As we all strive to stretch our dollars further, it's important to look for ways to save without compromising our quality of life.

One area that's ripe for savings, yet often overlooked, is our laundry routine.

By making a few simple changes, you could save a significant amount each year—up to $135 or more!

Here are ten ways you could be unknowingly wasting money in your laundry routine and how to rectify them:

1. Switch to Cold Water

The first and most significant change you can make is to switch from hot to cold water for most of your laundry cycles.

According to CHOICE, this simple switch could save you approximately $135.85 per year.

Not only does hot water consume more power, leading to higher electricity bills, but it is also harsher on your clothes.

Small changes in your daily laundry routine can lead to significant savings. Image source: rawpixel.com on Freepik.

Cold water can help make your garments last longer and reduce the frequency of replacement.

The only exception to this rule is when you need to clean your washing machine, as a hot wash helps remove detergent residue, also known as soap scrud.

2. Wait for Full Loads

Running your washing machine with only a few items wastes energy and money.

Small loads consume the same energy as full loads, meaning you're paying for power that isn't being used efficiently.

Additionally, you're using more laundry detergent than necessary.

Wait until you have a full load before running your washing machine.

3. Limit Dryer Use

While dryers are convenient, they are also costly to run.

Whenever possible, opt for air drying your clothes outside.

If you must use a dryer, consider investing in a heat pump dryer, which can be more cost-effective over time.

4. Use Less Detergent

Contrary to popular belief, more detergent does not equate to cleaner clothes.

In fact, you can get away with using less than the recommended amount. A tablespoon is usually sufficient for a full load.

Using less detergent not only saves you money but also prevents detergent residue build-up on your clothes and washing machine.

5. Avoid Unnecessary Products

Products like fabric softeners and dryer sheets may seem essential, but they can actually do more harm than good.

Fabric softeners coat fabric with a residue that can damage your washing machine over time.

Similarly, dryer sheets can leave a residue on towels, making them less absorbent.

A laundry expert also previously warned that fabric softener lessens the fire retardancy of clothes and fabrics. In other words, it may make it easier to catch fire.

Consider using white vinegar as a cheaper and more effective fabric softener substitute and reusable wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets.

You can also use a couple of drops of essential oil for the fragrance effect.

6. Experiment with Different Cycles

Your washing machine comes with a variety of cycles for a reason.

Using the same cycle repeatedly can waste time and energy.

Try the eco cycle, which uses less energy and water, or the quick cycle for smaller loads.

For delicate items, use the delicate or wool wash settings.

7. Clean Your Filters

Dirty filters can make your washing machine work harder, leading to faster wear and tear.

Regularly clean your washing machine and dryer filters to ensure they work as efficiently as possible.

It is also recommended to run an empty washing machine on a cycle with hot water and your cleaning product of choice (can be a store-bought washing machine cleaner or just vinegar) at least once every month to remove detergent residue.

8. Do the Sniff Test

This might surprise some, but not all clothes need to be washed after one wear.

Unless you've been sweating or gotten dirty, most clothes can be worn at least twice before washing.

This reduces the number of loads you need to do, saving money on power, water, and detergent.

9. DIY Your Products

While making your own laundry detergent might be a stretch, you can easily make your own stain removers and in-wash boosters.

Common household items like vinegar (good for softening and removing odours), bi-carb soda (removing odours, softening water and brightening colours), washing up detergent (removing oil stains), and hydrogen peroxide (removing blood stains and whitening) can be used as effective and cheap laundry boosters.

10. Consider a Front Loader

While top loaders may be cheaper upfront, they use more power and water in the long run.

A front loader might be more expensive initially, but it will save you money over time.

Key Takeaways

• Switching to cold water for most laundry cycles could save approximately $135.85 a year, as per CHOICE estimates.
• Small loads and frequent use of the dryer can significantly increase power consumption and costs.
• Using excessive amounts of detergent and unnecessary products such as fabric softener can waste money and damage clothes and appliances.
• Selecting the appropriate wash cycle, maintaining and cleaning machines, wearing clothes multiple times before washing, and DIYing certain laundry products are effective ways to reduce laundry expenses.

By implementing these changes, you can make your laundry routine more efficient and cost-effective. Not only will you save money, but you'll also reduce your environmental impact. So why not give these tips a try and see how much you can save?

 

[Clancieblue]

I do or have all of the above, but not impressed by the sniff test. Some people can't smell themselves let alone the washing.

 

[Rain72]

As we all strive to stretch our dollars further, it's important to look for ways to save without compromising our quality of life.

One area that's ripe for savings, yet often overlooked, is our laundry routine.

By making a few simple changes, you could save a significant amount each year—up to $135 or more!

Here are ten ways you could be unknowingly wasting money in your laundry routine and how to rectify them:

1. Switch to Cold Water

The first and most significant change you can make is to switch from hot to cold water for most of your laundry cycles.

According to CHOICE, this simple switch could save you approximately $135.85 per year.

Not only does hot water consume more power, leading to higher electricity bills, but it is also harsher on your clothes.

View attachment 39872

Small changes in your daily laundry routine can lead to significant savings. Image source: rawpixel.com on Freepik.

Cold water can help make your garments last longer and reduce the frequency of replacement.

The only exception to this rule is when you need to clean your washing machine, as a hot wash helps remove detergent residue, also known as soap scrud.

2. Wait for Full Loads

Running your washing machine with only a few items wastes energy and money.

Small loads consume the same energy as full loads, meaning you're paying for power that isn't being used efficiently.

Additionally, you're using more laundry detergent than necessary.

Wait until you have a full load before running your washing machine.

3. Limit Dryer Use

While dryers are convenient, they are also costly to run.

Whenever possible, opt for air drying your clothes outside.

If you must use a dryer, consider investing in a heat pump dryer, which can be more cost-effective over time.

4. Use Less Detergent

Contrary to popular belief, more detergent does not equate to cleaner clothes.

In fact, you can get away with using less than the recommended amount. A tablespoon is usually sufficient for a full load.

Using less detergent not only saves you money but also prevents detergent residue build-up on your clothes and washing machine.

5. Avoid Unnecessary Products

Products like fabric softeners and dryer sheets may seem essential, but they can actually do more harm than good.

Fabric softeners coat fabric with a residue that can damage your washing machine over time.

Similarly, dryer sheets can leave a residue on towels, making them less absorbent.

A laundry expert also previously warned that fabric softener lessens the fire retardancy of clothes and fabrics. In other words, it may make it easier to catch fire.

Consider using white vinegar as a cheaper and more effective fabric softener substitute and reusable wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets.

You can also use a couple of drops of essential oil for the fragrance effect.

6. Experiment with Different Cycles

Your washing machine comes with a variety of cycles for a reason.

Using the same cycle repeatedly can waste time and energy.

Try the eco cycle, which uses less energy and water, or the quick cycle for smaller loads.

For delicate items, use the delicate or wool wash settings.

7. Clean Your Filters

Dirty filters can make your washing machine work harder, leading to faster wear and tear.

Regularly clean your washing machine and dryer filters to ensure they work as efficiently as possible.

It is also recommended to run an empty washing machine on a cycle with hot water and your cleaning product of choice (can be a store-bought washing machine cleaner or just vinegar) at least once every month to remove detergent residue.

8. Do the Sniff Test

This might surprise some, but not all clothes need to be washed after one wear.

Unless you've been sweating or gotten dirty, most clothes can be worn at least twice before washing.

This reduces the number of loads you need to do, saving money on power, water, and detergent.

9. DIY Your Products

While making your own laundry detergent might be a stretch, you can easily make your own stain removers and in-wash boosters.

Common household items like vinegar (good for softening and removing odours), bi-carb soda (removing odours, softening water and brightening colours), washing up detergent (removing oil stains), and hydrogen peroxide (removing blood stains and whitening) can be used as effective and cheap laundry boosters.

10. Consider a Front Loader

While top loaders may be cheaper upfront, they use more power and water in the long run.

A front loader might be more expensive initially, but it will save you money over time.

Key Takeaways

• Switching to cold water for most laundry cycles could save approximately $135.85 a year, as per CHOICE estimates.
• Small loads and frequent use of the dryer can significantly increase power consumption and costs.
• Using excessive amounts of detergent and unnecessary products such as fabric softener can waste money and damage clothes and appliances.
• Selecting the appropriate wash cycle, maintaining and cleaning machines, wearing clothes multiple times before washing, and DIYing certain laundry products are effective ways to reduce laundry expenses.

By implementing these changes, you can make your laundry routine more efficient and cost-effective. Not only will you save money, but you'll also reduce your environmental impact. So why not give these tips a try and see how much you can save?

I implemented just about all those practices many years ago, but there is one thing I find intensely frustrating. Pont 6 refers to different cycles that have been pre-programmed into washing machines by people who seem to think they know what is best for MY wash load and dictate that I haven't the smarts to make my own choices. I cannot find a washing machine, today, that meets my requirements. I end up using one cycle that is often inappropriate because there simply is NO cycle available that suits my needs. Why can't washing machine manufacturers allow the user to simply choose their wash temperature, time and spin speed, without having to accept options that don't suit in order to access those that do? I don't want some unknown party in a factory telling me that if I want to opt for a wash with feature X, I also have to accept features Y and Z. For example, if I want to use cold water on my current machine, I have to opt for a short wash cycle and a rapid spin. If I want a longer cycle, I have to accept hotter water. Why?

I also find it frustrating that the manufacturer presumes to decide how delicates, woollens, sportswear etc. should be washed and I don't even know what impact selecting one of those options has on wash temperature, time, spin speed, spin time, etc. I just have to trust the manufacturer's opinion about what is suitable for MY washing, and often I believe the manufacturer gets it wrong. Not all delicates, for example, require warm water. Some can be washed perfectly well in cold.

Before automatic washing machines gained popularity, people were deemed quite capable of determining what temperature water was required for a wash load, how long the wash cycle should continue, whether gentle or more aggressive washing was best, what rinsing was most suitable, and what spin speed and time worked best. Now we are all treated like incompetent idiots who cannot make sensible choices and manage our own laundry. Please can washing machine manufacturers stop treating us like imbeciles and presuming to make decisions for us and give us the ability to control each aspect of the wash cycle as required for the load we are doing?

 

[Ashmenou]

I implemented just about all those practices many years ago, but there is one thing I find intensely frustrating. Pont 6 refers to different cycles that have been pre-programmed into washing machines by people who seem to think they know what is best for MY wash load and dictate that I haven't the smarts to make my own choices. I cannot find a washing machine, today, that meets my requirements. I end up using one cycle that is often inappropriate because there simply is NO cycle available that suits my needs. Why can't washing machine manufacturers allow the user to simply choose their wash temperature, time and spin speed, without having to accept options that don't suit in order to access those that do? I don't want some unknown party in a factory telling me that if I want to opt for a wash with feature X, I also have to accept features Y and Z. For example, if I want to use cold water on my current machine, I have to opt for a short wash cycle and a rapid spin. If I want a longer cycle, I have to accept hotter water. Why?

I also find it frustrating that the manufacturer presumes to decide how delicates, woollens, sportswear etc. should be washed and I don't even know what impact selecting one of those options has on wash temperature, time, spin speed, spin time, etc. I just have to trust the manufacturer's opinion about what is suitable for MY washing, and often I believe the manufacturer gets it wrong. Not all delicates, for example, require warm water. Some can be washed perfectly well in cold.

Before automatic washing machines gained popularity, people were deemed quite capable of determining what temperature water was required for a wash load, how long the wash cycle should continue, whether gentle or more aggressive washing was best, what rinsing was most suitable, and what spin speed and time worked best. Now we are all treated like incompetent idiots who cannot make sensible choices and manage our own laundry. Please can washing machine manufacturers stop treating us like imbeciles and presuming to make decisions for us and give us the ability to control each aspect of the wash cycle as required for the load we are doing?

I total agree with you

 

[MariaG]

Only someone who never does the laundry would be ignorant of these so called tips.
This one comes under my favourite category ... Duuuuuh

 

[Ezzy]

Front loaders are supposed to be cheaper to run but one of our daughters has one & a cycle can take 3 times longer than our top loader. The water level for a top loader can be set dependent on the size of the load & further, ours does not have an agitator, which was said in a previous article to damage clothes.

I remember as a child, Mum had a Hoover front loader with burgandy plastic card about 9 cm square with slots on each side which served as 4 different cycles, which l became acquainted with. Later she had a top loader Simpson Pope with wringers, which l also had intimate knowledge of, even catching fingers in the rollers.

 

[Iggydi]

I was told by a washing machine technician not to use vinegar in the washing machine. As vinegar is acidic and it eventually damage the machine. I use Bi Carb soda for my rinse cycle. With the amount of Bi Carb I put in the towels are not as fluffy and soft but I don't like them too soft anyway