Washing your clothes is a part of most weekly routines, and the frequency varies depending on personal living situations.

However, there is often debates around which cycle is the most effective. Does one go for a long and hot cycle to maximise cleaning power, or short and cold to save money?

According to a study published by the University of Leeds, in collaboration with Procter & Gamble, the optimum way to keep clothes fresh and clean is to use the shortest and coldest wash possible.

The study, published in the Dyes and Pigments journal, concluded that putting clothes on the shortest and coldest cycle could make them last longer.

The researchers concluded that not only does washing at a colder temperature protect clothing from damage, but it also saves a lot more energy.

They explained: “Laundering of clothing has a large contribution to the energy expenditure of a clothing product, hence, reducing time and temperature is desirable.

“Washing clothing at 30 °C rather than 40 °C saves approximately 40 percent of the energy used per load, and washing at 20 °C instead of 40 °C saves approximately 66 percent of the energy used per load.”

They added: “Significantly greater colour loss and greater colour transfer were observed for a 40 °C, 85 min wash cycle compared to a cold-quick (25 °C; 30 min) cycle.

“These results mean that reducing time and temperature in laundry could have a significant impact in terms of extended garment longevity and reduced dye and microfibre liberation into the environment, in addition to energy savings.”

The University of Leeds isn’t the only organisation to have suggested ways for people to save money whilst washing their clothes.

Earlier this year, experts from GrantStore suggested that if people use too much detergent, it could have a negative impact on their energy bills.

A spokesperson told the Express: "Using too much detergent causes your washing machine to run additional rinse cycles to remove residue. That means you’re using more water and more energy than necessary, all for the same load of laundry.”

The solution to using too much detergent is to use the manufacturer recommended amount, but, failing this, they recommended using pods instead to take that worry away.

They added: “Pods offer convenience and accuracy. They’re designed to deliver just the right amount for a single load, so you can avoid overusing detergent altogether.”