1.Don't use the clothes dryer. Aha, you say, but you must use the clothes dryer in winter because the clothes would freeze outside on the line - and those of you who live in apartments do not have clotheslines. Not so my friends. There are standing indoor clothes racks with trays beneath them to catch drips, there are nets that lay across the bathtub where you can dry drippy delicates, there are round spider web-shaped contraptions that fold easily and hang from a plant hook in the ceiling and they can dry a whole load of laundry. Not only will you save on electricity, but your house will smell like fresh laundry, your clothes will not wear out as fast, you'll preserve the elastic in your socks and undies and the moisture from the drying laundry will help humidify the house after that central heating has dried it out. Put a load in the washer before bed then hang it to dry before work and you'll come home to a freshly scented house. Even if you just use the dryer for towels and sheets it will make a difference and defiantly don't use the dryer to heat up your clothes.
2.Know the truth about appliances' energy consumption. My grandmother swore up and down that cold water kept her and her children clean and well-turned-out as long as she'd been alive and there was no reason to waste hot water. My mother believed hot water was needed for everything and my aunt thought it actually sterilized your clothes and dishes. All three of them believed hand washing your dishes was more economical. My grandfather claimed you don't need to wash clothing after just one wearing unless it was smelly or noticeably soiled. So I tested all theories. Grandpa proved to be the only one who had his entire theory correct.
Mom was way off on the hot-water for everything rule - it ruined elastic, shrunk clothes and faded colors. But grandma's cold water rule didn't get things very clean. But all these complex rules and instructions on labels and washing machines seemed a bit ridiculous to me. It's not rocket science for Pete's sake, I was just trying to get some dirt out. People have been doing that without complex instructions for hundreds of years. So, I ignored everyone, bought a detergent specifically for cold water, set my machine on a cold cycle and left it there. My clothes are clean and life is simple. Since I was clean when I dried off after a shower, I found I could use the towel for 2-3 days before I put it in the hamper and if I wore a shirt under a sweater, the sweater didn't need to be washed until I spilled something on it - I only needed to wash the under shirt. Besides, following grandpa's laundry advice has greatly reduced the amount of time I spend on laundry.
