Laundry can be one of the most time consuming chores in your home. Unfortunately, if can also be one of the biggest drains on your bank account. Although there isn’t much you can do about the never ending supply of dirty clothes that seems to appear magically while you are sleeping each night, there is a lot you can do to save money on this chore. With these ten tips you will be on the right track to getting your chores done while still having extra money to spend on whatever you please at the end of the week. Whether your interest lies in making modern technology get the job done faster, or taking your laundry to a more natural level, with these ten tips your bank account will definitely be happy.
1. Detergent
I’m sure anyone who has stopped by a department store has noticed the vast about of laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets that are available on. Sometimes, looking at all of these items can be overwhelming, so finding the right item at a great price might even take a bit of research and consideration. There are many generics on the market, but of course nothing will save you as much as not using detergent at all. Most of today’s modern washer’s use agitation to get your clothes clean, so soap is just an added expense that helps make the clothing smell nice. Of course, if you aren’t entirely sure about ditching the detergent then try making your own from household items. Vinegar is one of the best ways to kill any germs that might be on your clothing. You can also throw in some lemon juice for a nice fresh smell that will leave you satisfied. However, if losing the fresh scent is your only concern about getting rid of detergents then try buying a generic brand of dryer sheets. Your clothes will come out smelling just as fresh as they would with the detergent.
2. Cold Water
If you’re worried about your electric bill then you might want to start putting your clothes on a cold cycle. Warm water cycles actually take 90% off the energy of a washing machine, so by switching to cold cycles you’ll be saving quite a bit of money! Although it might seem odd to get clean anything in cold water, it is actually quite safe to wash your clothing in cold. Cold cycles also give your clothing a great soft feeling that is especially nice on bedding and children’s clothes. If you have items that are mixed in colors then have no fear as cold water won’t cause running between colors so your find decorative clothes with stay look great for much longer. One huge benefit to washing in cold is the ability it has to actually get rid of stains. Cold water actually prevents a stain from setting in cloth, so any stain that is soaked in cold can be removed, opposed to washing in warm which will help the stain settle right in. There are also many clothes that are designed to work best in cold water, so if you switch up your cycles you won’t have to wash these garments separately. If you’re still worried about washing in cold then check out a cold water detergent so you can put your mind to ease.
3. Re-wear Clothing
There are some items in out wardrobe that need to be washed every time they are worn, but there are also many items that can be worn multiple times without having to hit the washer. If you’re looking to save on money then try wearing items more than once, so you won’t have to do laundry as often. Jeans are one item that can be worn several time before actually needing to be washed. If your entire family wore their denim more than once think about how much laundry you won’t have to do. Jeans are great in the fact that they can be spotted cleaned if there is a mess, which means they be worn comfortably for longer. Also, reconsider using a new towel each day. Towels are heavy and tend to take up a lot of space, so use them multiple times and save on the amount you actually wash each week. You can do the same with thicker pants, hoodies and jackets which take up a lot of the laundry baskets space each week.
4. Don’t Over Do It
We all know how tedious doing laundry can be, so there is often times when we are slightly tempted to shove the last clothes into the washer no matter how full it looks. Doing this, however, can cause a lot of problems with the washer and can even cause you to be use more electricity and water. Many washers today monitor the amount of clothing in the machine so the machine will put out extra water to take care of the heavy load. Unfortunately, the load may never get clean because there isn’t enough space in the washer for the clothing to get agitation it needs to become clean. It is much easier to take it one load at a time so that you can ensure your clothing is finished the first time you run it through the washer, rather than having to pull out drenched clothing that will begin to smell before you can rerun them.
5. Drying
Getting your clothes is a huge part of the chore, but can be the most costly part as well. Unlike the washer dryers tend to rely largely on electricity, so your power bill will increase each time you use the dryer. One way to decrease the amount of electric you use is to keep an eye on your clothes. A lot of the time the dryer, especially older models, will keep running even when the clothes are dry. One simple way to cut down on cost is to check out the progress of your clothing every twenty minutes. If you are drying something like a thicker blanket then put it in the dryer for one cycle and pull it and place it somewhere else to dry. Of course, one way to completely cut down on the electricity from drying is to hang your clothes outdoors to dry. Many people prefer the fresh smell the clothes take on from being air dried. Of course, the weather doesn’t always permit this, so if you want to keep drying your clothes then you might invest in an adjustable cord that you can hang over your bathtub.
6. Adjust Water/Agitation Levels
Most waters will allow you to choose the size and amount of agitation for each load that you do. If you are looking to save as much money as possible then it is always best to lower the water levels. By lowering water levels you are still allowing your clothes to get clean, but are ensuring that your water bill will stay low. Raising agitation levels is the best way to counteract the lower water level. More agitation means that you will have cleaner clothes. It will also ensure that your clothes will have very little water still on them when it it time to dry the clothing. This will lower the amount of time the clothing needs to stay in the dryer, so you will save even more money then you ever expect.
7. Time to Upgrade
Anyone who doesn’t want to work around the laundry to save some money might consider spending a little money to save. There are many models on the market today that will actually save you money. For instance, most models now are designed to be energy efficient, which means that you can run your washer and dryer from sun up to sun down without actually using a whole lot of energy to do so. It is important to check out all of the benefits of the washer and dryer before you purchase though, as many might only help to lower cost on certain bills. If you are looking to save big then try to find one that is not only energy efficient, but also uses little water and detergent. These washers and dryers often wash your clothing in a fraction of the time of other machines and will ensure that they will earn their keep within the first year of having them.
8. Consider Time
Many people tend to throw a load of laundry in whenever the mood rises, but this can be one of the most expensive decisions when it comes to the bills. Many cities have certain peak hours that charges residents more money when they use energy during this time frame. So, it might be best to call up your electric company and find out when the peak hours are so you can work out a schedule around them. Most cities have peak hours that begin during the early afternoon and end around the time the sun goes down. So, it might be best to throw a load of laundry in before you take the kids to school, or to stay up a bit later at night so you can get your laundry finished at the lowest rate possible. You will definitely notice the difference when your next bill comes.
9. Consider the Little Things
The little things can tend to be the things that cost you the most in the long run. For instance, forgetting to check your lint filter can actually cause your dryer to use more power that it should, which in return caused you more money. Keeping a clean lint filter means your clothing will dry faster and the machine will run on a normal level. A lot of people also don’t pay attention to the amount of soap they use each time they wash. Using the measuring cup, or even less than the cup indicates, can help you keep your shopping bill down a lot. Powered soaps can be one of the hardest soaps to maintain, so create a small measuring device for it and you will certainly keep your savings to the max. Dryer sheets are another expenditure than can be cut down a lot. Most dryer sheets still maintain the smell after one use, so try putting the same sheet into more than one load of clothes. You can even use used ones to keep in your drawer so your clothes always smell fresh out of the dryer.
10. Purchase Wisely
Watching what you buy can be one of the easiest ways to save money. There are many products out there that play on convenience, so many people tend to buy them thinking they are also saving money. One such case is the energy efficient soap balls that have detergent and softener enclosed together. These cleaning balls may seem like the best buy, but you can actually buy laundry detergent that can do three to four times the amount of loads that these fabric balls can for the same exact price. Shopping in bulk can also save you a lot of money. Buying a large container of soap can get the job done for longer and can prevent you from having to restock any time soon. If you can, find a generic brand that you like the smell of, this will actually do quite a bit of good when it comes to saving on the budget.
Laundry can be a real downer in the home if you let it get to you. Apart from being never ending it can cost the home a lot of money, so change up the way you spend on it. With these ten tips you can get the most out of your money without having to sacrifice your fresh smelling laundry. You will love how relaxed laundry makes you feel after you take away the dollar signs.
Author: Chelsey McQuitty
