# The Hidden Cost of Every Load
Most people have no idea how much a single washing machine cycle actually costs. They see a quarterly electricity bill and assume appliances are cheap to run. The reality is that a family doing five loads of laundry per week can spend over 200 euros per year just on washing. Add the dishwasher three times a week and a tumble dryer twice a week and the total climbs above 500 euros annually. This calculator breaks down every cent so you can optimise your habits. 0.45 kWh Eco Wash
40L Water Eco Wash
30% Peak Surcharge
# Why Small Changes Multiply
A single degree of temperature or a few litres of water seems trivial for one cycle. But over 250 cycles per year, those small differences compound into serious money. Dropping from 60C to 40C reduces energy use by roughly 40 percent per load. Switching from Normal to Eco on a dishwasher saves about 3 litres of water and 0.3 kWh every single time. These are not marginal gains. They are the fastest way to shrink your utility bill without buying new appliances.Intensive Cycle
Maximum heat and water for heavily soiled loads.
- 1.2 to 3.5 kWh per load
- 70 litres for washers
- Peak hour surcharge applies
- Highest annual cost
Eco Cycle
Lower temperature, optimised duration, minimal water.
- 0.45 to 1.5 kWh per load
- 8 to 40 litres only
- Off peak timing possible
- Lowest annual cost
Quick Appliance Audit
Run your washing machine only with a full load. Use the Eco program for normal soiling. Set your dishwasher to delay start until after 22:00 if you have a time-of-use tariff. Clean the dryer lint filter after every cycle to maintain efficiency. Air dry clothes outdoors or on a rack whenever weather permits.
# Time of Use and Peak Pricing
Many electricity providers now charge different rates depending on the hour of day. Peak periods, usually weekday mornings and evenings, can cost 30 to 50 percent more than off peak periods. A single load run at 20:00 might cost 0.18 euros while the same load at 02:00 costs only 0.12 euros. Over a year, timing your appliances correctly can save 50 to 100 euros without changing anything else. This calculator highlights peak hours in red and off peak hours in green so you can plan ahead.How to Cut Appliance Costs
Use this calculator to find the true cost per cycle for your appliances.
Switch to Eco mode whenever possible to save up to 40 percent energy.
Run full loads instead of partial loads to maximise efficiency.
Delay cycles to off peak hours if your tariff supports time-of-use pricing.
Air dry clothes instead of using the tumble dryer to eliminate its cost entirely.
Clean filters and descale regularly to keep appliances running at rated efficiency.