Saving money is important to everyone. The average cost of a load of home laundry is $1.00 to $1.50 depending on your utility rates. Being frugal and saving even a few pennies can add up if you are buried in piles of laundry.
Use Cold Water
Today's detergents are formulated to clean in cold water. Unless you have extremely dirty or greasy clothes, you may be surprised at how well it cleans.
Changing to cold water saves about 30 cents on every washer load of laundry.
Buy Generic Detergent
Many generic store brand detergents are made by leading manufacturers. Give them a try and see if you are satisfied with the cleaning results. Their cleaning power can be enhanced by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to the wash load and you'll still save money on each load.
The baking soda will help control perspiration odor and regulates the acidity of water to make detergent and bleach work more effectively.
Or, Make Your Own Detergent
If you are concerned about what chemicals are hiding in commercial laundry detergents, you can make your own
homemade detergents . Four simple ingredients are all it takes. And depending on your previous detergent, you can save about 15 cents per load of laundry.
Use Vinegar as Fabric Softener
No, you won't smell like a pickle! Add 1/2 cup white distilled
vinegar to the final rinse water. The mild acid in the vinegar will help loosen any final detergent clinging to the clothes which causes the laundry to be stiff.
Use an Aluminum Foil Ball to Stop Static Cling
If you have problems with static cling in the winter, add a ball of aluminum foil to the dryer. The metal will help to break the cycle of static. Replace after several loads.Cut Dryer Sheets in Half
Just like detergents, you won't notice a difference by using just one-half of a dryer sheet. Your clothes will still feel soft and smell nice. You'll get twice as many loads for your money.Use Fresh Air
Outside air is still free, at least for the moment! Use it to
line dry your washable laundry. And, use it to freshen non-washables. Hang dry clean only garments outside out of direct sunlight to take advantage of fresh breezes.
Make More Heat
To make ironing easier and more energy efficient, add a piece of aluminum foil under your
ironing board cover . The foil will help hold heat and allow you to iron more quickly or on a lower temperature.
Don't Iron
This is a personal favorite. Plan ahead what you're going to wear. Hang it on the back of the bathroom door as you shower or bathe. The steam generated will smooth out wrinkles.Use Less Detergent
If you can't give up your favorite
detergent, use less. Try using 1/2 the recommended amount. You will probably not notice a difference in the cleanliness level of your laundry. If you aren't pleased, you can always add more.
