Choose a realistic duration
A quick cycle and a long cycle do not use the same window. Set the duration so the recommendation compares blocks similar to real usage.
A Power Window guide to planning flexible home loads.
How to choose the best time to run a washing machine
Check your tariff first. With one fixed energy rate all day, moving the same cycle does not lower its energy cost. With period rates, use the prices in your contract; with PVPC, compare the published hourly prices. Then find a complete window that covers the cycle's actual duration.
The Spanish regulator's bill guide explains how to identify your contract type. Power Window prepares this guide and its examples; see how we calculate windows and their limits.
Treat it as flexible load
A dishwasher often fits well into valley periods or cheap solar-heavy hours. The app follows the day's price signal instead of a fixed rule.
Higher power, higher impact
A dryer usually draws more power than smaller appliances. Moving it away from expensive hours can make the difference per run more visible.
Repeat the pattern
The practical saving comes from repetition: a couple of laundry runs, several dishwashers, and some drying cycles each week can add up.
How to shift appliances without overthinking it
Appliances do not have the same impact as EV charging, but they are easy to move. The point is building a simple routine, not chasing every cent.
Use windows, not isolated hours
A washing machine can run for more than one hour, and a dryer can take several. If a cycle starts in a cheap hour but finishes in an expensive one, the result is weaker. That is why the app compares complete windows.
Prioritize the bigger loads
If you can only move one thing, start with a dryer, water heater, cooling, heating, or EV charging. Laundry and dishwashing are useful habits, but the saving compounds when several flexible loads move during the week.
Avoid programming blindly
Many people assume overnight is always cheapest. In Spain that can be true on some days, but solar-heavy days can make midday hours competitive too. Looking at the curve avoids old rules of thumb.
Read the energy label when replacing a washing machine
Read kWh per 100 cycles
The EU washing-machine label shows energy use per 100 Eco 40–60 cycles, alongside capacity, water use, programme duration, and spin noise. Compare the figures for machines that fit your household, not just the letter rating. The European Commission explains the label.
Turn the label into a cost example
For an illustrative machine labelled 50 kWh per 100 cycles, divide by 100: that is 0.5 kWh per standardised cycle. At a hypothetical constant energy rate of €0.20/kWh, the energy component is €0.10 per cycle. This is not a live price or a promise for every wash: programme, load, temperature, and hourly prices change the result.
Match capacity and timing to your routine
Measure the available space and allow for the door, hoses, and access. Compare drum capacity with the loads you normally wash. If you want to schedule laundry, check the manual for delayed start or delayed finish and confirm which programmes support it. A longer cycle needs a longer price window.
Plan the machine you already own
You do not need a new appliance to compare running times. Open today’s electricity prices, check your tariff, and enter your cycle duration in the planner. Appliance presets are approximate: a washing machine heats, turns, and spins in stages, so it does not draw constant power for the whole cycle.
Using appliances in cheaper hours
What is the best time to run a washing machine?
It depends on your contract and cycle length. With one fixed rate all day, there is no cheaper hour for the same energy use. With period rates, use your prices; with PVPC, check today's remaining hours and compare windows long enough for the full programme.
Does it also work for dishwasher or dryer?
Yes. The selector includes approximate loads for washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, cooling, and custom appliances.
Is it worth shifting small appliance loads?
If your rate changes by time, calculate the difference for the same cycle before changing your routine. It depends on the kWh used and the actual rate difference; with one fixed rate, timing alone saves nothing.