Something you may not know about me is that washing clothes is one of my favourite household tasks. I feel like almost everyone has one cleaning job that they enjoy doing, and this is mine. Just ask my husband! I also love using things efficiently to get the most out of them, as well as finding a fantastic deal. Combining all these things made writing this post quite enjoyable for me, and (hopefully) useful for you.
Washing your clothes can be quite expensive, especially if you have a large household! So by using most or all of these tips together, you will be able to save money and make your laundry day more cost effective. Although this post is not exclusively about making laundry more eco-friendly, I have kept those thoughts in mind when writing these tips for you as it is something I'm passionate about.
Let's get into the tips...
Tip 1
Use High Efficiency (HE) Machines
HE machines take less energy to run, use much less water than those that aren't, as well as having a longer spin cycle so that clothes don't take so long to dry afterwards. With tumble dryers there will probably be an 'Eco' setting (on ours it's called 'Eco boost'), where the machine detects the humidity levels within the machine and stops when it thinks the clothes are dry. With all these specifications combined you'll be saving on both your electric and water bills.
If you don't already have something like this then put some money aside each month so you can invest in a more efficient machine when your current one gives out. A tip from husband is to purchase a front loader not a top loader as they use considerably smaller amounts of water. I wasn't aware of this fact as it's quite rare to see top loaders in the UK so I don't know much about them. He also suggests the Whirlpool brand as him and his family have had very positive experiences with the efficiency and longevity of their machines.
Tip 2
Use the most efficient cycle
Read the manual and work out what settings are the most efficient for your machine. Take into account the time each cycle takes and how much water is used. You can also save by hand washing any items that need a gentle or delicate wash, as this will use significantly less water and energy than using a machine. Unless you own a lot of clothes that require special attention that is!
I have heard a piece of advice that the shortest cycle is the most efficient. I think this largely depends on the machine you have and maybe true of HE washers and dryers. But I know that with my parents washer, the short 20 minute cycle uses about 20 litres more water than the standard wash. So get to know all the settings on your machine to make sure you maximise it's efficiency with each load.
Tip 3
Maximise each load
Now I don't mean to overload the machine so it doesn't wash the clothes properly, but make sure each load is a full one according to the setting you will be using. This will ensure you don't waste any water, energy and detergent. Just wait until you have enough clothes to wash before putting on a load because if you're consistently doing half loads on a setting for a full load of clothes, you may as well be putting money down the drain.
Tip 4
Wash your clothes on cool
This is quite a well known one but I thought I'd include it anyway as it is a good habit to get into! Washing your clothes on the cool or cold setting will save energy as the machine won't have to heat up the water. Even if you have a machine that pulls hot water straight from the water heater/boiler, you'll still be making a saving.
A lot of washing machine detergents now wash effectively at low temperatures, but check the packaging to make sure. If there aren't any specific guidelines about it on the one you're currently using, then try looking for a different detergent that states that it can be used in cooler water.
Tip 5
Only use the tumble dryer when you absolutely need too
Since living in the states I've noticed that using the tumble dryer is the normal thing to do and very common. I think I've only ever seen outdoor washing lines twice since I arrived in December last year. Not to mention all of the cleaning videos I've seen on YouTube where housewives incorporate the use of a tumble dryer into their daily routine. All I keep thinking to myself is how much energy and money they could save!
So if you have a back garden or yard make use of an outdoor washing line. Although if you live in a housing association make sure you check if they allow that. Or if you live in an apartment, flat or somewhere else without private outdoor space then use an indoor clothes rack. Save the tumble dryer for when you need to dry something in a hurry or if it's raining.
Tip 6
Switch dryer sheets for wool dryer balls
If you do need to use a tumble dryer for some reason, making this switch will get you more uses for your money. You will also get all the same benefits of dryer sheets like softening clothes, reducing static and decreasing dryer time but with less waste. Plus if you're quite handy with crafts you can lessen this cost even more by making them yourself! But if you REALLY can't break away from dryer sheets then only use half a sheet per load so they last longer and make sure that they're biodegradable.
Tip 7
Only use the amount the bottle says
Sounds obvious doesn't it? But when researching laundry detergent myself I've read lots of reviews and come across some that say there have been too many suds or that the product doesn't clean their clothes at all! I'll give you an example here.
Before trying Tide's Purclean I read many comments from other customers, and at least half of them said that they had to put their clothes through another 1 or even 2 rinse cycles to get rid of all the foam. Just as the customer service from Tide said, this was because they used too much of the detergent. So after purchasing it myself, I made sure to follow the instructions exactly and haven't had any problems at all. But be it the detergent or fabric softener, make sure you the read the directions properly so you don't use too much (or too little). A small change like this means you get your money's worth!
Tip 8
Omit fabric softener altogether
Before you glance over this one completely because you think I'm trying to part you with your super snuggly soft clothes. Hear me out first.
This one may or may not be possible depending on what the water is like in your area. But Ben and I have never used fabric softener in our hard water area and our clothes come out of the wash plenty soft enough. If you currently use it, I recommend taking the same route as us and see what your clothes come out like. If you decide that you don't need to use it anymore, obviously finish what you purchased and then after that it's one less cost you need to think about! If you do need to use fabric softener for whatever reason, then try halving the amount you usually use so you get double the amount of loads out of the bottle.
Tip 9
Take up surveys to pay for laundry products
This is what I do when I'm looking to pay for anything extra in the house or for DIY ingredients. It's a great way to supplement your income and can eliminate the cost of purchasing laundry detergent altogether! You can read about my experience and recommendations on this tip here.
Tip 10
Look for offers or coupons on laundry products
America seems to be really into the whole coupon thing. They are seriously everywhere you go! But wherever you live there will be money off items in magazines, online or by going directly to the manufacturers themselves.
If your area is somewhat lacking in coupon opportunities for laundry products then the easiest way to save is to look for the product that's on offer. Deals like 2 for 1, 20% off and other price reductions should definitely be taken advantage of to help save you money. Although always remember to compare how many loads you'll be able to do with the price of the item. Just divide the cost of the product by the amount of loads the packaging states, and that will give you the price per load. It's simple to do and will enable you to find the best value.
Don't forget that just because something is on offer, there may well be something else that works out more cost effective at full price.
I hope you've been able to glean something from this post, which will help you and your family reduce the cost of washing and drying your clothes. If there is some advice that you follow that I haven't thought of then please be sure to let me know!
Bye for now,
Kathryn.