It’s National Laundry Day today (15th April 2026) and NI Water is shining the spotlight on how water-saving measures can make laundry routines more sustainable – and help customers save money at the same time.

NI Water’s advice follows on from the Continuous Household Survey in relation to water usage in Northern Ireland which shows 85% of households use a washing machine more than once a week, and more than a quarter (27%) use it every day. 

With 13% of local daily water usage attributed to clothes washing and 60 litres of water being used in washing machines every cycle, NI Water say it’s important we all adopt lifelong water efficiency habits including making sure we use full loads in washing machines.

NI Water education officer Anna Killen said: “While today’s damp weather might not inspire households to tackle their washing, National Laundry Day a perfect reminder that we’re looking ahead to the summer months when demands for water naturally increase. 

“No-one likes to waste water. And many of us don’t realise that water use contributes to energy bills. Making small changes to the way we use water at home, even when washing our clothes, helps create better lifelong habits to help reduce water waste, is better for the environment and reduces household bills.

“Changing how often and the ways you use your washing machine will help you save water, energy and money. You can do this by always making sure you have a full load of washing in your machine. Half load programmes on washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load, so wait until the machine is full before switching it on.  Reduce your cycle to 30 degrees instead of higher temperatures. Remember - not every day has to be laundry day, only wash when needed. Another fun tip - wait until the water cools down from your tumble drier and use this to water plants.”

NI Water’s top tips to save water and money when using washing machines:

1. Only wash full loads: half load programmes on washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load, so always wait until the machine is full before switching it on.
2. Remember not every day has to be laundry day: only wash your clothes when you need to.
3. Reuse cooled tumble drier water to water plants: the soap residue in the water will help keep bugs away.
4. Get Water Fit – NI Water offers an online ‘Get Water Fit’ water audit to help households find out more about how and where they use water and it also suggests some easy ways to help make savings. Go to https://www.getwaterfit.co.uk to find out more.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The Household Water Usage factsheet 2024/25 (published on Tuesday 30th September 2025) is a report produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), and presents findings from the 2024/25 Continuous Household Survey (CHS). The publication is available on the Water Usage Research webpage.
• NI Water offers a free online water audit tool via www.getwaterfit.co.uk to help households understand their water usage habits better. It offers personalised feedback on how to save water along with some water saving challenges you can take at home, as well as offering free NI Water water saving items including shower timers, toothy timer and loo strips.
• NI Water has a Water Resource Plan https://www.niwater.com/managing-northern-irelands-water-resources/ showing how it will manage and develop water resources to make sure there is enough water to meet future supply needs. This also sets out how NI Water will maintain water supplies during critical periods such as severe winters and droughts and having a plan for drought.

Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com