Laundry. It’s one of those chores that is never-ending in our house. The second I throw the last load of laundry into the wash, I usually come around the corner to find a pair of Monkey Boy’s socks hiding under the coffee table. They are there to mock me, I am sure of it.
I usually do a load of laundry a day, depending on what sports the kids are in at the time–which I think is pretty average. Even with an average amount, laundry costs can add up. So, here’s 10 ways to save some moolah on laundry:
- Make your own detergent.
- Make your own fabric softener.
- Choose the shortest wash cycle possible for your clothes. It will save money on electricity, and unless your clothes are really dirty, they don’t need the extra time.
- Wash in cold.
- Hang your clothes to dry.
- Do only full loads of laundry. You’ll be using the electricity either way, might as well get the most out of it.
- Make sure to clean your lint trap after each load. It will make your dryer more efficient.
- Don’t wash as often. Use your towel a couple of days in a row. Wear your jeans more than once, etc.
- Don’t buy dry clean only clothing. Dry cleaning adds up quickly. If possible, spend the money to get high-end machine wash dress shirts instead. It will save you money in the long run.
- Don’t want to make your own detergent? Use half the recommended amount to stretch it out.
How do YOU stretch your laundry budget?
~Mavis
SHARE:
Paige says
All are great ideas! We made our own soap for quite awhile, but after two years decided to go back to buying the big jug at Costco. I say use 1/2 the recommended amount is a great piece of advice – especially in HE washers, the more suds the worse the wash. I do about 3 loads a day – none on Sunday. Thanks for the great tips! BTW sheets that have been hung out to dry on a Sunny day smell delightful! <3
Lorraine says
These are great tips! I use most of them but also, if you’re using dryer sheets, cut them in half, they’ll last twice as long and cost half as much 😉
Kathy says
Cold water wash so clothes don’t fade or wear out too fast. No dryer sheet in with the towels, it makes them waterproof, they don’t dry YOU as good as when new. Can’t line dry outside because of severe allergies so I put dry towel in with wet and dries faster. Have a rack I use to dry things that cannot go into dryer. I also wash sheets with towels as there’s only 2 of us, this gives me full load. Use 1/2 recommended amount of detergent unless things are really dirty. Vinegar for softener and to get tough stains out. Laundry is as bad as cleaning bathroom after boys use it but someone’s gotta do it!
Tina B says
Kathy, I can’t hang my laundry outside any more, due to allergies too. It took me a long time to figure out why I had dinner plate sized itchy circles all over my torso!
I hang my newer clothes on an indoor rack, and all our delicates as well. The rest goes into my energy efficient dryer, and if we have 2 small loads of wash, I wait to put it all together into the dryer to run it once for the combined larger load. I especially do this when I have a lot of things going to the rack from a smaller load. Sheets and towels get washed together, separated into a dark load and a light/white load, white clothes get a load (small one, with just 3 of us now), and jeans/shirts/clothes with color go together. My exercise clothes and delicates are another load. I tend to wash clothes 2 or 3 times a week.
Debbie says
I use washer . . .
http://www.amazon.com/Green-Wash-Ball-Laundry-Detergent/dp/B003FOCZ56
and dryer balls . . .
http://www.amazon.com/As-Seen-On-TV-Dryer/dp/B004W7GNB2
My washing machine grey water goes out to my orchard. No toxic chemicals.
I put peroxide on stains, these work great for everything except my SO’s mechanic clothing which is
picked up by a service at his job.
Linda says
someone told me that dyer sheets keep away bed bugs is that true?
Connie K. says
I’ve also heard that you can put dryer sheets in the boxes you store clothes in to keep out the moths.
Kathleen says
Great tips!
I work in an office so rarely get anything downright crusted-with-dirty filthy. So for me, I find the shortest cycle on cold with only a little detergent gets my clothes very clean. Fabrics are getting thinner and cheaper, getting holes way too soon in my opinion. So, I use the gentle cycle for most clothes. I do use a longer cycle and warm water wash for an occasional “bleach-like-all-getout” load of dingy sheets, towels, and washcloths. Buying only white sheets and washcloths makes it easy to “blast” them without any concern for colors bleeding or fading.
Stephanie says
I stopped using fabric softener/dryer sheets and I don’t miss them at all. I also keep meaning to make wool dryer balls for when I do use the dryer but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.