by Darian

Created on: June 26, 2008

I never thought much about saving money doing laundry until recently. The liquid I use for washing cloths has more than doubled in price in the past few years. Our utilities have raised rates three times in as many years. I have always been a perfectionist about my laundry. I would never mix pastels with dark colored cloths. Whites were strictly hot water.

I found out that trying to wash too many cloths at one time does not save money. It takes the dryer much longer to dry an over sized load, that electricity or gas cost much more than water. Then there's the ironing, if the dryer is over loaded, I have found out that my cloths come out more wrinkled. Ironing uses more electricity.

I bought bargain brand detergent, but ended up using twice as much to do the same amount of laundry, so I didn't save money there, plus it didn't work as well. Fabric softeners have gone up in price also. Who would have thought, detergent and fabric for a family would cost over $10 a week. I have found a few good bargain brand fabric softeners that I like.

Some things I have learned are, the cloths I wear to work are never very dirty. I can wash a full load of those cloths and use only a half cup of detergent. My white socks and underwear don't need hot water, I have found that they stay just as white if I wash them in cold water. I wash everything in cold water now except bath towels.

My son leaves his cloths in the dryer and turns it on to dewrinkle them.. That is a good way to waste money. I try to wash cloths when I know I will be home to take them out of the dryer as soon as it stops, to avoid ironing as much as I can. Whites and bath towels don't need ironing, those are the ones I will put in the dryer before I go to work or bed.

A wooden cloths rack is great. Especially for pants and jeans. It saves on energy by not using the dryer. I really like my wooden cloths rack, it rates right up there with Mr. coffee and George Foreman. When I'm not using it, it folds flat and will store anywhere.

Gone are the days when something came out the washer with the stain on it, I throw it back in and start the washer again. I use stain remover now. When I'm out of stain remover, I have found that dish detergent usually works too, and that's something that hasn't changed much in price over the last couple of years.

If you have access to a cloths line, hanging sheets, blankets, and throw rugs takes little time. It also allows you to dry other cloths while these are drying on the line, cutting down on the time you spend doing laundry.

I take large items like comforters and heavy blankets to the Laundromat. I can usually only fit one at time in the washer and one at time in the dryer. The Laundromat has those extra large washers and dryers. It cost a few dollars, but in the long run, I believe it is less expensive than doing them one at time at home.

Did you ever buy a cream rinse or conditioner for your hair, and when you used it, you didn't like it? Well, don't throw it away, use it for fabric softener. It will kill the soap in your rinse water and reduce static just like regular fabric softener. Be careful when you pour it in. Use it sparingly and don't let it splash on the cloths.

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