A-Z of how to slash your bills this winter

Clever household hacks to save you money... and make your life easier

- HANNAH BRITT

A is for... AVOID OVERFILLING YOUR WASHING MACHINE Michelle Feng, laundry expert at Hisense (uk.hisense.com) said: “While overloading may seem like a faster way to get through big laundry loads, it can do more harm than good.

“An overfilled drum leaves clothes with little room to move, preventing stains from washing out properly and leaving items looking dirty.”

B is for... BOIL ONLY WHAT YOU NEED Gwil Snook, appliance expert at AO (ao.com), said: “Only boiling the water that you need saves both water and money as you aren't wasting any excess energy per boil. It's also good practice to descale your kettle once a month to prevent any limescale from building in your device.

“Limescale forces your kettle to work harder which consumes more energy and even shortens its lifespan.”

C is for... CLEAN YOUR WASHING MACHINE Michelle said: “Regularly cleaning your washing machine is just as important as doing the laundry itself.

“With every cycle, detergent residue and dirt can build up inside the drum and seals, and overtime, this not only causes unpleasant odours but can also transfer grime back into your clothes, leaving them dirtier than before.”

D is for... DETERGENT RULES Michelle said: “When tackling a whites wash, don't use too much detergent.

“Excess product leaves residue on fabrics, causing whites to appear dull and less fresh over time.”

E is for... EFFICIENT HEATING Caroline Mills, from Safestyle (safestyle-windows.co.uk), said: “Install reflective radiator foil behind radiators, particularly those mounted on external walls.

“This cheap material reflects heat back into the room, rather than letting it escape into the cold wall behind.”

F is for... FILL YOUR DISHWASHER Gwill said: “Dishwashers are only energy efficient when you run them on a full load.