Four minute rule could slash household bills

A number of tips could see you save £100 in total

As the cost of living crisis groans on, households nationwide are desperately hunting for methods to trim their outgoings. A small number of household appliances account for a large share of home electricity use, mainly those that heat, cool or run constantly.

These include washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers. So while it makes sense, then, to try to save money on washing and drying clothes and crockery, there are other areas of the home that may go overlooked when it comes to spending less.

Fortunately, the Energy Saving Trust has revealed how many people could cut costs in the bathroom, with one suggestion centring on a four-minute rule. Experts specialists advise implementing a four-minute timer during showers:

"Spending less time in the shower will reduce the volume of water that goes down the drain. It'll also save you money on the energy used to heat the water."

Following this guideline could slash your bills by £45 annually, while also conserving approximately 17,000 litres of water. Installing a water-efficient shower head might deliver savings of £25 per year, while replacing one weekly bath with a four-minute shower can trim expenses by £10 each year.

Another option worth exploring is fitting a tap aerator, described as a device "to reduce the amount of water without affecting the wash or rinse effect. It's a small gadget with tiny holes that attaches to the spout. It could save you £20 a year".

Households should also use cold water in the bathroom wherever possible, switch off taps while shaving and cleaning teeth, and repair any leaking taps as these can waste thousands of litres annually.