A mum has revealed a ‘secret’ button on your washing machine that might just save you a whole lot of money this winter.
It’s not surprising to anyone that washing machines are one of the most expensive appliances to run in the household, but one mum has shared a little tip to save you some pennies over Christmas.
Beth, known as the ‘Budgeting Mum’ on Instagram and TikTok, shares hundreds of tips on how to save money, but her latest one has got us all hooked.
The mum-of-two shared a video of her washing machine, where it was displaying the 40 degrees symbol.
Beth pointed out in the video that washing machines are usually, automatically set to wash at 40 degrees, but this is actually the most expensive function.
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She hovered over the button and took the temperature down to 20 degrees, which is far more cost effective.
According to Which? Magazine, turning your washing machine down to this setting, can reduce the running costs by an average of 62 percent.
Now that is worth a go!
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The company said: “This is because washing machines need to use less energy to heat water and lower temperatures.”
But the question we all want to know is if it actually changes the quality of the wash?
Well you’re in luck, because we have the answers.
Thanks to modern-day detergents being strong enough to combat dirt, changing the temperature of the water shouldn’t make a difference to the quality of your wash at all.
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According to the cleaning experts at Ecover, 20 degrees is more than enough when it comes to washing the majority of items.
They said: “When it comes to energy bills, a big drain on funds can be your washing cycle.
“Particularly during term time, it can seem like the washing machine is running day and night, which can seriously rack up the costs.
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“Opting for a cold wash can be a surefire way to significantly decrease these costs. Switching from a 40C to a 20C cycle can bring a whopping saving of 62 percent.”
Not only is it going to save you money, but it’s also so much better for the environment, so you’ll really feel like you’re doing your bit!
However, it’s important to stick to hot washes when washing bedding or towels, to ensure all bacteria are killed in the process.
Mia Williams