Tips to Save Money on Laundry

Laundry–the never ending process that keeps building up. The piles just seem to grow bigger every day rather than shrinking down when you complete a load or two. Since laundry has to be done regularly, you might as well save some money while doing it. Below are washing tips and techniques that will help you save money over the years.

1) Laundry Detergent

• Buy Store Brands – Name brand detergents are often more expensive than store brand equivalents, even though both do the same job.
• Purchase Powder – Powdered laundry soaps generally cost far less than the liquid. To avoid powdery residue on your clean wash, fill your washing machine with water and soap before adding your laundry. This method also helps liquefy the detergent powder more evenly into your wash.
• Add Baking Soda – Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and works wonders on clothes that smell. Add a quarter cup to your washing machine’s rinse cycle to use as a fabric softener or odor remover. To pretreat spots, make a 50/50 paste mix of baking soda and water to place on clothes before they go in the wash.
• Add White Vinegar – White vinegar is a great cleaning tool for getting rid of bacteria, germs, and mold. It also helps to deodorize smelly clothes.
• Brighten and Whiten Laundry – By adding laundry detergent, 1 cup of white vinegar and a quarter cup of baking soda, this will whiten and brighten your wash. To remove leftover soap residue, add a half cup of white vinegar to the wash rinse cycle. Your clothes will smell clean and fresh, and you won’t smell the vinegar after your clothes are dry.

2) Washing

• Wash Only Full Loads – If you do half-loads, you may use less water, but it consumes the same electrical power as full loads.
• Wash in Cold Water – By washing in cold water, the average family can save about $70 per year on their energy bill. As much as 90 percent of the energy used on washing clothes is just for heating the water. Save hot water washes for towels, socks, and underwear.
• Use the Shortest Washing Cycle – Choose the shorter washing cycles for lightly to moderately soiled clothing. Leave the normal to heavy wash cycles for the heavily soiled clothes. This will use less energy since the machine runs for less time.
• Switch to a Front-Load Washer – When you are in the market for a new washer, look into purchasing a front-loading washing machine to save on water, energy, and detergent. They require about 40 percent less water per load, consume up to 60 percent less energy, and require less detergent to clean. They are also more effective in removing water during the spin cycle, which means less time in the dryer. Front-load washers are more expensive to buy than top loading machines, but the savings add up over the years.

3) Drying

• Remove Lint – A full lint trap doesn’t allow the moist air to escape properly, which slows down the drying cycle and uses more energy. So make sure to keep your dryer lint free.
• Hang Dry – By using clothing racks in place of a clothes dryer you can save on energy costs. Clothes will last longer and fade less when hung out to dry. Alternatively, place clothing in a dryer for just 15 minutes on high heat to fluff, then pull out the still damp laundry and hang it to air dry.

4) Ironing

• Less Dryer Time – Remove your clothes promptly from the dryer. Clothes left in the dryer have more wrinkles, which will require more ironing time. And if clothes are slightly damp, it helps to lessen ironing time as well.
• Use Foil – By inserting aluminum foil between the ironing board and cover, it helps to conserve heat and make the job go faster.
• Use a Spray Bottle – Purchase an inexpensive spray bottle and spray water on clothes to moisten and soften the wrinkles, which also requires less time to press.