Closing curtains, turning heating off during the day, washing clothes at a low temperature and other energy-saving tips that don’t always work

Are so-called energy-saving wins actually costing you money? We reveal all.

With energy prices still high and the colder months drawing in, it’s no wonder we’re all looking for ways to trim our gas and electricity bills.

But while social media is full of supposed ‘money-saving hacks’, not all of them deliver on their promises.

Here are six popular energy-saving myths that don’t work as well as you might think – and how you can avoid being taken.

1. Turning your heating off completely during the day

It’s tempting to believe that switching your heating off altogether while you’re out will save the most energy. After all, no heat means no cost, right? Not quite.

When you allow your home to become very cold, it takes much more gas or electricity to warm it back up again — especially if the walls, floors and furniture have also cooled down.

And that’s not the only problem. If your home becomes too damp during the Winter, it can increase condensation and the risk of mould, which could damage your property and health.

Better idea

Use a programmer or smart thermostat to keep your home at a steady, lower background temperature – around 16°C when you’re out, rising to 18 to 20°C when you’re at home.

2. Always washing clothes at the lowest temperature

Most of us have heard the advice to wash clothes at 30°C to save energy, and for everyday items, this is perfectly sound.

However, washing everything on a low temperature can backfire.

As laundry detergent is less effective in cold water, bacteria, odours and detergent residue can build up on fabrics and inside your washing machine.

Over time, running your washing machine only at low temperatures can lead to blockages or mould growth.

Better idea

Do most washes at 30°C, but run a 60°C load every couple of weeks, ideally with towels or bedding, to keep your machine fresh and hygienic.

3. Boiling water in a pan instead of a kettle

This one also crops up a lot online: “Don’t waste energy using the kettle – just boil water in a pan.”

Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true.

Electric kettles are one of the most efficient appliances in the home. They’re designed to heat water quickly and with minimal energy loss, while a pan on the hob lets much of the heat escape into the air instead of into the water.

Better idea

If you’re boiling water for pasta, rice or vegetables, you can still save energy by using the kettle first and then pouring the water into your pan.

4. Closing curtains during the day

Thick curtains are great for keeping heat in at night, but drawing them during the day can have the opposite effect.

Natural sunlight provides free heat, even in winter, so keeping curtains shut means you miss out on that warmth.

Sunlight can raise indoor temperatures by a couple of degrees, especially in south-facing rooms. Blocking it out just forces your heating system to work harder.

Better idea

Open curtains fully during the day to let in as much sunlight as possible, then close them as soon as it gets dark to trap that warmth inside. In fact, many experts recommend closing the curtains or blinds as soon as the light starts to dim outside – often between 5pm and 6pm.

For extra efficiency, try thermal-lined curtains or blinds to cut heat loss at night.

5. Switching lights on and off constantly

There’s a common belief that it’s more efficient to leave lights on if you’ll only be out of the room briefly.

This may have been true for old-fashioned fluorescent bulbs, which took time to warm up and used a surge of power when switched on.

However, it’s completely outdated today.

LED bulbs are highly energy-efficient and don’t use any extra power to restart.

Even turning them off for a few minutes saves energy, and given that lighting accounts for around 10 to 15% of the average electricity bill, those small savings add up.

Better idea

Turn lights off every time you leave a room, no matter how briefly. If you tend to forget, motion sensors or smart bulbs can help.

6. Unplugging your Wi-Fi router at night

This one might sound clever – after all, why power a router when nobody’s using it?

But routers consume very little energy, typically around five to 20 watts, costing just pence a day.

Turning them off and on repeatedly can actually be counterproductive. It interrupts overnight software updates, and in some cases, your broadband provider might interpret the constant disconnections as a fault, slowing your access as a result.

Better idea

Leave the router running and focus on bigger wins, such as improving insulation, sealing draughts, or upgrading to energy-efficient bulbs and appliances.

The bottom line

When it comes to cutting energy costs, common sense beats social media hacks every time.

Most quick fixes that sound too good to be true either make negligible savings or end up costing more through inefficiency.

The best long-term savings come from steady, sensible habits – insulating properly, switching to LEDs, and making sure you’re on the right energy tariff.

These options might not sound as exciting as the latest viral hack, but they actually work – and that’s what really saves you money.