As someone who writes about energy conservation for a living, I like to set myself small challenges to see if I can use less energy around my own home.
I have already tackled two of my most used and power-hungry devices — I went without my tumble dryer for a monthand then followed by Switching to hand washing using my dishwasher for the same amount of time.
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What washing machine cycle did I stop using?
(Image credit: Getty Images)
I use my washing machine 3-4 times a week, and tend to use either a 40° or 60° wash depending on what I’m washing and how dirty it is (I’m regularly in the woods and fields with my dog, who likes to greet me enthusiastically when it’s incredibly muddy).
Over a typical four week period, this is how much energy I would use according to my washing machine’s instruction manual and how much it would cost based on the April 2026 electricity unit price cap of 24.67p/kWh.
|
cycle and temperature |
Energy consumption per cycle (kWh) |
Number of cycles in a four week period |
Cost per four-week period |
|
Cotton Standard (60°) |
1.13 |
8 |
£2.23 |
|
Cotton Standard (40°) |
1 |
4 |
£0.99 |
|
Colored (40°) |
0.89 |
2 |
£0.44 |
|
Artificial (40°) |
0.56 |
2 |
£0.28 |
Having said that, my washing machine costs £3.94 to run over a four week period, which adds up to £51.22 a year.
But according to E.ON, around 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes into heating the water, so it’s safe to say that I can reduce energy waste and save money on my energy bill by switching to a cooler washing cycle.
How much did I save by switching to Cooler Wash?
Instead of using my normal washing cycle, I used my washing machine’s push and wash cycle, which is described as being ideal for cotton and synthetic fabrics. It is washed at a temperature of 30° with a maximum spin speed that is 14% lower than the cycle I normally use (1200rpm instead of 1400rpm).
This cycle consumes 0.35kWh per use according to my smart meter. Used 16 times over a four-week period, this is up to £1.38 based on current energy prices, £2.56 cheaper than the cycle I was using previously.
Over a year, just using the cool cycle will cost £17.94, which is £33.28 (65%) cheaper than the annual cost of the hot cycle.
Did my clothes come out clean?
A big concern for many people around switching to a cooler washing cycle is that the laundry will not be cleaned as effectively.
Fortunately, more and more detergents are available that work to clean clothes at washes as cold as 20°, such as Ecover’s Laundry Capsules (£8 from Amazon)Which I used.
I haven’t noticed a noticeable difference in how clean my clothes are when they come out of the cooler wash. They smell and feel great, and any marks are gone. I used both the bio version of the detergent, which uses enzymes to break down any stains, as well as the non-bio version, and both seemed effective.
I will say though that, aside from a few mud stains, I wasn’t dealing with any heavily soiled laundry loads during my experiment. I also don’t live in a house that is dirty or work in a healthcare environment, where high temperature washing is beneficial to get rid of any nasty germs.
Ecover Bio Washing Capsules
These laundry capsules contain enzymes that help clean clothes in the cold wash cycle. They also make washing smell nice, especially with fabric softener.
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