Frugal Living: Laundry Tips

For almost my entire life I have been living on less because I always had less. I have always been happy and content with less, so with all this talk for the past two years regarding the economy, I have essentially been unaffected. I enjoy all the same things that everyone else does but at a price break of little to nothing. I am a frugal person. I always have been and probably always will be. I was taught early on from my family; mainly my grandparents who survived the Great Depression; how to use, reuse, and then reuse things again. I would like to pass some of this knowledge on to others and maybe help preserve this frugal lifestyle I enjoy. Who knows maybe I can spark the frugal passion deep within someone reading this.

I will be starting this series "Frugal Living" and adding to the collection over time. If you have any thoughts or suggestions that you would like to add please contact me and I will make every effort to answer or research the topic.

My first article will deal with Laundry Tips. I have been doing laundry for quite some time now and have made it through one messy man and three babies. If you haven't learned something after that then I don't know what you would learn. So without delay let's get into our subject: Laundry!

1. Hang Out the Wash

I know, everyone says this but the truth is this, I save almost $120.00 per summer by hanging out my clothes on a clothesline. That's right and it makes a big difference as my budget rolls into winter. I also hang out comforters, sheets, and blankets in the winter but you have to figure out the perfect temperature in your area for drying time. It is a trial and error thing.

2. Hang Some Clothing Articles Upside Down

How weird...Yes, I know but the truth is that jeans, sweatshirts, coveralls, and the like dry faster if hung upside down. This means the bottom of the pant legs of your jeans is where the clothespins will hold them into place and the bottom of your sweatshirts will be hung first. I am not sure why they dry faster but they do. I have actually tested this theory and the upside down clothing won hands down.

3. Spend the Extra Money on Quality Detergent

Many people can't believe I shell out the extra money for good quality detergent but I do. It lasts me twice as long however. I use only half of the recommended amount and get great returns from it. It is a proven fact that only 2 tablespoons of laundry soap are needed per wash load to clean the clothes. As Americans we are mislead and think that more is better. That couldn't be further from the truth. Skin allergies and rashes have been cleared up by reducing the soap in each load down to half. It is amazing but very true. So go ahead and spend the extra money because the soap will last twice as long, thus stretching your dollar that much farther.

4. Use Baking Soda

If you have a husband or you are a man who works hard for his family and can prove it at the end of the day then a couple of boxes of baking soda should be sitting in the laundry room. Baking soda is awesome for taking sweaty, musty, rotten smells out of clothing. It helps clothing like a bleach alternative would help the clothes. It is also great for keeping your washer in great smelling shape. Use a ½ cup to 1 cup in each load depending upon your needs. No need to spend the extra money on oxy or bleach alternative because baking soda can handle it for a fraction of the cost.

5. Use Peroxide

Do you have tough stains, like blood or have run out of baking soda? Well peroxide can help you. Peroxide will remove blood from anything as long as the item has not been previously laundered. Peroxide also works like baking soda to keep your laundry fresh and clean.

6. Turn your Clothes Inside Out

When you hang your clothes out to dry remember to turn them inside out. This will help reduce sun fading as many people site as one reason they don't hang clothes out.

7. Use Aluminum Foil

If you run out of dryer sheets and have static cling, crumple some foil into a ball and put into the dryer with your clothes. Dry as you normally would. This keeps the clothes from having static cling.

8. Use your Dishwasher Detergent

You can use your dishwasher detergent as a stain remover. Please note that this will only work on whites. If you use this on any other color you will have a bleach stain. Mix a tiny amount of detergent with a little bit of water and gently rub into the stain. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, then launder as normal.

9. Reuse that Towel

Use your bathroom towel for a whole week instead of getting a new one each time you shower. This helps save money on drying time. You are clean when you get out of the shower, so all the towel is doing is soaking up excessive amounts of water on your skin. Make sure to hang the towel after each use or the efforts are useless.

10. Always Wash in Cold Water

The only time that clothes should be washed in hot water is to sanitize or sterilize them after getting over illness or something like that. Otherwise, cold water works just fine and if you are worried, then get some quality detergent made just for washing in cold water.

Through the years these are just a few of the many money-saving, time-saving, and quality tips that have saved me in the laundry room. Don't let advertisements fool you into believing the only way to launder clothing the right way is with this super product. It is not true and your wallet will thank you for it.

SOURCES:

My Personal Experiences