Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days, and Patch wants to help you find the best deals and cost-savings tips available.

Last week, we highlighted the . That got us thinking about laundry. Whether you're washing diapers or not, washing and drying clothes can take up a lot of energy usage in your home - but there are plenty of ways to save.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are two main ways to reduce your energy usage on washing clothes: use less water, and use cooler water. Except in the case of oily stains, warm or cold water settings will generally do a good job getting your clothes clean. The agency reports that simply switching your washing machine's temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load's energy usage in half.