No matter who you are or where you live, your living space needs to be tidied and cleaned on a regular basis. And you probably do at least some of this work yourself. But if you've ever tried to clean house during a power outage, you may have realized just how much of your housecleaning uses electricity. And electricity can be expensive.
Here are some methods you can use to cut down on how much electricity you spend on housecleaning activities.
1. Upgrade Tools and Appliances
Upgrading to an energy-efficient vacuum cleaner can help you save electricity every time you vacuum. You can also look for high-efficiency replacements for other cleaning appliances and tools, such as your carpet cleaning machine, dishwasher, clothes washer, and any other electrical device you use for cleaning purposes.
2. Use Non-Electric Solutions Too
Did you know you can go non-electric for some of your cleaning needs? For example, you can sweep any uncarpeted floors with a broom instead of using an electric sweeper or vacuum cleaner. You can even clean small area rugs by taking them outside to beat them rather than using a carpet cleaner.
3. Save on Hot Water Heating
Hot water is an important staple in many cleaning activities, but you may be able to cut down on how much you use. For example, if you typically wash your laundry in warm or hot water, you may be able to wash most loads in cold instead. And when you wash pots and pans, you can use hot water for the wash and cold for the rinse instead of using hot for both.
Another way to cut down on electricity use is by upgrading your hot water heater to a more energy-efficient one. And check Energy.gov
for tips about helping your water heater work more efficiently overall, with strategies like lowering your water heater's temperature and adding more insulation.
4. Combine Tasks
Sometimes, you can save effort and even electrical energy by strategically combining tasks.
For instance, you may find that the grime in your shower comes off more easily after you soften it up with a spray of hot water. You could then take the opportunity to clean the tub or shower right after your daily shower, so you don't have to re-spray it later and use more hot water.
5. Make Use of Cooler Hours of the Day
Although many cleaning tasks don't add much heat to your home, others may raise the temperature of a room significantly, which could increase your electric bill indirectly. For instance, running your dishwasher could increase the temperature in the kitchen (because of all the hot water and steam), which could trigger your AC system to use more energy.
Running the dishwasher at a cooler time of day could reduce the excess electricity used by your AC, since the AC can cool more efficiently and with less electrical expenditure during cooler evening hours.
6. Clean Air Efficiently Too
If you want to clean your air and save energy at the same time, look for an air-cleaning machine that offers high-energy efficiency ratings. Or to save even more electricity, forgo buying a machine and simply upgrade the air filters in your AC system (if you have AC ducts). Whichever you choose, be sure to change the filters frequently for best efficiency.
These tips can help you save electricity in your home, lowering your electric bill and increasing the eco-friendliness of your lifestyle — while still helping you keep your home tidy and well maintained.
Presley & Son Electric Service can help you install more energy-efficient appliances, assess your water heater for added energy-efficiency potential, and navigate energy-efficiency ratings on any new cleaning devices you're considering. Get in touch today to learn more about the full range of electric services
we offer.
