A LITTLE-known and underused button on your washing machine could slash your energy bill by hundreds of pounds.
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who knows how every feature of their washing machine works.
And one little-known control could save you some cash - the spin cycle.
Tumble dryers churn through energy, costing around 25p per cycle, according to T.M Huges and Son gas services.
While this varies depending on the type of machine you have, it could cost you £90 a year to run, based on the current price cap.
But using the spin cycle on your washing machine means you won't have to spend as much time running the fuel-guzzling appliance.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, said: "If your clothes are still very wet when you take them out of the washing machine, you could make use of the spin cycle setting.
"Using the spin cycle will remove excess water, meaning your clothes will dry faster on an airer, or need less time in the tumble dryer.”
Of course, how much you save with this trick depends on the model of washer and dryer you have, how often you normally use it and who your energy provider is.
But if you use your tumble dryer on a regular basis, or have a big family, you could potentially save hundreds of pounds a year.
First of all, it's definitely worth researching which model you're going to buy before splashing the cash.
There are three main types of tumble dryer you can buy - heat-pump dryers, condenser dryers and vented dryers.
But research from Which? suggests a heat-pump dryer might be the best way to go - these cost up to £51 less each year to run compared to some other models.
That's because they recycle hot air when drying your clothes, so they don't need to work as hard.
It's always an idea to keep the temperature as low as possible when using the dryer as well.
If you reduced the temperature to 30°C then it would only cost as little as £25 a year depending on how often you put a load on.
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year - irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type - this will give you your usage costs.
You'll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage - this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you'll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.
Lowering it to 20°C will make it roughly £14 a year to run, again if it's only you and you preferably have a heat-pump model.
Switching off the heating is likely already saving you some significant cash this summer.
But the hot weather also means you could slash your bills further as you can stop using one the most energy-hungry devices in your home.
Anyone with a tumble dryer will be thankful for the appliance in winter, when it's almost impossible to dry clothes.
But come the sunnier weather - and especially a heatwave - you could save by drying your clothes outside instead.
Of course the exact amount you're spending depends on how often you're your tumble dryer.
If you're using it everyday if you have a larger family then it could be higher, while once a week use would be less.
You won't be able to do this all year round, bit you could certainly save some pounds cutting back on your use in the hot weather.
But the longer the heatwave lasts, the more you stand to save.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Facebook group to share your tips and stories
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