How to Do the Laundry Frugally
Laundry is a fact of life, but it can be done frugally. Lately, my wife has been on my step kids about creating laundry. Here are some of the easy ways to save on the laundry (Many are just common sense):
- Avoid making extra laundry in the first place-- the kids are too lazy to fold and re-wear certain clothes. Jeans and shorts and sweatshirts can be worn more than once before hitting the laundry. Pajamas and bath towels can be used 2-3 days too. Granted, if truly dirty, sweaty, stained, whatever throw it in-- realistically only socks and underwear qualify for immediate laundry. Less laundry means less expense
- Use cold water for most washes-- keeps the colors lasting longer and only whites when bleached really need the hot water. Whites shouldn't be bleached every time-- it destroys the clothing. Less hot water and less bleach means less expense
- Don't run "Small" or "Extra Large" load cycles-- one is a waste and the other doesn't clean as well. Stay with "Medium" and "Large" loads. Right sized, effective loads save money
- Don't use more than the recommended amount of detergent for the size of the load. In fact, try just a little less-- remember it is in the recommender's (the manufacturer) best interest to recommend more than you need. Use less detergent means cost savings
- Don't use whole dryer sheets-- see my post, Dryer Sheet Savings
- Check with your power company-- might get reduced rates for running your laundry after 8:00PM. Savings on the utilities
- Try line drying some stuff to save on running the dryer-- there is nothing like sheets dried on the line . . .
- Some people make their own detergent for pennies per load (I'm not there . . . yet!)
What do you do to save?
Like this post? Check out the related posts for more information. You can also get email notification of new posts in your email by subscribing. Your email address won't be used for any other purpose than to send you notification of a new post.
Related posts:
Want to Save Big Money? Take Care of Your Teeth-- 5 Quick Tips
5 Tips for Saving Money in the Shower
What Happened to Self-Sufficiency?
Posted by DDFD at 3/4/2009 9:53 PM 
Categories: Money Savers, Self Sufficiency, DIY, Frugality
Tags: How to ideas Frugality Self Sufficiency DIY Laundry Frugal
Categories: Money Savers, Self Sufficiency, DIY, Frugality
Tags: How to ideas Frugality Self Sufficiency DIY Laundry Frugal
At my house there are two laundry modes – male and female. The male mode is to wait until things are rather dirty and then run a load. It may be less than once a week. In summer they are line dried outdoors; in winter they hang in the furnace room for as long as it takes and then until the next load is due.
The female mode is to wear each item once, launder, and use the dryer. There are many such loads every week. In summer the male person intercepts some of these loads and hangs them outside. Rare is the summer day with nothing on the clothesline.
The male person and the female persons have agreed to disagree on this.
Reply to this
Our house is similarly divided, but by adults and juveniles on this one . . .
Reply to this
So funny that you wrote about laundry today. My posts from yesterday and today are about making homemade laundry detergent and line-drying. My teens are a little better about not tossing gently worn clothes into their hampers now that they are each responsible for washing their own laundry. They certainly have a better appreciation for the time and money that is required to make them look so neat and clean!
Reply to this