If you are like me then you probably do not look forward to doing laundry. Add in the amount of money you spend on your bill from washing clothes each month, it is no wonder we aren’t all looking for more ways to save money on our laundry habits.
Luckily, it is possible to save money doing laundry with a few simple changes. Here is a look at some of the things you can do to put a few extra dollars back into your pockets.
Washing
1.Wash with cold water
It’s possible to conserve money by washing heaps of laundry in cold water. A lot of people think that washing your garments in hot water will make them cleaner sorry, but you are wrong.
By washing your loads in cold water you will cut your energy bill by more than 50%. Using cold water detergents will help ensure your clothes will turn out clean and you will also extend the life of a lot of your clothing.
2. Wash full loads
Believe it or not, but, your washer will burn the same amount of energy no matter what size load you wash. So it is best to wait until you have a full load of clothes to wash, then to waste the energy on a smaller load.
3. Adjust your water heater
Most individuals have their water heater set in 140F but a setting of 120F is adequate for most of your home’s needs. By adjusting your water heater to a lower setting it will help you save energy on your warm and hot water wash cycles.
How to adjust water temperature to 100 F
You seldom need to use hot water to wash your garments, but for those heaps of laundry which do need hot water you might want to make sure your clothing washer is simply using 100F hot water.
Most clothes washers will open both the cold water and hot water valves 100% to get its the water warm. So it’ll mix 50% cold and 50% hot water to make warm water.
Most of you’ll have around 50F cold water and 140F warm water mixing. The temperature of your cold water will also depend on the temperature inside and outside your home.
The very best way to regulate the temperature of your hot water is by adjusting the valves manually. While doing a load of laundry using a thermometer after your water is totally filled and has started to fluctuate so you know it’s mixed well.
Take the water temperature during that load and see what the temperature is. In case your water temperature is above 100F, reach behind your wash and turn down the warm water valve.
Once you’ve done this, check the temperature again during your next load of laundry. Keep repeating this process until your washer’s hot water achieves 100F.
In addition, you might have to make this adjustment in the summer and in the winter months as your cold water temperature will change slightly.
How Much Money Will I Save Washing Clothes in Cold Water?
It costs about use an average of 4.5 kWh per load, which at a cost of $0.15 per kWh will cost you $0.68 if you washed in 140 F hot water and rinse in warm water. However if you wash on cold and rinse on cold you will use an average of 0.3 kWh per load, which at a cost of $0.15 per kWh will cost you $0.04.
Drying
1. Air dry
Whenever possible, it is best to hang your clothes. This will not only save you loads of money but it will also add to the life cycle of your clothes. Sun-dried clothes don’t shrink and allow for bacteria to die quite effectively.
How much will I save air-drying?
A small load of clothes takes about 45 minutes in the dryer, so the cost of that load is $0.36. So filling a line of clothes could save you $1.08.
2. Use Automatic cycle
If your dryer has an automatic dryer sensor you will want to make sure you use that instead of the timer to save on energy. If you over-dry your clothes you can not only use more energy then needed you may also risk shortening the life of your clothes and even possibly shrinking them.
3. Separate fabrics
If you separate clothes according to their materials and dry them accordingly, this may shorten the time to dry certain loads. For example, towels take longer to dry so separating them from lightweight materials will allow those materials the time they need to dry faster.
4. Clean filter
Always be sure to clean the filter before use. This will ensure the dryer functions properly and keep flow unrestricted.
5. Proper Loads
Be sure to dry a full load of clothes because to small of a load is a waste of energy. However, keep in mind that overcrowding the dryer will make the cycle take longer than needed and keep air from freely circulating.
Conclusion
As a parent, I am always looking for ways to cut back on unnecessary spending in my home.
Doing laundry may be a chore but saving money doesn’t have to be! This list is only a few ways you can save money in your laundry room but I hope it will help you add a few more cents back into your pockets.
We would love to hear from you: Do you have any money-saving tips for the laundry room? What advice would you give to those trying to save money doing laundry?
