Energy bills will be lower this winter if you do laundry at 'cheapest' time of day

It's easy to throw a load of washing on without second thought, but an expert has shared how one small change could make a big difference to energy bills. With energy costs climbing this autumn, that timing could save households 40% on their washing machine's energy costs.

Nigel Bearman, home cleaning and laundry expert at Daily Poppins, explained: "The biggest mistake we see people make is running their washing machines during peak hours, which are typically between 4pm and 7pm. This is when most people are home cooking and using other appliances, so electricity demand is at its highest, and so are the prices."

To start saving, it's important to understand your energy tariff, according to the expert.

Make sure to check your energy supplier's app or website to see if you are on a time-of-use plan.

If you are, they'll specify the cheaper, off-peak hours where electricity is at its cheapest.

Nigel said these are usually before 7am or late at night after 10pm, when demand isn't high.

The pro added: "Most modern washing machines have a timer or delay start function. You can load the machine at night and set it to start automatically during the cheapest hours, so the cycle finishes just as you're waking up."

This allows you to take advantage of lower rates without having to get out of bed.

Other ways to save on energy bills include switching to a cold water wash. Modern detergents can still tackle bacteria and odours, but the washing machine doesn't have to work as hard.

The expert also recommended only running full wash loads, using a high-speed spin cycle to help clothes dry faster and keeping the appliance sparkling clean.