Frugal Laundry Tips that Help You Save Money Washing Clothes

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Washing clothes for the family can really add up. Save money without sacrificing modern convenience. Here are some frugal laundry tips to save you money.

frugal laundry tips that save money washing clothes

Doing the laundry is one of those repetitive weekly chores that few of us look forward to. It can seem like the week goes by slowly, yet sheet washing day comes round awfully quickly.

Because it’s a chore that needs to be done regularly, the cost of detergent, water and electricity can add up.

However, there are a few ways that you can reduce the cost of doing the laundry that not only save you money, but they are also better for your clothes, your health and the environment.

That’s a win all round.

How to Save Money When Washing Clothes

Below are 6 tips to save money when washing clothes. You don’t have to do all of them, but the more you do, the more you will save.

One tip that will save you a lot of money is having energy and water-efficient appliances. So this is something to keep in mind next time you’re in the market for a new washer. 

1. Save on Laundry by Using Less Detergent

Try experimenting with the amount of washing powder that you use when washing.

Often the recommended amount has more to do with marketing than getting clothes washed. In fact, as little as 1 tablespoon per full load can be just as effective at washing clothes as a full scoop, and you avoid residue problems and excess detergent clogging up in your machine.

Depending on what I wash and how soiled it is, I use between 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup of (homemade) detergent and find that this is just as effective as using a full scoop.

Other ways to save on laundry powder is only buying it when it’s on sale or buying it in bulk to get a discount. 

And don’t just look at the grocery store for laundry powder. You can get laundry powder at places like Big W and The Reject Shop, so keep an eye on their sales catalogues as well, using a catalogue app. 

Coupled with purchasing detergent in bulk and on sale (discount stores are a great place to find washing detergent on sale), this can add up to significant savings.

Another way to save is to avoid fabric softeners or use plain white vinegar as a fabric softener. 

2. Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

Making your own laundry detergent will not necessarily save you money over regular detergents if you use the strategy above, but it is certainly more environmentally friendly and will cost a lot less than eco-detergents. 

If you’re concerned about the chemicals that go into our waterways, then homemade laundry detergent is a frugal alternative to the commercial eco-detergents.

When doing the laundry, I use this homemade laundry powder recipe, vinegar in the fabric softener compartment for the rinse and a few drops of eucalyptus oil for towels and nappies. Inexpensive laundry soap is an excellent stain remover.

As a side note, good quality towels don’t get stiff and rough after washing and don’t need fabric softener (in fact, fabric softener reduces the absorbency of towels).

If you do need to soften laundry, vinegar added to the final rinse helps soften clothes (as well as freshen them). I have found that it works, but the results aren’t ‘straight out of the dryer fluffy’ (unless you have good towels).

Ironing clothes (like stiff jeans), especially with the steam on, take the stiffness out of them as well.

3. Wash in Cold Water

Ninety per cent of the energy used washing laundry is for heating water.

As well as increasing your energy bill, washing in hot water is harsher on your clothes, can make the colours run, can cause the clothes to shrink and warp and can set in protein stains. 

Coldwater washing is effective at washing off most allergens on laundry and hanging laundry out in direct sunlight will kill bacteria and dust mites.

For musty towels, I sometimes add a few drops of tea tree oil or Eucalyptus to the rinse cycle, both of which are powerful anti-bacterial.

4. Wash When You Have a Full Load

Save on water and energy by washing only when you have a full load.

Shuffle your washing around so that you do manage a full load. For example, I wash mid-week so the kids have clean uniform. I will add one child’s sheets to the mid-week wash to make if full and avoid a separate ‘sheets wash’. 

If doing a full load is impractical, adjust the water level and wash time to save money.

5. Hang Your Clothes to Dry as Much as Possible

Ode to the hills hoist – our national icon. Clothes dryers can be expensive to run while hanging the washing, particularly in direct sunlight is free!

Sunlight is also great for killing bacteria and dust mites and airing it out. And there’s nothing like the smell of fresh linen, straight from the line.

For wet weather, airers are good alternatives, and these can be placed on balconies or moved in and outside or around to follow the sun. Alternatively, you can string up some indoor clotheslines, either under an awning outside or in a garage.

If you do use a dryer, try hanging your clothes first and then ‘finish them off’ the dryer to make sure they get completely dry and they get that soft fluffy feeling they get from the dryer. 

You might also like to check out the Frugal Laundry Resources page.

6. Fold Clothes Neatly To Save Time (and Money) Ironing

While ironing’s a bit passe these days but if you do still iron, it will be quicker if you hang your clothes neatly (coat hangers can be a great help) and fold them neatly when they are dry.

The quicker it takes to iron, the less electricity you use and the more time you save too.

I used to do the ironing for some extra cash. I couldn’t believe how crumpled the clothes were when they came to me. Each item was screwed up into a tiny ball and it was a nightmare doing the ironing.

If you hang washing so that it is flat as possible, untucking sleeves and legs, shaking (snapping) out the wrinkles before hanging, and fold it neatly before ironing, then it can cut ironing time drastically, or eliminate the need to iron all together.

When is the Best Time to Wash Clothes to Save Electricity?

While your washing machine and dryer use the same amount of electricity no matter what time of day it is, you can save money if you have an off-peak tariff and you use your appliances during off-peak times.

Check with your electricity company if off-peak tariffs apply and if you do have them available, time your washing for off-peak times. Often, it’s cheaper to wash clothes at night during off-peak times. 

Are you out of the house (or asleep) during the off-peak time? 

Many modern washing machines and dryers have timers, so you can set the appliance to start at a specific time. If your washer does not have a timer, you can (depending on how your machines work) use an inexpensive plug-in timer for your washing machine or even a smart plug and use your phone to tell your washer to turn on.

If you don’t have off-peak electricity, the best time to wash your clothes is early in the morning so they can get a full day’s sun to dry. 

By saving money on the laundry, you are saving money on the water bill, on the electricity bill, and on the groceries – a triple benefit.

What frugal laundry tips do you have to save time and money washing clothes?

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