Money Saving Tips for the Laundry Room
By Naomi KnudsenTip 1.
Try to wait until you have a full load before running your washer or dryer.
Tip 2.
The clothes dryer is one of the most energy hungry home appliances. To improve the energy efficiency of your dryer, frequently clean out the lint trap, and once or twice a year, unplug the dryer, remove the front lower panel, and vacuum out the cavity beneath the lint trap. It is amazing how much lint escapes from that trap into the dryer cavity. Not only does this lint buildup cause your dryer to need longer to dry clothes, it has also been known to cause fires.
Tip 3.
Wash in cold water whenever possible. You do not need to wash with hot water unless you are trying to sterilize your laundry. Always set your rinse on the cold water setting. This saves the energy necessary to heat the water. Washing in cold water can save the typical family over $120 a year!
Tip 4.
Plain white vinegar is a good substitute for fabric softener. Environmentally safe and nonalergenic, just add &frac; to &frac; cup as you would a liquid softener.
Tip 5.
If you use softener sheets, a half sheet works as well as a whole one. Keep an empty tissue box near your dryer for used softener sheets; use these for dusting furniture.
Tip 6.
Using &frac; to &frac; the recommended amount of laundry detergent will get clothes just as clean and leave less soap buildup.
Tip 7.
Many garments labeled "Dry Clean Only" can be safely hand washed using mild soap like Woolite and cold water.
Tip 8.
When washing dark clothes for the first time use cold water and put 1 tablespoon of salt in the water. The salt helps set the color. To brighten dark clothes after they have been washed several times, repeat the procedure.
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RE: Money Saving Tips for the Laundry Room
Ammonia is a good "rinse" for hand-washed woolens. the ammonia effectively removes the residual detergent. use a teaspoonful per basin of water per sweater. The sweaters will be softer than if washed without the ammonia.
Post By Susan (Guest Post)
RE: Money Saving Tips for the Laundry Room
Lots of good tips here. I posted a similar article today. Check it out at http://www.personalfinancehacks.com/2008/05/12/saving-money-on-laundry/
Post By Jay@PersonalFinanceHacks.com (Guest Post)
RE: Money Saving Tips for the Laundry Room
What is the difference between sudsing ammonia and non-sudsing ammonia? Where can you get sudsing ammonia?
Post By Margaret Hicks (Guest Post)
RE: Money Saving Tips for the Laundry Room
If you take a half cup of sudsing ammonia, a 16 oz bottle (2 cups) rubbing alcohol, and about a quarter teaspoon or less of hand washing dish detergent (I use Joy), put them into an empty gallon jug and fill with water, you will have a solution that when used in a sprayer on windows, mirrors, counters, etc, will get them as sparkling clean as the popular advertised brand. You can usually get the bottles of alcohol on sale for 3 or 4 for a dollar and ammonia isn't that expensive since you only use a half cup for every gallon of spray. This amount is several times as much as you would buy of the advertised brand and costs so very much less. If you want to add a drop of blue or green food coloring to the gallon to complete the counterfeit, it won't hurt anything as it is too dilute to stain, but will mark your solution so you remember what it is.
Ann
Post by mrs_bberger
RE: Money Saving Tips for the Laundry Room
I've posted about this before but it bears repeating as its such a big saver - of your clothes, your cash and most importantly, the environment. It is not necessary to use detergents in your wash to get your clothes clean and fresh. I have just washed my laundry in plain cold water for years. If anything is particularly soiled or stained I soak for 24-48 hours in a generic nappy soaking product, wring out and wash in plain water as usual. My clothes are not stained and come out clean. I recycle my washing machine water to the garden. For collars of white blouses I use a Sard laundry stick or bar soap. As I only use lemon ammonia, water and a few teaspoons of washing up liquid for a spray cleaner I now very rarely visit the cleaning aisle in the supermarket and everytime I pass it I smile to myself about the money I save!
Regards
Jo
Post by Jo Bodey
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