10 Ways to Save Money on Laundry

We all do a lot of laundry over the summer with all of the adventures, swimming, working out, etc. These are some tips to help you save money on laundry while still keeping everything so fresh and so clean!

I do need to add a small warning: while these ideas will help you save money on your laundry, they might not make it quicker or easier! If you are a mom who finds laundry to be the bane of your existence, it’ll be your call if the savings in your budget win out over the other factors!

One way to save money is to switch up some of your supplies:

1. Replace your dryer sheets with dryer balls Not only will you stop paying for dryer sheets, but you’ll get the added bonus of less chemicals in your laundry. You can make your own dryer balls, purchase some, or you can even make balls of aluminum foil to do the trick!  These dryer balls are some that I made myself from 100% wool yarn. I like to add Purification or Lavender Essential oils to my dryer balls for a nice scent on my clothing – to learn how to get those at 24 % off, go here.
2. Make your own laundry supplies. You can make your own fabric softener, laundry soap, dryer sheets or dryer balls, etc. There are lots of recipes out there especially on Pinterest. You should be able to find some you love easily and have a little DIY party with a friend or two! Remember, you don’t have to replace everything all at once.  Start with some vinegar instead of fabric softener and then see where you end up. Here is my post on how to make your own laundry detergent.
3. Use less. If you are not a DIYer, just try using less of your supplies. Cut dryer sheets in half, pour less detergent, etc. Using less detergent will not make your clothes any less clean, and in fact, might be good for your washer and extend the life of the machine as well!

Another way to save money is to change how you use your machines:

4. Use a clothesline or drying rack. Whenever you have the opportunity, skip the dryer! When you have the lovely summer sun and breeze, hang your clothes out on a clothesline to dry. If you have allergies or never see the sun, use a drying rack instead. If you have issues with how the clothes feel differently (like I do), that’s nothing a 10 min spin in the dryer can’t fix after the clothes are dry!
5. Run your machines at night. If you run the machines at night or overnight, it’s an easy way to avoid peak energy hours and rates. I personally love to throw a load in the washer on my way out the door in the morning and run the dryer when I go to bed. (Bonus tip: run your dryer again while it’s already hot, keep those loads moving through, don’t give it time to cool down! Also, if you fold hot clothes, you almost never have any wrinkles!)
6. Wait for a full load. This might seem like a no brainer, but running a bigger load is an easy way to minimize how many times you have to run your machines. This is also a place where you might find that the savings come as a trade-off for how much time it takes to fold a giant load or trying to do one small load daily to prevent it from piling up!

7. Change your settings. You can make several small changes just by trying out all of your other buttons and dials! Washing in cold water can increase savings, as well as using a “quick” setting to save on wash time or running an extra cycle of spin and drain—which will cut down dryer time.
8. Clean your machines. Once in a while, run your washer with no detergent. This will help cut down on build up that can make it run less efficiently. Also, take some time to clean out your dryer duct. This will make a huge difference in efficiency as well. A quick Google search can help you figure out the easiest way to do so in no time!

Finally, you can save some money by changing what you wear and how you wear it:

9. Wear your clothes more than once. Not everything needs to be washed immediately after wearing it once! Hang up work clothes and wear the following week, sleep the same PJs for the week, etc. It’s up to you how comfortable you are re-wearing and it depends on how dirty you get, but there’s no shame in re-wearing! Same things goes for the kids, re-wear!
10. Wear an apron or have dirty clothes. If you are constantly dirtying your outfit while cooking, cleaning, or crafting, invest in an apron to protect your outfit and seriously cut down on how much you have to launder. This can apply to the kiddos, too! I also try to take off my work clothes when I get home and put on my PJs or lounging clothes.  This way I can re-wear the work clothes the following week and I cut down on laundry that way, too.

Remember that you always have some money saving choices, even when you are doing heaps of summer laundry! Choose what works for you, instead of trying out all of these new options all at once. Most importantly, remember that the reason you have so much laundry this summer is because you’re having so much fun!