State pensioners handed £89 for pressing button on washing machine

State pensioners can get £89 back in their energy accounts for making one simple change to how they use their washing machine.

As energy bills have just increased by 10 percent heading into winter and state pensioners have already lost their £300 Winter Fuel Payment and another £300 Cost of Living payment on top, many retirees will be doing everything they can to keep their costs as low as possible this winter.

And energy firm British Gas has issued advice on how best to reduce bills by making a few changes at home.

One of the supplier’s suggestions centres around washing and drying clothes.

British Gas says pensioners - indeed, any household - can save as much as £89 a year on their energy bills by changing how they do the laundry.

Firstly, ditching the tumble dryer entirely will save £60 a year at least.

British Gas said: “Save up to £60 a year if you dont use a tumble dryer. Air dry your clothes or hang them on a washing line outside if it’s sunny. And if you do need to use it, wash a full load.”

Then, if you change your washing machine to 30C, you can save another £29.

It added: “If you wash clothes just once a week and reduce the temperature on your cycle to at least 30°C, and you could save up to £29.”

Your washing machine should have a button on the front for 30C - press that before your wash and get handed £29 a year back in savings, British Gas said.

Money expert Martin Lewis has urged customers of every energy firm to make sure they get a fixed tariff now, because fixes are currently cheaper than the price cap and can save you as much as 10 percent - wiping out the entire price cap rise.