I hate doing laundry. I’m doing right now in fact. It’s time for me to hit Costco and get another gallon of detergent. When you add up the expenses of doing a load of laundry, it’s hard to determine where you can cut back.
I’ve discovered that it doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are 10 money saving tips to save money on the laundry routine.
Buy the detergent in bulk.
This is where my Costco membership comes in handy. We all know that we need detergent from now until the day we die. The more you buy at once, the more money you save.
Use cold water.
You don’t need hot water to get you clothes clean. It uses up precious energy. It also makes your clothes fade faster. Plus, if you’re careless like me, you might turn all of your clothes pink.
Use larger loads.
If you have a small load of laundry to do, hold off until you have a full load to do. Consolidating your clothes will minimize the number of times the laundry machines have to be run. Thus, it will save you more money.
Use one rinse cycle instead of two.
I’ve never done the double rinse. I know some people do. They want to wash all of the detergent off because sometimes one rinse doesn’t cut it. If you follow my next money saving tip, you won’t need a 2nd rinse cycle ever again.
Use ¾ the recommended detergent amount.
You don’t need the full recommended dose of detergent to enjoy clean clothes. In the end, it just leaves a lot of excess detergent on your clothes.
Use garments more than once.
You don’t have to wash your clothes as soon as you use them. You can wear a pair of pants a few times before throwing it in the wash. Don’t go overboard though: Don’t wear clothes that are starting to stink from excess use.
Cut dryer sheets in half.
I used to use dryer sheets. Now I don’t. When I did, I cut the sheets in half and it got the job done.
Use a clothesline.
Hang your clothes if you have a little time and you want your clothes to last longer. I usually do this with my high-use, high-priced items. The less you use your dryer, the more money you save.
Clean out the lint trap.
This will get your clothes dry faster. This will also minimize the chances of setting your dryer on fire.
Buy generic.
There is virtually no difference in choosing generic brands over the national brand. Your clothes will be just as clean with both.
Use white vinegar instead of fabric softener.
Okay. I’ve never done this one. My cousin and mom have though and they say it works. I personally don’t use fabric softener. There’s really no need for it.
[Photo Credit: petitefleur]