Expert names exact time to do laundry to slash 40 per cent off your bills

Most of us chuck a load of washing on without giving it a second thought, whenever there's a spare moment between work, dinner, and everything else.

But experts reckon that one small tweak to when you hit start could make a massive difference to your bills and with energy costs soaring this autumn, that timing might matter more than you think.

A washing machine gobbles up around 10% of a typical household's energy bill however, if you're on a variable or "time-of-use" tariff, the time of day you fire up your machine can dramatically alter the cost. You can slash up to 40 per cent on your washing machine's energy costs by dodging peak hours.

Nigel Bearman, home cleaning and laundry expert at Daily Poppins, said: "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, you need to suss out your energy tariff. 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 - these are usually in the early morning (before 7 am) or late at night (after 10 pm).

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.

Go cold: Around 90 per cent of a washing machine's energy is used to hat the water. Switching from a hot wash to a cold one can drastically reduce your energy consumption.

Full loads only: Always wait until you have a full load of laundry to do a wash. Your machine uses the same amount of mechanical energy for a small load as it does for a full one.

Use the spin cycle: A high-speed spin cycle removes more water from your clothes, which means they'll need less time in the tumble dryer (one of the most energy-intensive appliances) or will dry faster on a clothes horse.

Keep it clean: Regular cleaning of your washing machine's filter and detergent drawer prevents blockages and allows the machine to run more efficiently.