How much does one drying session cost?
Drying your laundry with a dryer is super tempting. It’s easy and fast, it removes most wrinkles, it makes your towels soft and it doesn’t give a crowded room where the laundry hangs to dry. But… to be able to dry, a lot of energy and heat is also required, which causes the necessary costs. On the Nibud (National Institute for Budget Information) you can read that one drying cycle costs about € 1.95.
Tip 1: hang laundry
The most important – and most obvious tip – is of course hanging your laundry. In good weather, it even dries almost as quickly as if you put it in the dryer. But you can also hang your laundry at home on a drying rack or a clothesline. This takes a few hours longer, but it is just as cheap (read: free!).
Tip 2: energy-efficient dryer
Use a dryer that is energy efficient (A++). They are slightly more expensive to purchase, but they save you a lot of money in the end. This is because the running costs of the dryer are much lower.
Tip 3: full tumble dryer
Make sure your tumble dryer is well stocked rather than half full. Save your wet laundry and dry it all at once in one tumble dryer. The consumer association writes that drying twice with a half-full drum costs 30 to 45 cents more than one full drum.
Tip 4: Remove the laundry immediately
When the dryer is ready, immediately remove the laundry from the drum. The dryer automatically goes into anti-crease or standby mode after drying. If you immediately remove the laundry and close the dryer, you prevent unnecessary energy consumption here. Also clean the fluff filter and the door immediately after each drying cycle. When the filters are full, the dryer uses more energy to dry your laundry.
Tip 5: Add one dry towel
Well, of course it’s cheapest not to use the dryer at all, but sometimes you might want to make an exception. And if that is the case, it is of course nice if it is ready as soon as possible. A simple trick to get your tumble dryer done faster is to add one dry towel to it. You can read how that works here!
Tip 6: gain insight into your energy consumption
It is quite difficult to estimate what you consume in terms of energy. You can use smart meters to get an overview of this. There are also apps that give you a clear insight into what your consumption was compared to a month or a year ago. In addition to these smart ways, you can also contact your energy supplier. They make overviews of your energy consumption.
When you know what you use, you also know where you can make behavioral adjustments to save energy.
