Increasing efficiency in the laundry room is also good for the environment because you’ll save water and help combat climate change.

• Wash in cold water. Or at least choose warm wash/cold rinse. Usually, about 90 percent of energy used for washing laundry goes toward heating water.
• Wash full loads only (but don’t overload). If you have less than a full load, adjust the water level setting.
• Try presoaking. You can get clothes cleaner and save energy with 15 minutes of presoaking and five minutes of agitation rather than 15 minutes of agitation.
• Remove lint. Get in the habit of checking the lint filter on your dryer after every load. Also, vacuum the exhaust duct and the exterior dryer vent a couple of times a year. Lint build-up blocks airflow and lengthens drying times.
• Avoid over drying. It wastes energy and it’s harder on your clothing. Remove clothes from the dryer promptly and fold or hang up to prevent wrinkling.
• Don’t overstuff the dryer. It will take longer to dry your load if the dryer is tightly packed.
• Line dry laundry outside when possible.

Shop for energy savings
Choose a premium-efficiency ENERGY STAR® qualified washer. They come in either front-load or redesigned top load styles. Look for a Modified Energy Factor of 2.2 or higher. This MEF is a measurement of how much energy is used by the washer, as well as how much is used by the dryer to remove the remaining moisture. To help narrow your search, look at the lists of premium-efficiency washers that qualify for cash-back incentives and tax credits. Among the benefits of an ENERGY STAR qualified washer:

• They cut water and energy use by more than 40 percent compared to conventional models.
• Spin speeds are faster, removing more moisture, reducing drying time — saving even more energy costs.

Earn cash back.
There are incentives and tax credits on qualifying washers. Keep in mind that not all ENERGY STAR washers qualify for Energy Trust incentives or Oregon tax credits.

Choose a dryer with a moisture sensor.
A moisture sensor automatically shuts off the dryer when your clothes are dry (they work best with full loads).

Shop for features that you like in a dryer.
They all use about the same amount of energy, so you won’t see any ENERGY STAR labels on dryers. The energy savings are all in how you use it and features like a moisture sensor.