The secret button on your washing machine that can slash your energy bills by £72

WASHING machines are a busy household's best friend, but they can be a drain on your wallet.
Luckily, experts have revealed a handy little tip to help make your laundry cheaper.
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You can save around £72 a year on your energy bills by flicking the spin button before popping wet clothes in the tumble dryer.
Miele kitchen appliance expert Ryan Adams, director of Ati Harrogate has revealed why this handy tip can save big money.
'Placing wet clothes directly into a tumble dryer forces the appliance to work much harder.
"Running a second spin cycle in the washing machine to remove excess water and untangling items before drying helps the clothes move freely in the drum, reducing strain on the dryer.
'Including a thorough spin cycle before tumble drying can help households potentially save between £29 to £72 annually.'
And that's not the only tip guaranteed to save you some cash - Ryan also has strong views when it comes to mixed washing.
We often chuck all sorts of clothing and bedding together, but one mixture to avoid is washing towels and bed linen.
This combination can also cause damage to your washing machine drum too.
Ryan said: 'Washing towels and bed linen in the same load can cause excessive strain on a washing machine.
"The added water weight often exceeds the recommended load capacity, potentially damaging the drum shaft and bearings.
"Additionally, these items tend to form a single heavy ball during the cycle, which can bounce around and harm the machine's internal parts.'
Another tip is to always check pockets, as coins can wreak havoc on washing machines and driers.
"These items can bang around inside the drum, leading to expensive repairs. A quick check of pockets before starting a load can save your machines and prevent unnecessary costs.'
Finally, another thing to keep in mind when you're next working through a pile of dirty washing is to remember to empty the lint trap.
Ryan said: 'Neglecting the lint trap can have serious consequences.
"A clogged trap reduces airflow, forcing the dryer to work harder, which not only wastes energy but also risks overheating the appliance.
'Regularly cleaning the lint trap before each drying cycle makes it more efficient and safer, preventing fire hazards.'
More ways to save on laundry bills
It's not just eco settings that can slash your energy bills when doing the laundry.
Make sure you only run the machine when it's fully loaded. Cutting down on a half full cycle each week adds up to significant savings over a year.
Consider using colder washes more frequently. A large part of the energy consumer by a machine is to simply heat the water.
When drying clothes, try to ditch the tumble drier where possible.
Drying clothes outside is easy and quick in the summer.
When temperatures are cooler, consider investing in a heated clothes airer which use far less energy than a drier.
And put your clothes on an extra spin cycle first to wring out as much water as possible.
If you do use a tumbler drier make sure all lint is removed from the filters, which can impact the efficiency of the machine and means it has to work harder and use more energy.
Popping an old tennis ball in a tumble drier with your laundry can help clothes to separate out and dry faster to help you use less energy.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.

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