Five Ways to Save on Laundry

Doing laundry is a chore, and an expensive one at that. Whether you’ve got your own washer and dryer or you’ve got to make a weekly haul to one of San Angelo’s many wash salons, the task of cleaning that pile of dirty clothes is something no one really looks forward to, especially since the Scrub Pub closed.

From super-expensive detergents and softeners to the heavy roll of quarters you need to pump into the machines—not to mention those high water and electric bills incurred at home—it seems that at every step laundry day is a costly one. For this reason, we’ve compiled five energy-efficient and cost-saving tips to lighten the financial laundry load.

5. Use a Portable Washer

Portable washers can be found online and vary in size and price. Some of the smaller ones (ideal for college dorm rooms), actually receive great reviews, save time, water, energy and detergent. Wash small loads in a matter of minutes and skip the trip to the laundry mat

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4. Skip Softeners and Whiteners

As an alternative to a $5 liter of fabric softener, vinegar does the trick. Not only is it cheaper and just as effective, it also helps eliminate tough odors. And while bleach and other whitening solutions may have fancier packaging, vinegar also helps get stains out.

3. Use colder water

It just costs less. A fair warning however, the lower the temperature the water, the less effective the detergent. Don’t go adding ice cubes to it. Moderate your temperatures carefully for best results.

2. Line-dry

Unless you plan on putting on your clothes immediately, you don’t really need them to come out dry. Clothing stands will held up to two loads apiece, and your clothes will dry faster than you think.

1. Make your own detergent

In a world where information is literally just a click away, cracking the code for homemade laundry detergent isn’t really as difficult as it sounds. There are literally hundreds of recipes available online, and you can experiment until you’ve perfected your own special blend. This is also a great option for people with certain allergies.

Here's a link to a detailed, step-by-step recipe, with pictures and a comparison of results.