How to Make Jeans Last Longer

You finally found that perfect pair of jeans, the ones that flatter you in all of the right places, the ones that you just love to wear. Maybe the jeans that are loved are not yours, but belong to one of your children who would probably wear them for two weeks straight if you let her. Either way, great jeans can be an investment, and keeping them in great condition can not only keep you happy but also save you money. Here are some strategies to use. How to Keep Jeans in Good Condition In the Wash To keep those … Continue reading →

Homemade Oxygen Cleaner

With three children, laundry is always a challenge. First there is the hunting through the house for stray socks, finding wet towels wherever they land, and digging through the bottom of the hall closet for dusty jackets and sweatshirts that fell from the hangers. After the laundry is gathered and sorted, anything with a stain needs to be addressed, which probably accounts for at least a third of the children’s clothing in any given week. I have my arsenal of tools. The stain pre-treaters, the better powdered detergent I swear by, the utility sink for soaking. One tool that works … Continue reading →

Fabric Softener Recipe

In the last six months I have been using fabric softener that I got on clearance. The two large bottles have lasted a long time, but they will soon be running out. Since my larger family forces me to do a of of laundry, I could go broke on laundry detergent and fabric softener alone. Since I haven’t found any have-to-buy-it deals on fabric softener lately, I’m just going to have to report to using my own stuff for now. There are several different types of make your own fabric softener recipes out there. One of the most popular involves … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Fabric Softener

For years, I jut skipped the fabric softener in my home, since I viewed it as an unnecessary expense. Then one day, I got two bottles of fabric softener for practically nothing. Now I’m hooked. I love the softness and the smell of the laundry when I use fabric softener, and apparently so does everyone else in my family. There was a noticeable difference. Unfortunately, finding a lifetime supply of free fabric softener is probably an impossible task, unless someone invites me to go on the Extreme Couponing show. So now, when I can get the fabric softener cheaply, I … Continue reading →

Are You Over-Washing Your Clothes? I Am (Sigh)

I am a serious over-washer of our clothing, sheets, even the couch cover! I’m trying to work on this, though, since it is costing me money. Not only does it bite into the budget with the cost of laundry detergent, hot water cost and electricity, but it also costs me money in terms of replacement costs for the clothing. I suppose I can probably also include the replacement costs for the washer and or dryer, assuming that more use shortens the life spans of these appliances. Why then do I do it? Well, partially it might be the way I … Continue reading →

Do I Really Need to Dry Clean that?

Dry cleaning can get very expensive, and downright ridiculous sometimes. I remember one time getting charged an extra $4 for a “tie” that was attached to a shirt. It was an 80s fashion statement, what can I say? Since then, I try to avoid dry cleaning as much as I can. First of all, don’t assume that something needs to be dry cleaned. First check the label and see what it says. Makes sense, right? But did you know that a label that reads “Dry Clean” does not mean that your clothes will be ruined if you wash them another … Continue reading →

Laundry Saving Secrets

Did you know that my some expert calculations, the cost of doing laundry for a family of 4 is about $70 a month? As a family of five, my average cost would be higher. Fortunately, there are some money saving secrets that can be applied to doing laundry. Use Good Detergent and Use Less My go to detergent is Tide powder because I can get the most value out of it. It cleans well, so I don’t need to use any pre-treaters or laundry additives, making the cost per load less even over cheaper brands. Plus I can use less … Continue reading →

Tips for Drying Clothes Inside

Sometimes an outdoor clothesline isn’t practical or even allowed. Don’t worry, you can still save money by hanging your own laundry even if you don’t have an outdoor space for drying clothes. Here are some easy tips you can follow. And remember, skipping the dryer can save you anywhere from 40 to 70 cents per load on average. In the Bathroom The bathroom can be an obvious place to hand laundry. But at the same time, you don’t want a wet drippy mess that gets in the way of using the room. I tend to wash out delicate items early … Continue reading →

Purex Complete 3-in-1 Review

As a freebie lover, I enjoy trying new products whenever I can. When I got my free samples of Purex Complete 3-in-1 Spring Oasis I didn’t think they’d work at all. First of all, I’m always suspicious about products that claim they can “do it all.” According to the package, just one of these sheets is laundry detergent, fabric softener, and an anti-static product all rolled into one. Sounds great, but did it work? The product is about 4″x6″ and very thin and stiff. You simply toss it into the washer and do your laundry then put it right into … Continue reading →

Pile Up Your Laundry (And Save)

Do you need an excuse to let your laundry pile up until it is what is affectionately known in our house as Mount Washmore? If you would rather procrastinate until the last pair of underwear is worn and the favorite sweater hasn’t been seen for a month, then keep reading. I have a great reason for letting your laundry pile up to the ceiling. You’ll actually save money. Yes, I know that there are some of you out there who are shuddering right about now. After all, what would FlyLady say? What about those teams of certified organizers? Doing one … Continue reading →