{"id":12227,"date":"2025-10-06T14:10:06","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T21:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=12227"},"modified":"2026-03-09T01:46:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T08:46:03","slug":"how-to-save-on-utilities-housework","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/budgeting\/how-to-save-on-utilities-housework\/","title":{"rendered":"How to save on utility bills while doing housework"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re looking for practical ways to lower your monthly expenses, learning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/apartmentliving\/how-to-save-on-utilities\/\">how to save on utility bills<\/a> is a great place to start. Everyday habits \u2014 like doing the dishes or laundry \u2014 can quietly add up to big costs on your electric and water bills. Luckily, small changes in how you use your home appliances can make a real difference.<\/p>\n<p>Simple adjustments in how you run your dishwasher, washer and dryer, or even your kitchen appliances can help you keep more money in your wallet and make your apartment more energy-efficient. Here\u2019s how to make every load, cycle, and rinse count toward savings.<\/p>\n<h2>Save money while using the dishwasher<\/h2>\n<p>Your dishwasher can be an energy-efficient helper \u2014 or an energy drain \u2014 depending on how you use it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-using-the-dishwasher.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-143957\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-using-the-dishwasher.jpg\" alt=\"Woman opening the dishwasher full of dishes to illustrate how to save on utility bills while doing housework.\" width=\"960\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-using-the-dishwasher.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-using-the-dishwasher.jpg?resize=500,208 500w, https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-using-the-dishwasher.jpg?resize=768,320 768w, https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-using-the-dishwasher.jpg?resize=150,63 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Follow these updated tips on how to save on utility bills every time you press \u201cstart\u201d:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Run full loads, but don\u2019t overload.<\/strong><br \/>\nDishwashers use about the same amount of water and electricity whether they\u2019re half-full or packed properly. Wait until you have a full load, but don\u2019t cram dishes too tightly or water won\u2019t circulate effectively.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Skip the pre-rinse.<\/strong><br \/>\nMost modern dishwashers are designed to handle lightly soiled dishes without pre-rinsing. Instead, simply scrape off large food pieces. Pre-rinsing can waste up to 20 gallons of water per load, so it\u2019s an easy place to cut back.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use the eco or energy-saver cycle.<\/strong><br \/>\nNearly all new dishwashers have an \u201ceco,\u201d \u201cenergy saver,\u201d or \u201cquick wash\u201d mode that uses less water and heats it more efficiently.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Air-dry instead of heat-dry.<\/strong><br \/>\nTurn off the heat-dry setting and prop the door open after the final rinse. Air drying uses zero additional energy \u2014 and your dishes will dry just fine in a few hours.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Adjust your water heater temperature.<\/strong><br \/>\nIf your dishwasher has a built-in water heater, you can safely lower your home\u2019s water heater temperature to about 120\u00b0F. That\u2019s hot enough for cleanliness but low enough to reduce heating costs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to save on utility bills when doing laundry<\/h2>\n<p>Laundry is another area where simple shifts in your habits can add up to noticeable savings \u2014 especially for renters who rely on shared laundry rooms or small in-unit machines. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-doing-laundry.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-143959\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-doing-laundry.jpg\" alt=\"A modern laundry room with a washer, dryer and drying rack to illustrate how to save on utility bills while doing housework. \" width=\"960\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-doing-laundry.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-doing-laundry.jpg?resize=500,208 500w, https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-doing-laundry.jpg?resize=768,320 768w, https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-while-doing-laundry.jpg?resize=150,63 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how to save on your utility bills and get cleaner clothes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wash with cold water.<\/strong><br \/>\nModern detergents work perfectly in cold water, and switching from hot to cold for most loads can save you more than $100 a year on energy bills. Reserve warm or hot water only for heavily soiled items or bedding.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Run full loads.<\/strong><br \/>\nYour washer uses almost the same amount of water and energy no matter the load size. If you do need to wash a small load, be sure to adjust the water level setting to match, if possible.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clean the lint filter.<\/strong><br \/>\nA clogged lint filter makes your dryer work harder, using more electricity. Cleaning it after every cycle improves efficiency and helps prevent fires.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Avoid over-drying.<\/strong><br \/>\nRunning the dryer longer than necessary wastes energy and can damage your clothes. Use your dryer\u2019s automatic moisture sensor if it has one \u2014 it stops the cycle when clothes are dry.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Separate heavy and light fabrics.<\/strong><br \/>\nDrying towels and jeans separately from lightweight items helps both loads finish faster. Mixing them forces the dryer to run longer than necessary.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Use the cool-down cycle.<\/strong><br \/>\nLet the dryer\u2019s final \u201ccool-down\u201d phase finish the job with residual heat. You\u2019ll use less electricity without noticing any difference in results.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Keep the vent clear.<\/strong><br \/>\nMake sure your dryer vent isn\u2019t blocked or kinked. Proper airflow makes the machine run more efficiently and reduces the risk of overheating.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Learning how to save on utility bills doesn\u2019t require major renovations or expensive upgrades, just mindful everyday habits. From air-drying dishes to washing clothes in cold water, each small change adds up over time.<\/p>\n<p>By paying attention to how you use your dishwasher and laundry machines, and even your smaller appliances, you\u2019ll not only see lower bills but also help conserve water and energy for a greener planet.<\/p>\n<p>So, start with one habit today. Your wallet (and the environment) will thank you tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re looking for practical ways to lower your monthly expenses, learning how to save on utility bills is a great place to start. Everyday habits \u2014 like doing the dishes or laundry \u2014 can quietly add up to big costs on your electric and water bills. Luckily, small changes in how you use your&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":738,"featured_media":143955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38969],"tags":[38981,38964],"class_list":["post-12227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budgeting","tag-renting-costs","tag-utilities","gallery-content-unit"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v24.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to save on utility bills while doing housework - RentCafe rental blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here are some easy tips and tricks on how to save on utility bills while doing housework like laundry or loading the dishwasher.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/budgeting\/how-to-save-on-utilities-housework\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to save on utility bills while doing housework\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here are some easy tips and tricks on how to save on utility bills while doing housework like laundry or loading the dishwasher.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/budgeting\/how-to-save-on-utilities-housework\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RentCafe rental blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-06T21:10:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-09T08:46:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/07\/how-to-save-on-utility-bills-housework.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alexandra Both\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alexandra Both\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/budgeting\/how-to-save-on-utilities-housework\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/budgeting\/how-to-save-on-utilities-housework\/\",\"name\":\"How to save on utility bills while doing housework - 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