First, I didn’t even know that ironing took that much energy until I read it on the internet. Apparently, according to the US Department of Energy, a typical portable iron takes up to 1000 to 1800 watts per use. That’s as much as 10 to 18 hundred watt light bulbs! Talk about shocking.

Well, if the amount of energy that you use when ironing concerns you, I have a few tips for you:

Hang up your clothes when removing them from the dryer. When removing clothes from the dryer, they are already pretty much wrinkle free. Hanging them will save your from ironing them later, apart from light ironing when needed. It also helps if you fold your clothes as soon as you take them out of the dryer.

If your clothes do get a little wrinkled, or you find a crease in them, hang them up in the bathroom when you shower. The steam from the water will knock those wrinkles right out. This also works well for linen outfits.

If iron is a necessity, save energy by ironing a large load at once. Also, try not to overheat the iron: iron lightweight fabrics on a low setting first, then work your way up. Some people suggest ironing at night when electricity is cheaper and loads are lower. This also saves you time as you prepare for work or school, because you can iron your clothes for the week on Sunday, and save a few minutes of sleep in the morning.

I hope these tips help! Do you have any energy saving tips that you’d like to share?