How to Cut Laundry Costs Without Changing Detergent

Water temperature is the biggest lever on laundry cost, because ENERGY STAR says water heating takes about 90% of the energy a washer uses. ENERGY STAR estimates that the average American family washes about 300 loads a year. Each load uses water, energy to heat that water, energy to spin and tumble, and then energy to dry. Small changes repeated 300 times a year are where the savings come from.

1. Where the energy goes

ENERGY STAR puts water heating at about 90% of the energy it takes to run a clothes washer. The Department of Energy's Energy Saver guide makes the key point plainly: most of the energy used by clothes washers goes to heating water. That makes water temperature the single biggest setting you control. The guide says warm or cold water is generally sufficient to clean laundry, that using warm water instead of hot can cut a load's energy use in half, and that using cold water will save even more.

The guide adds that cold-water detergents can help items get clean, and that high-efficiency detergents, marked with the "he" symbol, should be used when the manufacturer requires them.

2. Run full loads

The Department of Energy recommends washing full loads and, if you must wash a small load, choosing an appropriate water setting. A washer uses roughly the same time and much of the same energy whether it is half full or full, so fewer, fuller loads lower the cost per item.

3. Spin more, dry less

Dryers are among the largest energy users of any home appliance, according to the Department of Energy. One way to make the dryer's job smaller is to remove more water before clothes go in. The guide recommends using the high-speed or extended spin cycle to remove as much moisture as possible. Less water left in the fabric means less drying time.

4. What an efficient washer changes

If your washer is old, the Department of Energy notes that clothes washers have seen a 70% drop in energy use since 1990, and suggests considering an ENERGY STAR certified model if yours is more than 10 years old.

ENERGY STAR's figures for certified washers (as of October 2026):

• They use about 20% less energy and about 30% less water than regular washers.
• Full-sized certified washers use 14 gallons of water per load, compared with 20 gallons for a standard machine.
• Certified front-load washers use about 50% less energy and water than a top-load agitator washer, and front-loaders are still about 25% more efficient than top-load impeller models.
• Over the product's lifetime, certified models can save about $530 in energy costs.

At 300 loads a year, a 6-gallon difference per load (20 gallons versus 14) is 1,800 gallons of water a year.

5. Reading the labels when you shop

ENERGY STAR suggests using the Federal Trade Commission's EnergyGuide label to see a model's energy use, compare it with similar models, and estimate annual operating costs. Two efficiency ratings help further:

• Integrated Modified Energy Factor (IMEF): accounts for energy used during the cycle and on standby, to heat the water, and to run the dryer. Higher is more efficient.
• Integrated Water Factor (IWF): gallons of water per cubic foot of capacity. Lower is more water efficient.

6. The dryer side

The Department of Energy's guide says ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryers use about 20% less energy than conventional models, and heat pump dryers can save 20% to 60% compared with conventional dryers. It notes that people who use a dryer a lot and have high electricity rates have the greatest potential for savings. Gas dryers can cost less to operate depending on local fuel prices, but need venting and a gas line.

7. A no-cost laundry routine

1. Default to cold water for everyday loads; save warm for heavily soiled items.
2. Wait until you have a full load.
3. Use the high-speed or extended spin setting.
4. Clean the dryer's lint screen after every load, as the Department of Energy recommends, to improve air circulation and reduce fire risk.
5. If your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it; the guide notes it shuts the dryer off when the load is dry.

The first three steps cost nothing and work with any machine. Replacing the machine only makes sense when it is old or failing, and then the labels above help you choose.

8. Key takeaways

• The average family washes about 300 loads a year, so small per-load savings add up.
• Most washer energy goes to heating water; warm instead of hot can cut a load's energy use in half, and cold saves more.
• Full loads and high-speed spin cycles lower both washer and dryer costs.
• ENERGY STAR certified washers use about 20% less energy and 30% less water, and 14 gallons per load instead of 20.
• Heat pump dryers can save 20% to 60% compared with conventional dryers.