British households have received a stark warning about the hidden costs of running their washing machines, with new research revealing an average annual expense of £59.
The True Cost of Your Laundry Cycle
Home appliance experts In The Wash conducted detailed analysis of 20 popular washing machine models to calculate average electricity and water consumption per cycle. The findings come during the Energy Price Cap period from 1 October to 31 December 2025, where electricity costs average 26.35 pence per kWh.
According to the research, the average washing machine uses 0.46 kWh of electricity per cycle, costing households approximately 12.1 pence each time. For families running 220 cycles annually - roughly four washes per week - this translates to £26.67 in yearly electricity costs.
Water Expenses Add to Household Bills
The financial burden doesn't stop with electricity. The study found that average models consume 47.65 litres of water per cycle, with water costing around 0.3 pence per litre.
This results in an additional 14.3 pence per wash for water usage. Over 220 cycles annually, water costs alone reach £31.45 per household.
Combining both electricity and water expenses, the average washing machine costs 26.4 pence per cycle to run, accumulating to approximately £59 per year for typical usage patterns.
Expert Tips to Reduce Your Laundry Costs
The Energy Saving Trust offers practical advice to help households minimise these expenses. "Wash clothes on the shortest cycle that's practical for your needs," they recommend. Quick wash programmes use less water, lower temperatures and shorter spin cycles, saving both energy and money while causing less damage to clothing over time.
Additional recommendations include using cold water or 30°C cycles where possible, reserving warmer temperatures for heavily soiled items. Pre-soaking badly stained clothes and using household soap on problem areas can prevent the need for repeat washes.
Waiting for full loads before washing and choosing high spin speeds to reduce tumble dryer use can further cut energy consumption. The Trust also suggests considering standard lightweight towels instead of heavyweight bath sheets, and air-drying clothes whenever possible.
With energy prices remaining high, these simple adjustments could help UK households significantly reduce their annual laundry costs while contributing to environmental conservation efforts.
