Households across the country have been missing out on the 'magic hour' — the time that it costs the least amount of money to run a washing machine. Washing clothes is a necessary job but one that has also been known to set energy bills soaring, especially if you have a family.

And as it turns out, a whopping 85% of the UK are doing their laundry when costs are at their highest, between 8am and 10pm. And one in ten are using their washing machines between 4pm and 7pm, the most expensive few hours within this period. However, the team at laundry and cleaning firm Dr. Beckmann have revealed the cheapest time to wash run your washing machine is actually between 10pm and 8am.

However, they don't recommend washing and drying your clothes overnight, as having appliances run while you're asleep can be a fire hazard.

Instead, they've identified a 'magic hour' of 7am to 8am, when prices are down and it's practical for day-to-day life.

Dr. Beckmann spokesperson Chloe Baker said: "With households struggling with the cost of living crisis, a simple change like switching to the magic hour can make a real difference to your energy bills.

"We've highlighted this hour as 7am to 8am, as we'd never recommend putting a load on before heading to bed, due to health and safety. This 'magic hour' provides you with enough time to fill and empty your washing machine before heading out to work or for the school run."

This has been echoed by experts at Vileda, who recommend running the machine either early in the morning or late at night.

They have further shared the best days of the week to use your washing machine, explaining: "Weekends can offer a bit more flexibility, and energy rates may be lower overall. However, many people also have other chores and social plans, so fitting laundry in requires some scheduling. If possible, the same principles of avoiding peak hours still apply."