‘I’m a style expert – these are the best ways to wash your clothes to save energy’

Style expert Susannah Constantine has shared some of her top tips – on how to do laundry in the most energy-efficient way possible. A survey of 2,000 adults found that two in five would like to be more energy efficient when washing their clothes, with seven in ten actively seeking hints and tips on keeping household bills low.

However, just three in ten (29%) regularly opt for the “cold wash” setting on their washing machine, despite this being one of the top ways to save on energy costs. In fact, many Brits are left baffled by the symbols on their washing machine – with half unable to identify the cold wash (49%) or gentle wash (48%) cycles, while 76% are stumped by the synthetics cycle.

This confusion also extends to the washing symbols on their clothes labels, for 70% of those polled – with silk, velvet, and corduroy named as the materials Brits are least confident in washing.

One in three (32%) believe there are simply too many laundry symbols to comprehend, while 22% get confused by the varying instructions between different items – and consequently, 20% have given up reading them altogether before loading the machine.

Unfortunately, this has led to 34% ruining their garments in the wash – with wool the most common fabric for this to happen to.

The study was commissioned by Smart Energy GB – and found that, of those who have a smart meter at home, six in ten feel its in-home display has been integral to monitoring their energy use at home, while a further 41% reckon it helps them have more of an idea of how much energy is used when doing their laundry.

Smart Energy GB has partnered with style advisor, Susannah Constantine, and Energy Saving Trust, to re-imagine laundry labels into easy-to-understand icons and provide tips, tricks, and hacks to help consumers lighten the laundry load and save energy this summer.

Susannah said: “For many people, summer is their favourite time of the year – but with children off school, families going on holidays, having BBQs or picnics, and spending more time out and about, it often means more washing.

“It doesn’t help matters that the symbols on laundry labels are so confusing that often we don’t look at them at all.

“That’s why I’m teaming up with Smart Energy GB to help the nation better manage their laundry habits and energy use, one load at a time, and reduce household bills.”

The OnePoll study also found 38% of adults have experienced shrunken clothes, while 36% have dyed items after accidentally mixing loads. When it comes to washing machines, the average adult only ever uses two settings, despite there being plenty to choose from – with the “quick wash” named the most popular choice, for 59%.

And when seeking advice on how to do their washing and what labels mean, 57% rely on the internet for support, while 32% of those under the age of 25 ask a parent or guardian. However, cotton, denim, and synthetics proved to be the easiest to clean.

Victoria Bacon, director at Smart Energy GB, said: “Summer is the season for endless washing – whether it’s getting out grass, sunscreen, or ice-cream stains.

“Our research found that households are repeatedly using the same washing settings, but also seeking ways to be more energy efficient when doing laundry.

“Of course, the best way to track your energy usage is with a smart meter’s in-home display – but we also want to arm everyone with a few simple tricks to be more efficient with their laundry loads, so they can reduce their energy usage and save money.”

Top laundry tips

• Cold washes are just as effective as warm or hot washes – Opt for a 20-30 degree wash, where you can to save on energy while keeping clothes fresh. Colder washes are great for protecting materials such as denim and delicates, while preventing colour bleeding.
• Treat tough stains with an old-fashioned pre-soak – Treat stains the old-fashioned way and pre-soak garments overnight in a bowl or bucket, then follow with your preferred laundry cycle to save excess energy usage.
• Air-dry where possible – Air-drying is the most cost-effective way of drying a laundry load. This doesn’t have to be outside, either. If you don’t have any outside space, try placing your drying rack next to an open window to speed up the process.
• Use a dehumidifier – When the great British weather isn’t playing ball, a dehumidifier is a useful appliance that can speed up drying times. Simply place it next to a drying rack as a substitute to more energy-consuming appliances, such as tumble dryers or heated air racks, to help absorb moisture.
• Throw in the towel – If you do need to use your tumble dryer throughout the summer, try throwing in a dry towel to help your clothes dry faster.
• Apply the sniff test – While we all love that fresh, just-washed feeling, be mindful that you can get more than one wear out of certain garments, to help reduce the number of laundry loads. The sniff test is a good way of telling if something truly needs a clean – and, if doing a small load, be sure to use a quick cycle to be as efficient as possible.