If the economy has you reevaluating your budget, you’re far from alone. Inflation is forcing American families to spend $433 more per month on household items (like laundry detergent) than they did one year ago.
We may not have all the answers to every financial woe, but we do know how to save money on laundry. With just a few tweaks, you can lower your energy costs, save on supplies, and free up some extra cash.
Here’s how to turn a run-of-the-mill chore into a budget hack.
9 Top Tips: How to Save Money on Laundry
1. Use the Right Amount of Product
Have you ever dealt with a particularly soiled load of clothing by adding an extra dash or two of detergent? It can feel like a smart decision in the moment, but extra soap won’t result in extra sanitization.
In fact, too much laundry detergent does more harm than good. It can damage your clothing, irritate your skin, and in times like these, waste pricey product. Luckily, learning about this common misconception can stretch your household budget further than before!
Check out this quick guide to see if you can get away with purchasing less laundry detergent.
2. Make Your Own Detergent
If you can’t cut your detergent usage enough to boost your budget, there’s something else you can try: DIY laundry detergent. No matter how fancy the top-price laundry detergents in the store may seem, odds are you can recreate them at home!
After all, laundry detergent is just a blend of borax powder, washing soda, and castile soap. All three can be purchased for less than a name-brand detergent bottle and produce multiple batches at home.
Read this how-to to get a grasp of the basics. Once you make a blend you like, don’t be afraid to experiment with custom scents and essential oils.
3. Invest in Reusable Dryer Balls
Laundry detergent isn’t the only product that eats up a budget. Dryer materials like sheets and fabric softeners can add up quickly, too.
Unlike detergent, however, there’s a reusable dryer product many laundry aficionados swear by: the dryer ball. Dryer balls can…
Lower drying times
Soften clothing
Reduce static
Once you have some you like, you can reuse them for months or years at a time. Grab them at your local store, or make them at home to save even more money.
4. Consider Air Drying
For some families on a budget, supplies aren’t the problem—utilities are. If the monthly energy bill feels headache-inducing, it might be worth taking a break from your at-home machine.
It might be hard to imagine laundry day without the warm hum of your dryer, but many people actually prefer air drying. The age-old practice lowers electricity costs, lengthens the life of garments, and improves their texture and scent.
With spring in the air and summer on the way, now is a great time to learn how to air dry. If you like the practice and want to keep it up year-round, here are some tips on air drying in winter weather.
5. Use Your Machines Less Frequently
It might sound overly simplistic just to use your machines less, but there’s a chance you’re doing laundry more often than necessary!
For example, you can wash your favorite yoga pants up to every three wears—not one. Jeans can be worn five times before they go in the wash. Coats should only be laundered once or twice a season. And if you aren’t sweating or exposed to elements on a daily basis, you could even stretch your clothing further.
The less you do your laundry, the lower your bills will be. This guide explains how long you can put off the chore.
6. Experiment With Washer and Dryer Settings
How well do you really know your machines’ settings? Modern washers and dryers are far from straightforward, which means you might be missing out on valuable cost-cutting features.
If you dig into your user manuals, you might find information on eco modes, proper drum capacity, and delay timers. Next time you’re cleaning out the laundry room, spare a few minutes to run through those details!
7. Lower the Temperature
One of the factors that drives up the cost of doing laundry is heat.
In fact, a cold water load uses half as much energy as a hot water one. Your clothing can still be sanitized without the heat, so it’s worth trying the colder setting to see if you notice a difference.
On the dryer front, a low heat setting over a long period of time uses less power than high heat in shorter bursts. If you’re not in a hurry, opt for low temp mode!
8. Fill Your Loads
If you’re wondering how to save money on laundry, here’s something to keep in mind: washers use the same amount of power for big loads as small ones. To ensure each cycle is worth the cost, make sure you’re using the drum’s size to its full potential.
Your machine’s manual can give you the exact load limit. But if you’re running cycles with just a handful of garments, breaking the habit can do wonders for your budget.
9. Head to Your Nearest Laundromat
Lowering energy costs can feel like an uphill battle, especially if your utility prices are on the rise.
That’s why heading to a nearby laundromat is an easy budget fix; with shared machines, you never have to think twice about energy costs. Plus, other concerns like paying for maintenance and deep cleaning the units are off the table.
If you’re new to your nearby laundromat, be sure to check out these laundromat tips. And to ensure your Thornton laundromat visit is as budget-friendly as possible, we shared our money-saving hacks in this WaveMAX blog.
Now that you know how to save money on laundry, you’re ready for budget bliss this Spring! As usual, we’re on hand at your local Thornton laundromat if you need any assistance. Head to our website to learn more about WaveMAX, find your nearby laundromat, and read up on the latest laundry tips.
