another energy source isn't needed to heat the wash water, and heating water is the biggest energy cost in a wash cycle.

How can I dry clothes faster without using a dryer?

Use an appropriate high spin speed to remove more water before hanging clothes, spread clothes out with plenty of space between them and choose a location with good airflow. Even a cool day can work well when there's good air movement and no rain.

How can I use my clothes dryer more efficiently?

Start with well-spun or partially air-dried clothes, run appropriately sized loads, clean the lint filter after every load and use automatic moisture-sensing settings if your dryer has them. If you're buying a new dryer, compare Energy Rating labels and consider an efficient heat-pump model.