Water bill and laundry expenses!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Water bill and laundry expenses!
6
Sat, 09-24-2005 - 2:33am
Hi, everyone. I would like to know how to save on laundry expenses. I have a LOT of laundry each week (DH work clothes especially), and it seems our water bill is creeping up. When DH does laundry, he sometimes "forgets" to put in dryer, and then ,it mildews, and have to do it over. Is it cheaper to do smaller loads more frequently? Bigger loads? Cold water? Washing at night? Our water bill was $30 more this month, and we havent watered the lawn, etc. We have low-flow shower, toilet, etc. No leaks in pipes. Would love to know what you do to save on laundry/water expenses. Thanks. WHiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-28-2005
Sat, 09-24-2005 - 11:24am

Whiz,


Instead of doing a load the load that has sat in the washer for too long again I put in a cup of vinagar and put it through the rinse cycle. I have always washed everything in cold water and I set the cycle and water level on the lowest settings. Takes less time, and uses less water and electricity.


Lynne

Lynne 


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Sun, 09-25-2005 - 1:42am
Hi, Lynne---Didnt know about the vinegar thing. I tried it and it seemed to work. Thanks. WHiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Sun, 09-25-2005 - 12:39pm

For laundry, I don't use the amount of detergent that the bottles suggest. That always seems like too much. I use about half of what I'm supposed to, and my clothes turn out fine. I wash large loads each time, and I use cold water wash and cold water rinse, unless I'm doing towels and sheets, in which case I'll switch to hot water. Hope this helps!

Pat

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
Mon, 09-26-2005 - 11:51am

I wash everything in cold water, I also use less detergent.
I hang things to dry when ever I can.
I also set my dryer to the lowest setting, so that clothes are less dry when they are done, less static and less wear and tear on clothes.

I am currently longing for a front load washer, however don't want to change it so I have been saving up my money.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2003
Mon, 09-26-2005 - 4:54pm
I try to keep on top of laundry by doing a load of something nearly every night by color. I wash in cold water make sure the load size is indicated on the dial. This makes it easy to dry clothes on the rack and not run out of towels, undies, or whatever while I wait for it to air dry. I almost always have a rack of something drying in the kitchen. Kind of ghetto looking, I know, but not running the dryer is my top priority. I pay a flat rate for water. I throw things in the dryer for ten minutes to fluff it up sometimes (cut those dryer sheets in half!) and I also freshen up "once-worn" clean items in the dryer for ten minutes and put it back in the drawer. Another thing I do with my dishtowels is that I have a "dishtowel journey." hehe. First use is for drying dishes, then it becomes the hand dryer, then the yucky wiper, then it goes in the basket. I have two or three towels in the kitchen at a time, step one hangs on a hook on the fridge (clean towel), step two is along the front edge of the sink (hand wiper), step three is next to the sink (grody wipe). I don't know if anyone else does that. If it's sunny out, I'll hang sheets and towels outside all year long.



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Mon, 09-26-2005 - 5:13pm

I wish I could hang my clothes out to dry. I get jealous when I drive around my town and see people with clotheslines in their backyards. My neighborhood won't allow it. I've tried hanging them on a rack in my laundry room, but I don't think there's enough ventilation in there, and it starts to smell icky after awhile, and I just take them all down and toss them into the dryer. LOL! :-D I love the smell of clothes dried outdoors, though. So fresh and clean! :-D

Pat