Organize Your Laundry Room with Dollar Tree Finds
Are you tired of constantly tripping over mismatched socks and your family’s never-ending supply of laundry? Organization is key! If
Laundry can become quite costly when you add up expenses like detergent, water, electricity, and the wear and tear on your clothes. However, making a few simple changes to your laundry routine can help cut these costs. By following money-saving tips, you can not only save money but also make your clothes and appliances last longer.
Do not wash your clothes after every single use; doing so is not only cost-effective, but will also preserve the life of your clothes. It’s often tempting to throw clothes into the hamper instead of taking time to fold them or put them on hangers. Barring any stains or smells, you can generally wear almost anything at least two or three times before it needs to be laundered. Jeans are generally good for 4-5 wears before they need a date with your washing machine.
Only wash full loads of laundry. Washing smaller loads uses less water with the same amount of electricity as smaller loads. Most washer and dryer manufacturers suggest filling machines at 75% capacity for an optimal clean. Wait until your hamper is filled to keep your water and energy bills down.
Wash most of your clothes in cold water. Save the warm and hot temperatures for heavily soiled loads. Up to 90% of the energy used to wash clothes is spent on heating the water. Warm and hot water will eventually fade your colors. Remember, laundry detergent is what cleans your clothes, not the temperature of the water. Your clothes will still be clean if they’re washed in cold water.
Consider using generic brand detergents, bleaches and fabric softeners. Many of the generic products you find in the laundry aisle are made with the exact same ingredients – some are even made by the SAME COMPANY just with a different name and different packaging! Who knew? Why pay more for the name and packaging of another brand, when a generic does the same job for less?
Instead of buying specialized stain removers, try treating soiled areas with liquid laundry detergent. Simply apply detergent to the affected area and use a toothbrush to work it into the stain. Allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before normal laundering. Baking soda is another budget-friendly stain removal tool. Make a paste of fifty percent water, fifty percent baking soda and apply it to the stain before tossing the item in the wash.
Save money on bleach by adding one cup of white vinegar and a quarter cup of baking soda to the wash when you add your detergent. These will brighten and whiten your wash without making you smell like vinegar. Your detergent will last more loads with these simple add-ins.
Use shorter wash cycles for lightly and moderately soiled loads. Reserve the normal and heavy-duty cycles for heavily soiled laundry or items with major stains. As an added bonus, shorter wash cycles mean less time you have to wait for each load to finish. Why spend 5 hours doing laundry if you can do the same amount in 3 hours?
Clean the lint trap and dryer vent. A lint problem around these areas will prevent moisture from escaping, which will cause the dryer to work harder. A dryer that has to work harder will result in higher electric bills and will also need to be replaced sooner.
Be sure pay attention to the amount of detergent you’re putting into the washer. Normal size loads only require a quarter cup AT MOST, especially with the high-efficiency and ultra-concentrated detergents that are commonly found on store shelves. More often than not, less detergent is equally effective at getting the load clean. In fact, your clothes are likely MORE clean because there is less potential for product buildup over time.
Cut your dryer sheets in half. One half of a sheet for each load will almost always be equally effective at softening clothes and reducing static as a full-sized sheet. Want to save even more? Skip the softener and dryer sheets all-together. Try a ½ cup of distilled white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser for the same result. An even more sustainable and cost-effective option is to toss 5-6 reusable wool dryer balls available in store or online into the dryer with each load.
This tip is super simple. Just place a dry bath towel into the dryer with each wet load. The towel will help absorb excess water, which will decrease the time you need to run the dryer by up to 50%.
By following a few of these simple tips, you can cut down on your laundry costs significantly. Small changes like washing clothes in cold water, air drying them, and not overloading the washing machine can lead to real savings over time. These tips not only save money but also help reduce your impact on the environment. Using less water and energy, and avoiding harsh chemicals, means you’re doing your part to keep the planet cleaner.
Laundry Care wash and fold laundry service is available to residential and business clientele in over 50 locations across the country including: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland Laundry Service, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lexington, Louisville, Madison, Minneapolis, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, Seattle, Tampa, Tucson, Washington DC –and more. Visit our locations page to locate Laundry Care laundry service near me!
Ready to be “Laundry-Free”? Let us do your laundry EXACTLY as you like!
Are you tired of constantly tripping over mismatched socks and your family’s never-ending supply of laundry? Organization is key! If
From swimsuits to beach towels, summer gear needs special attention too. Make sure these items are completely dry before storing
Oil stains can be tricky to get rid of, but with the right steps, you can restore your clothes to