Many electricity providers charge different rates depending on the time of day: peak hours during the workday when demand is highest and priciest, a middle rate in the early evening, and the cheapest rate overnight and in the early morning when demand drops. If your plan has time-of-use pricing, running high-draw appliances during the cheap window makes a real difference.
The best window for ironing
Generally, the stretch between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. offers the lowest electricity demand and, on time-of-use plans, the lowest rates. Shifting your ironing into the evening — after dinner, while watching TV — or early morning before the day’s peak hours kicks in can meaningfully cut what that chore costs you over a year, while also easing pressure on the wider power grid.
A few more ways to save while ironing
- Iron clothes while they’re still slightly damp — they smooth out faster, so the iron runs for less time.
- Sort by fabric type and start with items that need the lowest heat, working up to those that need more.
- Check your own electricity contract to see whether you’re actually on a variable, time-of-use rate — some flat-rate plans won’t see any difference from timing changes.
