When looking for ways to save money, laundry doesn’t often cross the homemaker’s mind as a place with potential. However, even this tiny area of the home does offer opportunity to put aside a few more dollars every week. These are my best tips for saving money in the laundry room!
Saving Money In the Laundry Room
These tips are simple, easy to implement and over time, will make a difference in your savings. Give each of these ideas a try and then hold on to those that work for you, your schedule and your home!
Source Cheaper Laundry Soap
The cost of laundry soap can add up over the course of a year, particularly if you’re using a brand with a semi-natural label! When it comes to saving money on laundry soap, do some sleuthing. Look for ways to make or purchase laundry soap in bulk. You might be surprised at what you discover!
My absolute favorite laundry soap is Pink Solution (click this link to learn why I love it so much!). After 5 years of use, we’re still working away at a 7 litre bucket of the stuff. Laundry soap hasn’t been on my “to purchase” list for years!
Wash Clothes In Cold Water
Depending on the dirtiness of your laundry, this may or may not be a good option! When my carpenter, DIYing husband puts a very dirty pair of clothes in the laundry basket, I always wash them in hot water. Simple truth is, they come out the other side, cleaner!
But whenever possible, consider washing your dirty laundry with cold water. Your hot water tank (and electricity bill) will thank you!
Hang Dry Your Laundry
A person can save a significant amount of money each year by taking time to hang dry their laundry. This may not be feasible for smaller items (socks, underwear, baby clothes, etc) but it’s a wonderful way to cut costs when drying bedding and adult-size clothes.
In the summer, an outdoor clothesline is a wonderful way to go. In the winter, a collapsible drying rack will serve you well! Hang drying laundry will save wear and tear on your clothes and it can be therapeutic. I recommend giving it a try!
Use Dryer Balls Instead of Sheets
When you are using the dryer, consider using re-useable wool dryer balls instead of “healthy” dryer sheets. Wool balls can be purchased online for cheap, or you can create them yourself from a ball of wool yarn.
Miss the scent of dryer sheets? Add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil to the ball before starting the dryer!
Schedule In Laundry Times
Have you ever ran a load of laundry through the washing machine, only to forget about it until a few days later, when the sour odor of wet cloth reminds you something’s amiss? You’re not alone! 😉
Because the wet laundry smells so bad, what can you do except put it through another wash cycle to get rid of the smell?! But washing the same clothes twice is counterproductive when it comes to saving money in the laundry room.
If you’re anything like (cough! cough!) someone I know, you may want to create a schedule for your laundry times, so you don’t forget!
Give It a Try!
Choose a few things from this list and give it a whirl! See which ones are effective for you and your home. If you have anything to add to these ideas, leave your knowledge in the comments section below!
I'm Autumn. Join me in the simple cottage life and learn how to keep a traditional kitchen, garden and pantry!
Will any essential oils work on the wool dryer balls? I was going to pick one up at the store a few weeks ago, but the warning on the label said they were flammable, so I was nervous to get it and use it in the dryer. I have some I have purchased from MLM’s or plant therapy, but the convenience of the store was handy. I was just going to get a citrus scent since my boys aren’t lavender fans.
I believe so! I haven’t tried every option out there (obviously), but what I have tried, works. Just do your research regarding the effects of different EO on the skin and make your choice from there!