Most people would agree that laundry isn’t all that much fun. The double whammy comes when you consider the fact that laundry is also fairly expensive, especially when gauged over a long period of time. Fortunately, there are a few wise bloggers out there that have devised a number of ways you can cut back significantly on your laundry expenses.
Read through the following 10 frugal laundry hacks by bloggers and learn how to save a bundle on this thankless task.
Go Back to the Clothesline
The tradition of using a clothesline to dry garments has mostly disappeared in recent years as dryers have become ubiquitous household appliances, but that might be a pricey mistake. Not only do dryers cost a lot of money to buy and maintain, they also suck up electricity and drive up your utility bill. Aside from the nominal cost of buying a few clothespins and a rod, a clothesline is essentially free. As Emily from Live Renewed points out, there are also additiional benefits, “I have found it really helps to extend the life of the clothes and makes it so much easier to keep them stain free”
Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
If you subscribe to the theory that time is money, then this tip may not be for you, but if you have a few extra minutes to spare and want to save a few bucks, then you should definitely look into making your own laundry detergent. Done correctly, it washes just as well as the store-bought detergent but at a fraction of the price. The How Does She blog has an excellent tutorial you can see here. The best part of it all? Not too many ingredients are required to generate a lot of detergent. The post’s author Bobbi promises, “This batch makes A TON!”
Extend How Long You Have Detergent
Let’s face it, not everyone is going to make their own laundry detergent. No matter how much cheaper it might be, most people are still going to get the store-bought kind. That doesn’t mean you can’t save money when using store-bought detergent, however. By combining your detergent with Zote Soap (which can be bought in the dollar store), you can use less of it for each load and ration it so it lasts longer. As Elaine from Sunny Simple Life says, “This really stretches your detergent, making laundry soap last longer while still washing your clothes wonderfully and saving you lots of MONEY!”
Shop Wisely When Buying a New Washer and Dryer
Long before you figure out how to save some extra cash by cutting back on how much detergent you use or by making your own detergent, you need to learn how to get the best possible deal on a washer and dryer. Using a few basic strategies could save you hundreds of dollars. By comparison shopping online, buying discounted gift cards from Raise.com and stacking promo codes with cash back offers and credit card incentives, you can really come out ahead. As Sarah from Early Bird Mom reveals, “I ended up saving hundreds of dollars!”
Cut Dryer Sheets in Half
Tossing a dryer sheet into the dryer is one of those mindless tasks. There are probably even times when you throw in two or three sheets simply because you aren’t paying attention. That carelessness can wind up costing a pretty penny over the long haul, though. One way to eliminate the unnecessary expense is by cutting your dryer sheets in half. This effectively doubles the amount of dryer sheets you have. As Taylor from Stain Removal 101 says, “I don’t notice any difference with my clothes, which still have reduced static cling and are softened by the sheet, even when using less.”
Limit Towel and PJ Loads
It’s not too big a stretch to consider using your bath towels and pajamas for a week before you wash them again. At the very least, you can go several days. By assigning pajamas and towels to be washed and dried on the same day every week you can reduce the amount of loads you are doing (and money you are spending) quite a bit. Why, you ask? Well, towels in particular, but also some pajamas take up a lot of space and squeeze out other clothes. As Jennifer from the Purposeful Mom writes, “You’ll be surprised how many loads this will save on.”
Maximize Your Use of Laundry Supplies
It’s not commonly known, but products designed for laundry can actually be used for a variety of different purposes. Utilizing them in other ways can save you some cash, especially if you have committed to a DIY lifestyle overall and make other types of products yourself as well. One particular item that has proven to be quite versatile is Downy Unstoppables Scent Booster. As Bekah from Mommy Savers, who outlines 10 surprising uses for the product in her illuminating blog post, says, “ A tiny amount of beads goes a long way.”
Remember to Clear Out the Lint Trap
Clearing out the lint trap is an easy thing to forget, so if you are the absent-minded type, it might make sense for you to stick a post-it note on the dryer as a reminder. Clearing it out serves two important purposes. First of all it is a safety precaution. Letting too much lint build up can actually cause a fire. Secondly, it helps the dryer run more efficiently, saving on elecricity costs. As Julia from Rock It Like A Mom points out, “Trying to dry a load with a blocked lint trap can actually increase power usage by 30%.”
Do Your Laundry at Night
This might be the easiest hack on the entire list. The only thing it requires is a modicum of discipline to avoid the temptation of running the machine during the day while you are at work. The reason doing your laundry at night is so beneficial financially is because most utility companies consider night-time usage to be “off-peak” and charge less. Lauren from I am THAT Lady also has another valuable piece of advice in her blog post, commenting, “run your dryer again while it’s already hot, keep those loads moving through, don’t give it time to cool down!”
Wash in Cold Water
This hack is such a no-brainer that the EPA even did its own blog post urging Americans to take heed. The EPA estimates that the average household could save $40 a year just by following this tip. What’s more? Washing in cold water appears to have practically no effect on how well your clothing gets cleaned. As Danell from The Smart and Frugal Path notes, “ Your clothes will still get clean and your colors will stay bright longer. A simple switch that will save you.”
