My family just returned from a few days at the beach, and it seems my washer and dryer have been running nonstop ever since. Loads of laundry can consume lots of kilowatts and hot water. I’m thankful I bought a high-efficiency clothes washer a couple of years ago that saves both water and energy. The spin cycle turns at a high RPM to squeeze out as much water as possible — that means clothes dry faster, which means my dryer uses less energy. (Check out Greener Living for our special offer on a high-efficiency clothes washer.)

Even if you’re not ready to buy a new washer, there are other ways you can save energy when doing your laundry, such as washing clothes in cold water whenever possible.

How to pinch pennies when doing your laundry

• Wait until you have a full load before running the washer.
• If you want to wash a load in warm water instead of cold, set the machine for warm wash, cold rinse.
• Presoak heavily soiled clothes to avoid having to rewash the load.
• If your machine allows you to change water levels, adjust to the size of the load.
• Don’t overstuff the dryer — it will take longer to dry.
• Dry towels and heavy cottons separate from lightweight fabrics.
• Don’t overdry your laundry. Besides wasting energy, heat is hard on fabrics.
• Clean the dryer lint filter after every load to help the dryer run more efficiently.
• Check the dryer vent outside to make sure it’s clear of lint or debris.
• Hang your laundry to dry when possible (but be cautious doing this in your basement if you have moisture issues down there).