This Common Laundry Habit Could Cost You Some Serious Cash

Many homeowners run frequent loads of laundry to ensure their clothes, sheets, blankets, and more are always available whenever they need them. However, this habit of frequent, small laundry loads can drive up your energy bills and cause premature wear on your washer and dryer.

Washing and drying only a few articles of clothing might ensure you have what you want to wear when you want to wear it, but the cost of this habit is reflected clearly in your energy and water bills. We asked an appliance professional how frequent, small laundry loads can affect expenses, appliance life, and clothing longevity, and how to plan your laundry schedule to save money.

How Frequent Small Laundry Loads Increase Costs

Typically, a washer and dryer use about the same amount of energy and water, regardless of the load size. So even if you wash a load with just a few items, you still use the same amount of energy and water as when you wash a full load. The more loads you run, the higher your overall energy and water costs for operating your washer and dryer.

“Smaller, more frequent loads use more water and energy, especially if the washer doesn’t have load-sensing or is not Energy Star rated. Some non-Energy Star-rated washers use over 20 gallons of water in some cycle options,” explains Dean Brindle, head of product management for LG Electronics North America.

While some washing machines with load-sensing technology optimize water and energy use based on load size, frequent small laundry loads will still lead to increased utility bills. Therefore, the best approach for long-term efficiency and care is to reduce unnecessary cycles.

Long-Term Impacts of Frequent Small Laundry Loads

Beyond the immediate energy and water costs, it’s essential to look at the long-term impact of this common laundry habit. “More cycles mean more mechanical wear and tear on your washer and dryer, potentially shortening their life span. Additionally, frequent washing can break down fabric fibers faster, causing clothes to fade, shrink, or wear out prematurely,” says Brindle.

So if you have a favorite shirt, skirt, or pair of jeans, frequently washing and drying the clothing can force you to replace it sooner rather than later. More importantly, premature wear and tear on the washer and dryer can increase repair frequency or force you to replace these appliances sooner than they would otherwise need to be.

How to Reduce Frequency and Maximize Efficiency

The best way to prevent premature wear, reduce your laundry costs, and keep your clothes in good condition for longer is to change your laundry habits. Here are a few steps you can take to reduce the number of laundry loads and maximize the efficiency of each load. Brindle suggests these strategies for managing your laundry most effectively.

• Only run full loads. Wait for full loads before running a cycle, but of course without overloading the machine. Most modern machines perform best when filled to about 75% capacity.
• Sort clothes first. Sort your clothing items by fabric type and soil level to wash more in fewer loads without compromising cleaning performance.
• Use high-efficiency detergent and appropriate cycle settings. These small details will help you achieve better results with less detergent.
• Take advantage of load-sensing washer features. These helpful features allow the machine to adapt to load type and optimize performance and time.

Tips for an Intentional Approach to Laundry

Just as you should have a plan or organizational basis when loading a dishwasher to get the best results, you should also have an intentional approach to doing your laundry. Otherwise, you end up wasting energy and water while increasing the wear on your appliances and favorite outfits, leading to higher bills, appliance repair costs, and clothing replacement. Use these tips to plan an intentional approach to doing laundry and put an end to the habit of frequent small laundry loads.

• Consider load size. Underloading or overloading both reduce cleaning performance and increase water and energy use.
• Careful cycle selection. Using a heavy-duty or similar cycle for lightly soiled clothes wastes water and energy. Most consumers can use regular cycles.
• Use the correct detergent amount. Too much or too little detergent can lead to poor results or require extra rinses, wasting water and energy.
• Choose the appropriate water temperature. Hot water uses more energy, and cold or warm cycles are often sufficient and better for clothes, especially when using cold water-formulation detergents.
• Utilize appliance features. Newer machines with inverter motors, load sensors, and AI-based cycle selection are far more efficient than older models.