Laundry is no one’s favorite chore and it doesn’t help that washers and dryers are among the costliest appliances to operate. Since most of us do at least a few loads of laundry each week, it’s worth taking steps to reduce energy use. Here are some things you can do to save in the laundry room:

• Wash with cold water. Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load’s energy use in half and using cold water will save even more. Cold water detergents can be helpful to ensure items get clean, and high-efficiency detergents (indicated by the “he” symbol) should be used when required by the manufacturer.
• Dry right-sized loads for your machine. If the dryer is too full, it will take longer for the clothes to dry. Loads that are too small can also take longer to dry, plus you spend more per item when running the dryer to only dry a few things.
• Clean the lint filter on the dryer. The dryer will run more efficiently and safely. If you use dryer sheets, scrub the filter once a month with a toothbrush to remove film buildup that can reduce air circulation.
• Use an ENERGY STAR-certified washer and dryer. New ENERGY STAR washers use about 25% less energy than conventional models, and ENERGY STAR dryers use 20% less energy.