Consumer Reports says we use around 70 billion kilowatt hours doing laundry at home. To save on your costs, start by using cold water when you can. Increase the spin cycle to remove more water and reduce drying time. Clean the lint filter and dryer duct to keep air moving. If you still use dryer sheets, know that they can reduce air flow. Use the dryer’s automatic cycle instead of the timer. Or simply hang everything on the line for free drying.