How to use it
- Choose metric or imperial units.
- Enter water per load and the water price, the washer and dryer energy per load, and the energy price.
- Enter the cost of detergent and softener per load and your loads per week.
- Read the cost per load, its parts, and the cost per month and year.
How it is calculated
- Water = litres ÷ 1,000 × price per m³ (gallons: ÷ 1,000 × price per 1,000 gallons).
- Washer = washer kWh × energy price. Dryer = dryer kWh × energy price.
- Per load = water + washer + dryer + detergent.
- Per year = per load × loads per week × 52; per month = per year ÷ 12.
Worked example
50 L at 2 per m³ = 0.10; washer 0.6 kWh × 0.15 = 0.09; dryer 2.5 kWh × 0.15 = 0.375; detergent 0.25. One load costs 0.815. At four loads a week that is 208 loads, or 169.52 a year, about 14.13 a month.
Tips
Drying is often the largest part, so line drying or a fuller load helps most. Washing full loads also spreads the water and detergent over more clothes.