staff When Benjamin Franklin said nothing is certain except death and laundry, he likely wasn’t thinking about how much doing the chore can cost. However, some simple ways to save money on detergent, fabric softener, and other laundry supplies exist.
One of the easiest tricks is to wash fewer loads. That reduces your costs on water, electricity, and detergent.
Don’t Overdo It With Detergent
It may sound counterintuitive, but using too much detergent costs you more in the long run. This is because extra suds prevent your clothes from rinsing thoroughly, and this can leave behind detergent residue that makes your once-soft laundry crunchy and scratchy to the touch.
Whether you prefer liquid detergent or laundry pacs, overusing this product can leave your laundry with an unpleasant musty smell and high electricity bills from running the dryer. The good news is that aside from using a loyalty reward program, using less detergent can save you a significant amount on your laundry costs each year.
Start by checking the instructions on your detergent container, which typically provide a baseline of how much to use for a standard load. Then, consider switching to a liquid detergent with lower water and energy requirements, such as eco-friendly Tide.
Don’t Overfill Your Washer
Often, we’ll throw in extra clothing in our washer, thinking it will save us time. But filling your machine up to the top with a full load will result in your clothes not getting as clean and may cause the washer to overflow. It can also damage your washer and lead to a costly repair bill.
Ensure your washer is filled only halfway for front-loaders and three-quarters for top-loaders. In addition to saving money on laundry detergent, this simple tip will also help extend the life of your washer. If it’s practical, try drying your clothes in a line as much as possible. Hanging your clothes on a drying rack or even a simple shower curtain rod can save you tons of money compared to buying dryer sheets and heat energy.
Don’t Overstuff Your Dryer
Tempting as it is to shove in just one more article of clothing, overstuffing your dryer is a big no-no. This is because the more clothes you have in your dryer, the less room they have to tumble freely, and this causes them to take longer to dry. This means more energy is used, which you pay for in your utility bills.
Likewise, regular overloading can cause the sensors in your dryer to stop working correctly, again adding to how long it takes for your clothes to dry and increasing the risk of damage.
Hanging your clothes outside or on a drying rack to air dry will save you money on electricity and prolong the life of your clothes.
Make Your Detergent
Whether you wash your clothes in a machine at home or at the laundromat, laundry supplies can add up. However, there are many intelligent and creative ways to save money on your laundry supplies without compromising on the quality of cleanliness.
For example, instead of purchasing large bottles or boxes of liquid detergent, try making your detergent from inexpensive ingredients. There are many recipes online that are easy to follow and cost-effective. Plus, homemade detergent is healthier than store-bought products for your family and the environment.
Another way to save money on laundry is to use energy-efficient drying methods. Hanging your clothes to dry on a line in the backyard or using a dryer rack in the laundry room can reduce your energy costs and extend the lifespan of your clothing.
Use Cold Water
A whopping 90 percent of a washing machine’s energy goes to heating water, so switching from hot to cold cycles cuts your utility bills and carbon footprint. Plus, you’ll help your garments, sheets, and towels last longer.
Stick to a cold wash for all your grimiest linens for the most eco-friendly results. Use a presoak, extend the cycle, and wash smaller loads to make your detergent go further.
To cut your laundry costs further, ditch the fabric softeners and dryer beads—they’re unnecessary and can add up to $371 a year to your bill. Consider hanging your clothes to dry, which reduces your energy use and helps keep your clothing looking good for longer. You can even install a line in your yard or use a drying rack in your laundry room.
