Clean your dryer's lint filter after every load to improve air circulation.
Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
If you're drying multiple loads, dry them one right after the other - you'll use less energy since the dryer is already heated.
If you're on the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying an Energy Star labeled model. It will use up to 50% less energy and 40% less water.
Make sure you don't waste energy by over-drying your clothes. If your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it; it detects when clothes are dry and shuts the dryer off automatically.
New microwave clothes dryers dry clothes in about 15% less time and use 15% less energy than typical dryers.
A new technology called Horizontal Axis Washing Machines (HWMs) use less energy and water than regular machines - and with the money you save, an HWM can pay for itself in 3 to 3 1/2 years.
Periodically check your dryer vent to make sure it's not blocked - this saves energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material, not plastic vents, which can collapse and cause blockages.
To save energy, wash full loads in the coolest water possible, and always rinse clothes in cold water.
Using your dryer's cool-down cycle will allow clothes to finish drying with the lingering heat.
When washing clothes, always run a full load for maximum savings, or set the controls for smaller loads.