Laundry is one of those things that we just have to do in life. There is something about laundry that inspires me. Not, I’m not completely nuts, but I do actually enjoy doing the laundry. I just love clean clothes. There is also something about the feel of fresh clean clothes and linens, and the mindless organization of folding and ironing, that gives me time to think creatively. Some of that creative thinking, of course, tends to focus on how we can save money while doing the laundry.
So, I was really excited when we added a new category called frugal laundry. There are some great articles already in there, and you can be sure to look for more, as we delve deep into better ways to complete this household task in a frugal manner.
In case you missed any of the frugal laundry articles, here is a quick list of what you will find in the category. But don’t forget to check back often.
Frugal Laundry: Make Your Own “Detergent”
Okay, this is a really ironic blog for me to post today. You see, on Sunday, the day before inspections on out home that we are selling, all heck broke loose. Let’s just say numerous things broke down, including our washing machine.
I grew up in a small apartment in New York City. My mother washed our clothes by hand or with a small washing machine and hung them out to dry on the clothesline that ran from our kitchen window across to our neighbor’s kitchen window. I never really saw a dryer until I was a teenager.
Space Age System: Wash Your Clothes without Detergent?
I have been laundry obsessed lately. Our washer broke down last week, making me realize how much laundry I actually do in a week. I normally do about two loads of laundry a day without even thinking about it because it is just part of my daily routine. But when it builds up, look out! We lost the cat sometime yesterday. My guess is he is somewhere hiding under a load of whites. It isn’t easy to lose track of a 15-pound cat, so that gives you some idea of how bad things have gotten with the laundry.
Laundry expenses can be a big part of your household budget, from the supplies themselves to heating and electricity costs. Here are some of the best ways to save as much as you can on your laundry expenses.
This morning when I emptied the very old dryer in our new home, the clothes tumbled out in a rainbow of colors. Yup, apparently someONE had a pocket full of crayons that I missed in my sleep-deprived-just-moved-in-state.
Does anyone out there love to iron? For me it is a mixed bag. When I take a look at the mountain of shirts, pants, dresses and more that need to be ironed, I get discouraged. But I enjoy ironing, too.
In a previous article, Save Money When You Iron, I shared my biggest idea for cost savings while tackling you mountain of ironing. I also confessed how I secretly enjoy ironing sometimes. But shhhh, don’t tell anyone.
In the previous two articles in my ironing series, I have been sharing ways in which I save money when I iron. The tips, tricks and strategies that I use when ironing have been saving me money for years, and have contributed to my frugal lifestyle.
The way you load and set your washer can save you at least 50 percent a load.
Did you know that the way you iron can save you money? It is true. No, it won’t save you tons and tons, but one thing I learned from reading that old encyclopedia of frugal, The Tightwad Gazette, is that every little thing counts. Every little change you make that can help you save your pennies can contribute to your frugal lifestyle. And pennies get together and grow up to be dollars, someday.
A few years ago, I stopped using fabric softener all together. Not only was it an added expense, but I didn’t always like the way it made the clothing feel. I know, maybe I am out of the ordinary, but I like clothing as clean as possible, and the thought of adding another layer of stuff into the fabric of our laundry items just sort of turned me off.
If you like to use fabric softener dryer sheets then no doubt you know how expensive they are. And it doesn’t take very long for you to go through a box of them. I have a hard time justifying the expense of the dryer sheets, maybe because I grew up without them.