We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Here's what you need to know about peak and off-peak electricity times

Want to know more about off-peak energy times? Whether it's your washing machine or dishwasher, some energy suppliers offer cheaper tariffs if you run your appliances during off peak times, when fewer people are demanding energy supplies. While peak hours will vary slightly by area, it's a great way to save money and keep those bills down.

Here's everything you need to know about running your appliances at off-peak times:

While this depends on your energy provider, off-peak hours tend to be quieter periods when power demands are at their lowest (for example, between 10pm and 8am). Not everyone has the luxury to do the laundry before 8am, but it's worth checking with your provider to find a cheaper running time that suits your routine.

According to SSE Energy Services, with Off-Peak E, you get eight hours at the cheapest rate for stored heat each day. This will begin at 10pm and last for eight hours. Meanwhile, Off-Peak F offers you 10.5 hours of cheaper-rate electricity for stored heat each day. These times are between 1.30pm and 4pm, and overnight between 11pm and 7am. Finally, the cheapest rate is on Off-Peak Fx (between 4am and 2.30pm).

Please note: leaving household appliances on at night when you're asleep could be a fire risk.

According to Compare The Market, you will need to be on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff to benefit from cheaper hours. A great option for those who use a lot of energy during the night, these will offer you seven or 10 hours of cheaper electricity. It's worth knowing that daytime rates can be steep on these tariffs, so only switch if you will be using appliances more after hours.

Yes, but this depends on your tariff and you must check with your provider. Some energy providers charge less for using electricity at certain times of the day. Only customers on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff will benefit from off-peak hours and pay less for the electricity they use at night. If you are thinking of swapping provider, it's worth researching to see which ones offer off-peak discounts.

According to Compare The Market, this information should be displayed on your electricity bill or meter reading. Look out for two dials – one for peak and one for off-peak. You can also contact your provider if you are unsure if you have an off-peak tariff.

With costs continuing to rise, there are lots of other ways you can save money on your energy bills. These include:

You can choose whether these stylish bottles come with a trigger spray or a pump and you can also personalise the label on them. They are a perfect replacement for plastic bottles: cleaning sprays, shampoo and conditioner, hand wash, washing-up liquid etc. They can be refilled at local refill stations. We suggest Ecover refills for cleaning products (list of stockists here) and Faith in Nature for personal hygiene (list here).

BUY NOW, from £8, ETSY

Ecoeggs are a long-lasting alternative to laundry capsules and detergents. It’s a recycled plastic egg, filled with mineral pellets, which you put in your washing machine as you would a normal capsule. The refillable mineral pellets are proven to be good for allergy-prone and sensitive skin and are also much better for the waterways.

Tip! The Ecoegg is great for everyday washing but you might want to consider a stronger stain remover on dirtier clothes or the natural bleach mentioned in the next few slides. You can also add extra scent to your laundry with essentials oils.

We love these sturdy dish brushes that not only do the job well but look much nicer in our kitchens, too. Their description reads: "Each cleaning brush is handmade and bristles are made from highly durable and long lasting coconut fibre."

BUY NOW, £9.90, Wearth London

Swap those yellow and green sponges which shed plastic into our sinks with these attractive, washable pads. Although they are much thinner than a traditional sponge and definitely feel different to use, they are great for washing up plates, bowls and glasses. They can be washed in the machine and are then fully recyclable when they do reach they end of their days.

BUY NOW, £9 for 2, Wearth London

This laundry bag collects the microfibres that escape from your clothes in the washing machine. You simply put your load in the bag and then put the entire bag in the machine. Once the load is done, the microfibres will be left in the bottom of the bag. These can't be recycled in most cases but this method stops them from entering the waterways and inevitably heading for the ocean.

BUY NOW, £24.95, &Keep

This is an excellent cleaner which can be used to refill reusable bottles like the glass ones mentioned earlier. This product can be found at most Ecover refill stations but, if you would prefer buy a bottle, rest assured that it is made from recycled plastic and plant based materials and is fully recyclable.

This is an obvious swap away from the plastic clothes pegs that have crept into our households.

BUY NOW, £4.95, &Keep

Swap plastic-wrapped, single-use paper kitchen roll for these much more attractive, natural and washable cloths.

BUY NOW, £14, Wearth London

Swap cling film for beeswax wraps. They are perfect for fruit, veg, bread and bowls of leftovers. You simply warm the wax up with your hands and they mould around anything.

BUY NOW, from £10, The Beeswax Wrap Co.

This natural bleach in a paper bag, from Mangle & Wringer, is a great alternative to big plastic bottles of harsh chemical bleach. On their website, the description reads: "Our Natural Bleach, also known as oxygen bleach, is a safe and non-toxic, biodegradable alternative to harsh chlorine bleach. When dissolved in water it releases oxygen which acts as a powerful stain remover and deodoriser. It breaks down harmlessly to oxygen, water and sodium carbonate. This miracle product brightens both whites and coloured fabrics and prevents them from yellowing. It’s great at removing organic stains like tea and coffee, fruit juice, food sauces, grass stains, pet stains, blood and red wine. Natural Bleach is also a great alternative to chlorine bleach in the bathroom. Dissolve in warm water to safely clean and disinfect the loo and clean drains. Also use to easily and safely clean and bleach sinks, baths, cups, mugs, tea and coffee pots."

BUY NOW, from £3.50, Mangle & Wringer

Mangle & Wringer also do a range of cleaning balms in aluminium tins that can be reused or recycled. We love the lavender scented bathroom balm – you simply rub it in with a clean cloth, rinse and wash off.

BUY NOW, BATHROOM BALM, £5.80, Mangle & Wringer

BUY NOW, KITCHEN BALM, £5.80, Mangle & Wringer

These tablets are friendly to the waterways and the cardboard packaging is fully-recyclable. Ecover have this to say about the plastic-wrapped tablets on their website: "Dishwasher tablets don’t react well to the moisture in the air. In fact, it causes them to crumble. We want you to open your box to find tablets, not powder, so we wrap each tablet. The packages of our dishwasher tablets are made of polypropylene and each pack weighs only 0.3 grams.We have not found a dissolvable film that meets our standards for biodegradability. We are actively investigating an alternative to this type of packaging – we’re looking at plant based options that meet our standards. We’re not there yet but when we find an alternative we will switch."

These reusable, washable clothes clean multiple surfaces with just water. The starter pack includes an e-cloth for bathroom, kitchen, windows, multi-surface and glass polishing

An obvious swap for their plastic, single-use cousins.

BUY NOW, £6, Ethical Superstore

Don't spend 5p on another plastic bag – these string ones are perfect for your shopping and stylish too.

BUY NOW, £10.99 for 4, Amazon