Energy bills have recently risen amid the cost of living crisis, with the typical household paying hundreds of dollars more for gas and electricity.
Energy regulator Ofgem raised its price cap by an unprecedented £700 on April 1. For those on default pricing who pay by direct debit, the price cap has been raised from £1,277 to £1,971, an increase of £693.
Prepaid customers saw a bigger increase, with their price cap increasing by £708, from £1,309 to £2,017. Price caps limit the amount households can charge for each unit of gas and electricity they use, reports The Mirror.
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But if you’re looking to cut your bills, you can start by ditching your clothes dryer. In the summer, if you have an outdoor space and the weather is fine, British Gas experts suggest drying your clothes outside could save you £40 a year.
If you don’t have a garden or a balcony, another option might be to use a clothes airer. This should be done in a well-ventilated room so as not to cause mold in your home.
Joanna Flowers, an engineer at British Gas, said: “You can save an average of £40 a year on your electricity bill by drying your clothes instead of using a tumble dryer during the summer.
British Gas also estimates that running your washing machine on a 30° cycle instead of using higher temperatures can save around £28 on your annual bill.
“There are several things you can do to be more energy efficient with the washing machine,” Ms Flowers said.
“Use the economy settings to save water and energy and dry your clothes outside as much as you can when the weather permits. In winter, you should also avoid drying as much as possible clothes on radiators as this will force your boiler to work harder to heat the room.”