Ahhhh laundry. Unfortunately, it’s a necessary part of our lives. It can also be a very expensive part too. Costs of supplies, water, power, and more can really jump your expenses up if you’re not careful. There are a few things you can do to save yourself money even when doing your whites.
3 Ways to Save Big on Laundry Costs
Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
For the most part? Hot water is very bad for your clothing and honestly, there is no reason to ever wash something on hot. Your water bill and your clothing bill are both suffering if you are. Instead, wash on the cold cycle. If you’re washing whites, they will get just as clean on cold as they would on hot, but if you must use a different cycle, use the warm cycle instead.
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Ban the Dryer and Use a Clothing Line
Do you realize that one of the most inefficient appliances in your home is your clothes dryer? Instead of running that money eater, line dry your clothes. In the warmer months of the year, you can string a clothesline for under $4.00, and in the colder months? You’ll save big by using clothes drying rack instead of the dryer.
You’ll spend a few dollars out of pocket at first, but you will save big in the long run. On the days when it’s nice outside, you can get your clothes dry in about an hour because of the warm weather and bright sunlight. Even when it’s raining, you can still hang your clothes on the line inside the home, whether you decide to hang them in the basement, kitchen, or even your bedroom, wherever you have room for it.
Go Homemade with Laundry Products
99% of the laundry products you use on a daily basis can all be made at home for much cheaper than you’ll pay in the stores…most of the time even with coupons. Things like homemade laundry detergent, homemade dryer sheets, homemade Febreze, and degreaser are all great ways to cut those costs entirely out of your budget.
There are dozens of different recipes online that prove how easy it is to prepare homemade products that are safe and effective to use on your clothing, blankets, and other items. They all do the job just as well (or better!) than commercial products and your budget will thank you.
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Don’t Do Small Loads of Laundry
If you’re doing small loads of laundry over and over, you’re wasting more water and electricity with your washing machine, which is going to cause both your bills to rise. So, why put yourself through that? Instead of washing three shirts and a pair of socks, wait for the wash to start piling up so that you can do larger loads.
If you start doing larger loads, you’ll still use the same amount of water and electricity while getting more clothes cleaned. It’s the best way to save on laundry-related expenses. Does it mean that you might not get to do a load of laundry a day? Of course, but if it means saving money, it’s a good thing.
Clean Out Your Lint From the Dryer
When using the dryer, be sure to check for lint, removing it each time you use it because the lint can quickly accumulate. The thing about lint is that it sticks to the lint trap, ultimately blocking hot air from getting into the dryer.
If it’s creating a blockage, you’re going to have to put the dryer on a higher setting and keep the clothes running in the dryer for a longer period of time just to get them dry after they’ve been washed.
If you don’t want to deal with that kind of problem that would cause you to waste more energy and money in the long run, be mindful of the lint trap, cleaning out after each use!
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Use Energy-Efficient Products at Home to Do Laundry
An old washer and dryer could be costing you much more than you realized to clean your clothes and dry them afterward. If you have an energy-efficient washing machine and dryer, you’re going to use less electricity and gas during the process of doing laundry, which helps you save money in the long run. Sure, this might mean making an initial investment, but it pays itself off when you consider the savings you’ll get to enjoy as a result of using these products.
These are some of the best ways to start saving money on laundry costs. The laundry expenses can quickly add up when you consider you’re using gas, electricity, and water. However, you don’t have to spend more than you can afford to get your clothes clean, fresh, and looking their best. Follow these helpful tips to conserve energy while saving money and continuing to wash your clothes at home.
After having one of the *those* weeks of tackling Mt. Laundry, I’m tempted to save on laundry costs by not letting anyone wear clothes or if they do, they have to stay in one spot all day, not move, and not get anything dirty! 🙂