Do you think line-drying your clothes is a thing of the past? With climbing electric bills and massive energy consumption, many people are turning back to the old ways in order to save electricity & money.
Going old-school and line-drying our clothes saves our family of five $30.00 – $65.00 per month!
Just think of what you could do with an extra $350.00 – $800.00 per year. That is a lot of cha-ching just for hanging your clothes on the line to dry and saving the environment.
How to Save Electricity & Money by Drying Your Clothes On A Clothesline
Dryers run on 220 volts, making them one of the biggest energy suckers in your home right along with; ovens, hot water heaters, and heating & a/c units.
When you opt to line-dry your clothes you: reduce your carbon footprint & kilowatt usage- thus saving you money on your electric bill.
How much you can save each month by going green will depend on a couple of variables
- How much laundry dry per week? For my family of five, it’s an average of (2) loads per day
- How new your dryer is and how long your dryer runs per load
- Electrical cost. How much your power company charges per kilowatt. Our power company charges $0.11 per kilowatt during peak season and $0.09 in the off-season.
How Much Does It Cost To Run My Dryer?
To find out how much it costs to run your dryer (and other appliances in your home) you first have to know how much your power company charges you per kilowatt.
To find your kilowatt cost
- Look on your current electric bill for kwh charges.
- Call your electric company and ask.
- Web search “how much does —– electric company charge per kilowatt”
After you have found the amount you pay per kilowatt go to MichaelBlueJay to enter your calculations to get the total it cost you to run your dryer per month.
Before we moved off-grid, we used to dry our clothes on a clothesline and it cut over $35.00 a month from our electric bill.
Now that you see the savings, it’s time you forego the energy-sucking clothes dryer and get back to the ways our ancestors used to do things- clean and green.
How To Save Money by Hand Washing Your Clothes
A non-electric clothes washer is an ingenious solution that not only helps save money but also benefits the environment, making it a versatile appliance for various situations.
By eliminating the need for electricity, it significantly reduces energy consumption and lowers utility bills. Furthermore, this eco-friendly option conserves water, as it typically requires less water for washing compared to conventional washing machines.
Its portability and compact design make it perfect for camping trips, allowing individuals to maintain clean clothes even in the wilderness.
In addition, during power outages or emergency situations, when access to electricity is limited or nonexistent, a non-electric clothes washer becomes invaluable, ensuring that laundry can still be done efficiently and effectively.
With its cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and versatility, a non-electric clothes washer proves to be a practical and sustainable choice for both everyday use and unforeseen circumstances.
How Much Does It Cost To Use My Washer?
The cost to run a clothes washer for one load can vary depending on factors such as the electricity rates in your area, the efficiency of the washer, and the size of the load.
On average, however, it is estimated that running a typical electric clothes washer for one load can cost around $0.45 in electricity expenses, not including the cost of water.
If you’re washing two loads per day, that’s an average cost of $27.00 per month or $324 per year!
This calculation takes into account the energy consumption of the washer during the wash and spin cycles, as well as the cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity.
It’s worth noting that newer, more energy-efficient models may have lower operating costs per load compared to older, less efficient models.
Additionally, using cold water instead of hot water can help reduce energy consumption and further decrease the cost per load.
Non-Electric Clothes Washer
Although we like to use an old-fashioned washboard and wringer, these portable non-electric washers make the task easier for on-the-go.
A portable clothes washer is great for RV camping, apartments, dorms, condos – anywhere you don’t have a ton of space.
Manual clothes washers also save on electricity and are great for emergency situations.
I put four of the most popular portable washers to the test at our off-grid home, and share the results over at Common Sense Home- Portable Clothes Washer Review.
Save Money by Line Drying AND Hand Washing
As you can see from my example above, you can save around $100 a month by washing and drying by hand. Is it for everyone? Not really, but these are great tools to know and learn for when you need the knowledge.
If you need to cut corners and save money, it will certainly help. We offer a step-by-step guide on How To Use An Outdoor Clothesline.
