Angie

May 17, 2013 by Angie

Laundry hanging out to dry

by contributing writer Angie

Laundry can be an expensive undertaking, especially if you have a houseful of people. With laundry sometimes needing to be done daily, the cost can easily add up over time. While there isn’t an easy way to get rid of the task, you can find ways to save on laundry.

7 Ways to Save on Laundry

1. Use a clothes line. If you have a lot of laundry to do or nowhere for a clothes line, this may not be a practical option for you. However, if you have some room in your yard, or even somewhere unexpected, drying some of your clothes on a clothes line can save the cost of running your dryer.

2. Cut dryer sheets in half. If you use dryer sheets, they really are larger than most loads require. It can be easy enough to cut them or rip them in half. This means that a box that is meant to do 120 loads can actually take care of 240 loads. That’s a huge difference, and will cut your bill for dryer sheets in half every time you do it. Or, you could ditch the dryer sheets and make your own fabric softener.

3. Make your own laundry detergent. Laundry detergent seems to get more and more expensive. With this homemade high efficiency laundry detergent recipe that costs just four cents a load, you can really save a lot on your laundry budget.

4. Upgrade to high efficiency appliances. While there certainly is a cost upfront for these, it can mean a savings in water and energy usage. Plus, it can save time since many hold a larger load of laundry than traditional washers and dryers.

5. Use vinegar as a fabric softener. Vinegar can be a much less expensive option as a liquid fabric softener than brand name liquid fabric softeners. Vinegar can soften fabrics and remove bad smells at the same time.

6. Make sure laundry loads are full, but not too full. If your loads are too small, you may be spending too much doing your laundry. However, if you are overloading your washer, your clothes won’t get properly cleaned. Plus, it means that when you put everything in the dryer, you might need to run multiple cycles to get everything dry.

7. Get the best prices on your laundry supplies and stock up when you find them. It’s easy to buy laundry supplies as you run out. Instead, make sure you’re getting the best prices by setting up a laundry supply price book.

What are your best tips for ways to save on laundry?

photo by Horia Varlan

Compost

Composting is the ultimate recycle around our house. We love knowing that the things that we’ve put in are going to eventually become rich soil for our garden. Newspaper is a perfect addition to your composting efforts, or even to layer right into a garden before planting. Newspaper can be an especially great thing to add to your composting bin if you find yourself adding a lot of vegetable, or “green,” matter.

Gift Wrap

This is a classic use for old newspaper. Of course, it’s a classic for a reason. With the price of wrapping paper rising all the time, why not go green and wrap gifts with newspapers that you’ve already read, especially something fun like the comics. While you probably won’t want to go this route for a wedding gift, it is fun and appropriate for many less formal occasions.

Glass Cleaner

For years, I used various glass cleaners for the windows and mirrors in my home. It was only after my Grandmother passed away that I thought nostalgically on her washing all of those things with a vinegar and water mix and old newspaper as a “cloth.” I thought it seemed like such a crazy thought to try to wash something like mirrors and windows with newspapers. However, since trying it, my mirrors and windows have never been cleaner.

Art Projects

Keeping a stack of old newspapers with art supplies for kids is a perfect way to attempt to save surfaces that might otherwise get marked up with paint and markers from your child’s latest art project. Newspaper mats aren’t just for kids though, as I often lay them out when I am creating a painting as well. Not only does it keep my work area neat and speed clean up, but I can also doodle or test colors on it.

Packing Material

If you’ve ever packed up your household and moved, you know what a life saver old newspapers can be for packing up delicate items. While the newsprint means that you might need to wash items after you’ve unpacked them, hopefully you’ll just be pleased that your breakables have made it to their new home in one piece.

Vegetable Crisper Helper

A vegetable crisper drawer in the refrigerator can have the problem of too much moisture. Adding in some old newspaper can absorb both moisture and some odors.

What are some other ways that you use newspaper?

photo by Erich Ferdinand