Little-known laundry trick means household could dry their clothes faster and slash energy bills

HOUSEHOLDS may want to take note of this little-known laundry trick that could help dry clothes faster and slash energy bills.

Tumble dryers are energy-heavy appliances that can cost up to £1.03 a load under the energy price guarantee, according to Uswitch.

As ever, it will depend on the exact device you have, how often you use it and for how long.

But if you do three loads of laundry a week, this could cost you up to £160.68 a year.

As households look to slash their energy bills, one thrifty customer has revealed how they have cut down on using their tumble dryer.

Posting on the Scrimping on a Budget Facebook page, the savvy saver said: "If you put a dry towel in the dryer, it doesn't take as long to dry - hope this helps."

Others were quick to comment on the post saying they have also tried the hack to help them cut their energy bills.

One person wrote: "I do this when I'm trying to last minute dry my sons polo shirts as on their own, they don't fill the dryer enough...don't know why it works but it does."

Another wrote: "I do this all the time, and it definitely works."

While a third added: "That’s true and I have done that for years."

The towel absorbs moisture in your washing and helps it to dry faster.

This reduces the amount of time you need to run your dryer and saving you cash

Experts are not clear exactly how much the trick can save you but cutting down the time they are in use can be crucial to save costs.

Other ways you can save on your laundry costs

Another way to reduce your tumble dryer use is by doing an extra ten minute spin in the washing machine first to get it drier beforehand.

Will Owen, an energy expert at Uswitch, previously told The Sun: "The longer your tumble dryer’s cycle, the more money it will cost you.

"If your clothes are dripping wet, it will have to run much longer to get them dry, increasing your energy bill dramatically."

In addition, turning down the cycle heat, or just giving your tumble dryer a good clean could help reduce your bill.

Lisa Barber, Which? home products and services editor, previously said: "Maintaining your tumble dryer could trim your bill, as filters blocking up with dust and lint from clothes can add nearly £20 to annual laundry costs."

Meanwhile, we've listed exactly how much these most-used household appliances cost to run.

If you're looking for an alternative to a tumble dryer we looked at how much a heated airer costs to run.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk