Laundry soap has many things in it that fades your clothing. Watch for sales on green organic kinds of detergent. Buying larger bottles saves per load also. Did you know MOST hair shampoo is just a lighter form of detergent? It isn't the kind I use of my hair but works fabulously in the washer.
Those huge containers are very hard to carry, it is also very hard to get the right amount each time. I have the perfect answer. Using microfiber clothes, old wash rags or squares of left over fabric, take the amount you want to use and pour on cloth. Personally I like using about 1/4 less then recommended. I fold into quarters, allowing it to absorb before laundry day when it's possible. I let it dry on cookie sheet, stack them into a plastic zip lock bag. Then when it's laundry day, I take out one, put into laundry and save my back. I can take out only what I need right with that load.
Looking at local fabric store, I found so much fabric that was only 25 cents! Check out the bin where scrap pieces are. Make sure if it is a color that would bleed, you to allow that to happen before putting your soap cloth into washer. I have used sponges also when I first started doing this. I just found they don't absorb like microfiber or good cloth.
I separate everything as I go. Since I don't do laundry every other day now, I need to put wet wash rags and towels over the side of basket to dry before putting with other clothes. Wasting money on more then one basket didnt work for me, I use the packing bins with lids inexpensively bought for $2.50 each. I can easily carry these, they hold more and are larger. The flimsy kind at the Dollar Store fell apart, investing in these bins actually saved me money. Since I sort throughout the week, I have one for colors, whites, etc. I just put the top on and they stack out of the way. The lid makes it so odors and humidity (my air is damp due to sea air) doesn't cause additional work.
I had little orange (like rust) on my clothes, this is caused by air or having clothes in a dark,damp place. I found a rust remover after doing research. I found your washer can also cause this. The water makes machines rust. We all have different water depending on pipes and they area you live. This happens every where. After getting rid of the spots, I add a baking soda and salt mixture once in awhile, especially to the whites. It brightens your whites while cleaning the machine.
My old vitamin bottles work great to have premixed for carrying this to laundry room. Use 1/2 baking soda to 1/2 salt. If your water isn't a problem for you, it's still great for your whites! Bleach ruins all clothing. If you are not careful, it can be dangerous if split or pour directly on clothes.
I spot check before I even put in my bins, way before wash day. Allowing anything to sit isnt good, so just try remembering that sauce you dripped at dinner. Spot clean it or put a little dish soap on that area. Allow it to dry before putting with the rest of the laundry. You can use lemon juice on collars or under arm stains before wash day. Have a small child or husband who works bringing not wonderful smelling clothes home? Check for spots, stains and leave an orange, lemon or lime peel in the bottom of your dirty laundry (cucumber peel works too), making sure you take your baking soda/salt mixture with you.
Use a lingerie bag (get at Dollar Store) for bras or other things you don't want to put in dryer. I do same thing with these items, just putting them in the bag when dirty. It also keeps hooks from snagging other clothes and makes these things last longer. Washing these in bag makes it so easy not to put them in the dryer by accident. They come in several sizes. A couple of my tops are delicate. Instead of having to do by hand, I just put in lingerie bag. Works great!
I wash out the machine before I use it. Sharing is great but not in this case. I keep my quarters in a plastic bag, grab premade laundry cloths and my sorted laundry, making it all so much easier. If you go to a laundromat, I recommend going to the same one. Knowing how long each machine takes, costs and upkeep on them all goes into making it as simple as possible.
If like me, you just share with neighbors. Except emergencies, we all try to do it on same day. That way it is fair for everyone, while allowing me not to have to rush or find clothes left in machine. I time my clothes, not letting them set in dryer will prevent wrinkling. The cost is so much, I can't afford to just let it spin over again. Don't over load your machine. Put things in evenly, spreading towels, jeans or larger items around center. Put your cloths you made in halfway when loading the machine. It gets the soap evenly distributed much easier. I use cold water on everything. Since I can't control water temperature. using my booster works great.
I use the same microfiber over and over so the rule of not putting in dryer doesn't apply when you have premade your laundry cloths. With mine, these are a different color then my other microfiber which never goes in the dryer (what makes microfiber work is ruined by softener). Make sure if you use as many clothes as I do for cleaning, drying or dishes, you recognize the ones that you use for laundry only. I like drying them with clothes so I can make others right away, allowing me not to think about it again for a week.
You can do this with softener too. Just do the same thing; pour onto cloth (or sponge), allow to dry and add to dryer. If you use dryer sheets, put how many you need right on top your wash load. No need to carry the whole box. Going to laundromat, just put how many loads you have in separate baggie. The balls are great for laundry rooms near your apartment or in your building. You can fill it before going out (have more then one). That way, it's all done in the washer. You haven't carried heavy bottles, had to spend time sorting, missed a stain or wasted money on having to do a load over.
I save money on drying, which where I live costs more. If over loaded, it doesn't dry every item and I can't control the temperature, except two settings. I take hangers out when washer is done, hanging jeans, shirts that are 100% cotton or any other thing that I just don't like putting into the dryer. Putting these directly on hangers saves you time and energy.
I get my income at first of the month, laundry is in my budget. When I do bills or food, I get quarters. I have a dish where they are kept until I put how many I need into my baggie. I love where I live, not having a washer and dryer not so much. It can be made easy by doing a few things ahead of time. Now when I do get my own back, I'll still do many of these things. Now I have clean fresh smelling clothing without doing half loads, wasting water, detergent or ruining a shirt by not having a system.
By Luana M. from San Diego, CA
By coville123 from Brockville
By Gloria from western NY
It's common knowledge to save on water by adjusting the water level of the laundry load. They say to wait until a full wash load is dirty before washing to also save on hydro. But in some cases in our house that is not possible. I just realized recently that I should be adjusting the amount of detergent too, to accommodate the reduced load. This is my tip for you. :)
By Sheila
You also have the added advantage of now being able to tell at a glance whether or not the jeans are clean. The clean ones have a closed zipper!
By MarilynLV from Indian Orchard, MA
Use dry erase marker on the washer for clothes that are inside that shouldn't be dried! Genius, especially if there are many people in your household! Mine is right next to my Wash In Cold Water magnet! I dislike my bras in the dryer! By msprissysmom from Texoma
Granted wringer washers are not used now, usually, but I have learned to keep a couple large pins attached to the cell phone/ID case I wear around my neck. The most recent uses were to pin the back part of granddaughter's dress, so it would not fall off her shoulders, and to pin up one leg of a pair of jeans for a friend. He usually wears a prosthesis, but not on that particular day. He asked me to pin up the leg of the jeans so it would not drag on the ground.
I always have a couple pins with me, just in case.
By knitter926 from Bloomington, IL
If you need to use bleach on your fabric, make certain to rinse with white vinegar in the water. This keeps the bleach from continuing to work after it has been 'rinsed' out with plain water. If you repeatedly use bleach without a vinegar rinse, your fabric will eventually get little pit holes in it.
For those that want see it at work: Put the tip of your finger in bleach and rinse with water. You will notice your finger still feels slippery after rinsing well. Now put a little vinegar on your finger and rinse. You will see that immediately, the slippery feel is gone.
I learned this many years ago in Chemistry class. One is a base and the other is acid. They neutralize each other. Any vinegar works but white vinegar won't leave any color behind.
Editor's Note: Bleach and vinegar mixed will create deadly chlorine gas. Be sure that the vinegar is added to the wash after the bleach has been rinsed away with plain water first.
By Patt K.
By Tarah B. from Moses Lake, WA
The same could be used in the kitchen on the oven door, to remind you of items being stored in the oven, that need to be removed before your next baking project.
By Terri H. from NV
When you use the laundry cap from the big shelf bottles and the cap has to be rinsed, don't bother. Fill the cap as needed, when done slide the cap forward so it scrapes the dispenser of any dripping. Next, put the detergent in the the washer and throw in the cap. It comes out clean and totally dry every time! I never have a problem with the bottle or cap leaking.
By Sharon from Bonita Springs
By Roberta from Newburyport, MA
This way, I know when I put them in the washer if the pockets have been emptied or not. Now, I don't have any more melted Chapstick tubes or ruined pieces of paper with important phone numbers on them.
By Anima B. from Normal, LI
Tips to help you organize your home's laundry. Post your ideas.
By debbie (Guest Post)10/01/2005this also saves money, as the electricity used to heat the water, and run the washer and dryer are cheaper at night rates. i find that the gentle swishing sound helps lull me to sleep. one word of caution though. i would never run the dryer at night due to risk of fire while you're sleeping. also, this won't work if you work outside the home in the AM or have early morning errands or appointments for the same reason; and if you forget to dry a load in the morning the clothes will start to sour and have to be rewashed. not a time or money saver.
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Laundry Tips