Laundry for Less
It’s the never-ending task… laundry. Seems as soon as I finish a load, there is another waiting to be done. And as soon as I put away all the clothes, more are thrown into the laundry basket to be washed.
In addition to taking up time and always needing to be done, doing laundry takes money. If you have kids and do a lot of laundry, the amount you spend keeping clothes, towels, sheets and more clean can easily add up. You may think that there really isn’t much you can do to cut your laundry costs, but actually there are some simple steps you can take that will help you save.
Image by Traci Todd
Line Dry
Sometimes I think back to the days before all the modern conveniences we have now, and wonder how they made it. I’m glad to have things like the microwave, computer and a washer and dryer, but while they help make our lives more simple they also make them more expensive. I’m not going to go out and wash my clothes in the creek, but I can air dry them and save on the cost of running the dryer.
This may seem like it takes a lot of work, but it’s worth the effort and is good for both your wallet and the environment. So, throw a line up in your yard and when you take your clothes out of the washer, hang them outside to dry. If you wash in the morning and it’s a nice sunny day, your clothes will be dry by evening and they’ll smell great as well.
Less is More
I’m bad about just pouring in a good bit of detergent without actually measuring and using the amount suggested on the box. I want to get my clothes clean, so I need more, right? Not really.
With most detergents, only a small amount is needed, even less than stated on the box. If you’re concerned about the detergent not mixing well, put it in with the water before you add your clothes. Obviously, by using less, your detergent will last longer, meaning you don’t spend as much money on it. In the case of detergent, using less means more money in your pocket.
Wash Less
My 9-year-old daughter can go through outfits like you wouldn’t believe. She may put on a T-shirt, wear it a while, then change. And where does she put that shirt? In the dirty laundry (well, more likely her floor). It’s been worn a short time and isn’t dirty, but if I’m not careful, it will end up in the laundry. Sometimes, even if you’ve worn an outfit all day, it doesn’t really need washing, so why wash it?
Washing clothes after every wear costs more and is actually bad for the clothes, wearing them out and causing them to fade more quickly. One way to save on laundry is to wash your clothes less often. If something needs washing, and we know that sometimes things do need washing, then wash it, but don’t just through it in the dirty laundry basket because you’ve worn it for a day.
Do-It-Yourself Detergent
When I walk down the laundry detergent aisle at the supermarket, I’m amazed at the prices. I always go for the lower-end detergents, figuring and hoping they work just as well, so that saves me money, but I could save even more money by making my own laundry detergent. It’s not that difficult, and homemade detergent does just as well as store bought, even the higher priced ones.
Most recipes for homemade detergent include the basic ingredients of borax, washing soda (slightly different from baking soda) and bar soap. Just search homemade laundry detergent on the Internet and take your pick of recipes. You can make liquid or powder.
Making your own detergent saves a good bit of money and has other advantages as well. When you make your own liquid detergent you can add any scent that you like and homemade detergent is better for the environment. It’s also nice to know exactly what is in your detergent.
Do you have any other frugal laundry tips? Leave a comment and share them here!
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Category: Frugal Living
