With skyrocketing energy and water bills, it might be time to rethink laundry day ...

Hands up: Who bungs all of their washing into the machine at 40 degrees (or higher!) without even thinking?

While this might be the most convenient way to tackle laundry day, sky-high energy bills could mean it's worth considering washing clothes at a lower temperature than you're used to.

According to experts from British Gas , washing your clothes on cycles higher than 30 degrees could be adding almost £30 to your annual bill without you even realising. 'Setting your washing machine to wash at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will save around £28 a year on energy bills,' says Joanna Flowers, an engineer at British Gas.

Another easy way to save money when doing laundry is to choose the economy setting. And for brilliant results every time, use Fairy Non Bio detergent – your laundry go-to even at cooler temperatures.

'There are several things you can do to be more energy efficient with the washing machine. Use the economy settings to save water and energy and dry your clothes outside as much as you can when the weather allows.

'In the winter, you should also avoid drying clothes on radiators as much as you can as it will make your boiler work harder to heat the room.

Does a cold wash clean clothes?

Yes! For lightly soiled clothes, 30 degrees is fine. For a great clean every time, use a quality detergent like Fairy Non Bio .

For parents, Fairy Non Bio Sensitive Skin Dream Team – Fairy Non Bio PODS® and Fairy Fabric Softener – is a must on laundry day. The easy-to-use Pods, voted the number 1 laundry brand for sensitive skin*, remove dirt and stains even at 30 degrees. For huggable softness, pour in a slosh of Fairy Fabric Softener.

In a product trial , 98% of our Netmums testers said they’d recommend the Fairy Dream Team to family and friends.

According to Cleanipedia , 30 degree cycles 'work great for everyday washing,' but if you need to get rid of tough stains, a 40 degree wash should work better.

And if you're washing underwear, bed sheets or towels, you should opt for a 60 degree wash.

*Online panel of 3,433 women among which Fairy Non Bio detergent/softener was voted most often as the #1 detergent and fabric softener for sensitive skin.

How much money can I save on a cold wash?

Experts at the Energy Saving Trust say washing at 30 degrees uses around 40% less electricity over a year than washing at higher temperatures. Here's exactly how much money you could save doing a cold wash .

Another way to save money on laundry day is by opting for a shorter washing machine cycle .

According to Water UK , the average household water bill in the UK is £419, or £1.15 a day. However, some families might see their bills rise more or less than this average.

Another sneaky way to save money on your laundry could be TIMING it correctly ... here's the ideal time to pop a load in.

And if you're looking for other ways to save money on your water bill, we've revealed whether it's cheaper to take baths or showers.

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