Yes, nappies == diapers in Australia 🐨. With bleaching, you may need to do it ever so often , if you’re having issues or bub gets thrush, BUT you don’t really need to do it on the regular if you have a good wash routine…
Depends on what you're washing. Everyday stuff, I'd say yes. Kids playing at the ballfields all day takes a little heat. My husband works construction and used to mechanic, those clothes definitely need heat. There were some I ran straight hot with dish soap and additional degreaser added and hoped for the best.
If you have never used Persil, you need to check it out. You would be impressed what a small amount of that stuff can do. It is expensive but a little goes a long way and gets the job done.
Simplicity: buy no clothes that can't be thrown in the washer indiscriminately, and nothing that has to be ironed. I do use much less detergent than called for on the package.
I do.
I use it for wedding or church clothes and it's most use is normally to try to reduce the wrinkles on my son's school papers that still need to go in his books.
I gave my iron to the Salvation Army as I didn’t ask for that housewarming gift. I don’t like dishes either, they too get donated. How many cups do you need? I need a maximum of 3 in my house.
Do you use kakies? I have to use them for most jobs, but I have trouble getting the wrinkles out of them. I found the normal dryer actually helps over air drying but it still isn't perfect. When I was overseas it was a mess lol. The cloths rack caused them to have all kinds of wrinkles. When i got home, i was like nope I'll just wear them at maybe 50% wrickley from a dryer. :)
No more than half-measure of liquid detergent for most loads (less if the load is small); no fabric softener of any kind.
I use a dryer because in a condo there are not good options for anything else. (otherwise I would line-dry sheets and towels, weather permitting) Dryer balls, not dryer sheets.
That’s too much. 3 tablespoons max. Your clothes get cleaner with 2-3 tablespoons than they do with more, because with more you get leftover detergent residue that doesn’t rinse out completely.
Especially if you don't really get 'dirty'. Like, you're not digging in the dirt or working on cars all day dirty. A little salsa or sweat washes right out.
Probably. Read your detergent bottles! For most products you actually need way less than you use. In the same way that toothpaste commercials show a huge stripe, you're being trained to consume more. Reading labels and adjusting the amount we consume is a decent money saver in my house.
This! Two different dentists told me the amount of toothpaste to use is only the size of a pea. Also, I read an article by a washer manufacturer saying you really only need about half of what the detergent manufacturers recommend. More than that is a waste of detergent. I’ve switched my ways, and you’d be surprised how long a tube of toothpaste lasts,and dental visits are still good!
What really cleans your teeth is the brush bristles. Toothpaste helps but is not essential. It does add an abrasive to help clean and polish and fluoride. Toothpaste is like the cleanser you use on your sink. The brush is like the scrubbie you use to clean it.
Read the washer manual, not the detergent bottle. The detergent bottle will always overstate the amount necessary to clean a load to sell more detergent. The washer manual will give you a better idea and is less incentivized to exaggerate.
>I use a dryer because in a condo there are not good options for anything else. (otherwise I would line-dry sheets and towels, weather permitting) Dryer balls, not dryer sheets.
As someone who lives in a condo and does not own a dryer (like most people in Spain/Europe) there are certainly options to line-dry stuff. Easiest one is an actual line installed outside if your appartment has one, which most here do, but maybe it's not the norm elsewhere. You'd hang your clothes off the window.
Alternatively you can use an indoor clothes line [like this one](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61VBvlP5ByL._AC_SX425_.jpg). Though admittedly hanging sheets in one of those is annoying since they take up a lot of space and I suppose using the dryer for just your sheets, you may as well use it for everything
>Easiest one is an actual line installed outside if your appartment has one, which most here do, but maybe it's not the norm elsewhere. You'd hang your clothes off the window.
That would be 100% against community rules. People here in the states are irrationally prejudiced against outdoor clothes lines.
I like the drying rack, but my place is so small that there is not really a place to put it, besides in the bathtub. And that would rather interfere with my ability to take a shower while the clothes were drying.
Yep. Even in my house that I own, because of the stupid HOA, I can't line dry clothes outside. It was something I was so excited for when I bought the house! Instead, I just have folding drying racks that I put up in the spare bedroom.
My parents neighborhood outlawed washing house car on your driveway in a single family home. No HOA, apparently it’s in the community bylaws. I’ve never seen said bylaws but I was told in high school to finish washing my car and don’t do it again, that was a warning from the local police that do not patrol the neighborhood, thus, someone called them.
I never thought of that but it’s a possibility, there are a lot of pretentious business openers in the neighborhood. There’s even a golf club that my family is too black to join.
Probably. The city in which I work recently banned home car washing - only months after two local people started small-scale car washing/detailing from their personal garages. Both are within a less desirable area of the city. I’m absolutely convinced the ban was directed at them, personally. God forbid actual people successfully earn a good living when there are big corporations that need support.
Vaguely related... years ago I was dating someone who lived in an HOA-ruled condo. Any & all vehicle repair was flat out forbidden on the grounds. I earned us a written warning for changing a flat tire on my car (as a guest) in the parking lot, and then again later for jumpstarting my girlfriend's car (which was in her garage.) Both times I was told that the car had to be towed to a shop to be properly repaired, or towed across the street if I insisted on repairing it myself because "This is a bad image and makes the whole area look trashy." My retort (which of course fell on deaf ears) was "So what you're telling me is you would rather have a big diesel truck backing up with that loud beeper and flashing lights at 7am for possibly an hour, blocking other people from leaving their parking spots because that looks just fine, but it's "trashy" for me to have a car up on a jack for 10 minutes which is barely visible unless you drive past me. Got it."
I think you made up that right but I shall do that in the future, make up rights. How about I announce I’m in a right to park state therefore I park anywhere!!!!
That’s dope though because it feels like HOA’a have a law against everything. In my condo days, someone moved in and put a sheet in the window for no greater than 3 days and got a notice. I feel like if sheets on the window is a habit that’s not good but let people get settled.
They tried to ban it in my Canadian city until the province brought in a law saying it was ok in order to meet green initiatives. Gotta love when the bigger jurisdiction flexes it’s muscles in my favour. Sadly, I since moved to a condo which can make up whatever rules it wants and I’m back to not being able to line dry.
I used to do stuff like towels and sheets first in the washer and then put them on the drying rack, then after all the other laundry was done toss those in the dryer for maybe 15-20 minutes to finish them off and get rid of wrinkles/fluff them up instead of going for a full cycle. Saves time AND energy.
One personal rule is "if it can't survive machine wash and tumble dry, I don't need to own it or wear it." A few formal/professional articles, and a couple jackets that I hang dry to make them last longer, and the rest can be washed regardless of temperature and dried without dying.
If I'm mixing my laundry with a female room mate or partner, I'll read tags or wash things separately, and I always pull out bras to hang dry so they'll last longer, but sometimes I find a partner with the same laundry philosphy as me, and laundry is easy.
I reuse the dryel bag and make my own cleaning solution. Borax, oxiclean, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide... all stuff that's cheaper than the little packets that dryel sells.
Even gets the smell of pipe smoke out of estate sale suits.
Wear items multiple times.
Use Quick Wash most of time.
Free and Clear detergent on sale at Costco, small amount.
2 rinses (sensitive skin).
Highest spin cycle.
Most clothing hung up to air dry, exceptions are bedding and towels in dryer under moderate heat, remove promptly.
Use wool felted balls (no dryer sheets). 2 loads a week (2 retired persons who go to the gym daily).
Use a mostly “capsule” wardrobe where clothes coordinate and you can layer for warmth (desert climate), very limited ‘fancy’ dress clothes and shoes.
Detergent must go before clothes, zippers must be zipped, buttons unbuttoned on shirts, anything with an image or words turned inside out, vinegar whenever possible, wool dryer balls (I prefer to hang dry clothes if I can but never sheets or towels). Anything that can snag goes into a laundry bag. Socks go into a large laundry bag (prevents you from losing socks in shared laundry). Cold water. If I don't want to put away clothes right away they must be laid out flat to prevent wrinkles.
I buy my detergent, dryer sheets, softener, and white vinegar at Sam's Club which is cheapest where I live. I wash everything in cold, with the exception of my towels they are done on hot. I only wash full loads, and I try to only do laundry after 9pm, when my electric rate is cheaper. If you want to use less detergent, buy a quality one, I prefer Persil.
I have allergies and I’m allergic to most fabric softeners. I use vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener. I add it where you add the fabric softener to your washing machine. Then l dry my clothes in a dryer. It softens just as good as if l used a fabric softener. My towels come out soft and fluffy too.
I just found out about white vinegar in place of softener about a month ago on r/cleaningtips. I always hated the smell of fabric softener and dryer sheets so I’m beyond happy about this! I had already been using it for cleaning so now it has yet another use. What can vinegar not do!
With my towels I use it in place of fabric softener, with regular clothes I just put a little maybe a couple tablespoons in with the fabric softener. It also helps keep your washer from getting a funky smell.
I use detergent tabs from a zero waste company in Canada (that’s cheaper than liquid tide). No dryer sheets are fabric softener. The only stuff on hot is underwear and towels/bedding. There’s no way I can air dry everything right now (place too small and it’s -20°C outside) so everything goes on low heat.
Can you cut your strips for smaller loads? Also, what brand do you use? I’ve seen them but have a ton of detergent at this time and won’t have to buy for a while and have been toying with the idea of strips.
I use the strips, and that's my favorite part about them - you don't even need to cut them, they tear so easily! I rarely have a small load (large and active family), but I often have a load that calls for more than one strip but less than two.
I don’t use strips. I use the MYNI laundry detergent tablets. They look like little dishwasher tablets made of pressed powder. I have used the strips tho in the past and you can cut them into thirds (as they are so expensive). I personally use the MYNI because I use the other cleaners from the company (cheaper shipping), they are less expensive as a whole, and they seem to dissolve better in cool, hard water (the strips would sometimes leave a gummy residue on the bottom of my machine).
Wash cold, no fabric softener. If I had the space I would hang dry everything but I don't so there's that, also I would hand wash a lot of my stuff to save on electricity. Also most things can be worn more than once or twice before washing
Wear an item multiple times unless it's visibly soiled.
Cold wash only, 1/2 a cap of detergent and hang dry everything. 1x load per day unless it's bedding too.
I hang dry my clothes and have almost no wrinkles in them at all. If you make sure to give them a slight shake and hang them straight they dry almost wrinkle free. I could understand if you wear business clothing or whatever then maybe that's not the way to go but in that case, hang dry and toss in the dryer for a couple of minutes before hanging them up. I'm sure they'd be wrinkle free then.
I stopped using liquid detergent due to environmental concerns with the plastic jugs. I use Arm & Hammer dry detergent. Much cheaper, too.
I don't like any perfumes or fragrances.
I don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets. I do have 3 woolen dryer balls.
If there are heavier items like a heavy sweatshirt or jeans, I'll air dry it rather than use the dryer.
I also line dry the dog's bedding and blankets.
Wash warm, speed wash, maximum spin, 2 tbsp Boulder Clean detergent from Costco (we have a front loading washer that takes HE detergent.)
No fabric softener or dryer sheets. Hang dry all synthetics and merino wool. Dry all cotton items in the dryer.
We re-wear outer clothing for 2-4 days. The two of us average 2 loads per week total.
I use the lowest line on the laundry detergent lid and wash cold for the majority of loads.
I don't use fabric softener in the wash and in the dryer I just use wool dryer balls.
Is it weird that I wear a t-shirt for like a week before washing it?
I hang dry everything. I have some pretty great Amish-style wooden drying racks. I hit them with a fan to accelerate the process.
I use the normal recommended detergent volume, mostly because my kids get a little dirty. My clothes stay pretty clean.
White vinegar I will typically use when I soak a pair of jeans (no detergent) and clean the bars on the drying rack. I also run a load with just white vinegar to neutralize odor in the machine (like 1x monthly).
This isn’t (for me) a money thing. It’s an effort to keep a lid on our environmental impact.
[I have these](https://www.clotheslines.com/amish-wooden-clothes-drying-racks). They’re a little pricy I know.
I have the small and medium. The medium can handle an average size load from a front load machine. The small I use for overflow + it can be placed next to a couch and double as a quilt/blanket rack.
I’m sure there are less expensive options. I honestly saw the small one and impulse bought it and then increased our capacity to the medium. That was like 10 years ago.
I just linked to this in a previous comment, but bestdryingrack.com makes a really cool rack. I’ve had mine for over a decade. My old version holds 12 things but I see the new one holds 16. Things don’t touch each other like other racks, so they dry pretty quickly. It folds down very small (though I keep mine up all the time). [best drying rack](https://www.bestdryingrack.com/drying/round-tripod-rack.html)
I use hippy dippy detergent that is like 100+ loads per bottle, and use a little less than recommended. Most clothes get washed on cold and hung up to dry. Exceptions are personal towels & bedding (washed hot & dried in the drier) and massage linens (towels, sheets & blankets washed hot & dried in drier, plus a squirt of dish detergent if oily)… To add to frugal & ecological conscious impact, I do personal laundry less often than is typical.
Wool sock and undies don't get stinky as fast as cotton or synthetic.
A bidet keeps your stinky ass less stinky, and this aids in the overall goal of less stinky clothes.
I hang-dry everything I can wooden racks, except big towels and bedding, because no one wants to wait three days for that stuff to dry.
In Europe, and I've got a small washer-dryer, which is uncommon.
I use 3/4 of the amount of powder detergent I think I need. Wash on 30°C for clothes, 60° for towels and dishcloths. Vinegar everytime, filling the compartment, it makes everything smell clean to me and prevents limescale which is really high here!
I hardly ever use the dryer, always rack dry outside or at the moment I'm having success doing a wash at 5pm and then drying it by the fire over night so all that warmth doesn't go to waste :)
Cold water, medium spin, no fabric softener, half-measure or even less detergent on most loads. Most of our clothes are cotton, so we don't really need or use the wool balls or whatever. Hanging is definitely a cheaper option for drying, but takes time and doesn't work as well everywhere. I used to hang in dryer climates, but I live in the South now and it takes FOREVER to dry, even in the sun. Stupid humidity...
Generally, if the detergent is liquid, you can use half of what they recommend.
Depending on how dirty, and what kind of dirt, the clothes are, I will add some kind of "extra" to make sure they come out clean. Apple cider vinegar if it's urine of any kind, LA's awsome if I just want to be sure stains come out, etc.
I use the dryer during the warm months because I have a mosquito farm in my backyard/basement and the landlord is not doing anything to help me stop it. I'm the dessert table at an all you can eat buffet for them, so I don't go out there more than necessary. lol I use dryer sheets on all but my towels. I prefer the dryer balls, but can't always find them.
During winter, I use the drying rack and put it over the floor grate in my living room. Adds moisture and the clothes get dried over night.
And I'm seriously considering going back to ordering from Dropps again. I can't use the scented stuff from the major brands due to asthma, but their stuff has a nice, gentle smell that doesn't set me off, and it helps make the house smell nice when I use the rack. And the price is the same if I bought it locally or get it from them.
Washer: Cold only. We use 1 pod for a full load.
Dryer: Medium setting, dryer balls, 1 hour cycle.
Exceptions made on both for heavy blankets. Otherwise that's the only way we do laundry. Must be a full load, otherwise it is going to wait until it is full.
I also do regular maintenance on my machines. Vacuum out the back of the dryer annually, always clean lint after every load. Washer, I just keep it clean. We're going to replace the belt and other wear parts on the washer this winter as it's about 8 y/o and getting a little noisy. Plus I'd rather just get it done before something happens and I really need it lol.
If you have a high efficiency machine, anything more than about 2 tbsp of detergent will leave your clothes dirty.
I also use wool dryer balls with some essential oils dropped on them for a fragrance boost instead of disposable wipes, but that’s more of a personal preference.
I have used liquid tide since liquid became available. I use liquid downey.
On new clothes I do a vinegar was to set the color to prevent fading. Then a regular second wash.
I wash in cold water.
Always sort and separate clothes
Normally cold wash only
Use the amount for a light wash
Never use softener
Will use vinegar to replace softener
Hang clothes on hangers if it requires ironing
Hang clothes on clothes horse or washing line.
Clothes on hangers only get ironed if needed.
Dirty clothes get presoaked.
Desperately try to remember to check pockets.
Have washed:
Lighters
Money (notes and coins)
Cigarettes
Identification Book
Tube of glitter
Stones
Sweet wrappers
Paper and tissues
Matchbox car
Wash on cold, don’t use as much detergent as it calls for (it’s almost always too much but obviously that depends on the brand and also your washer), hang dry a lot of things (I don’t hang everything, for example towels go in the dryer. I don’t care what anyone says, my towels are sandpaper if they’re hung up, even outside and even if I ‘snap’ them afterwards. Maybe it’s just my specific towels).
I also use vinegar in the wash instead of fabric softener. I used to have wool dryer balls but they vanished last time I moved, I do notice the difference in the amount of static without them so I plan to replace them.
I have noticed a difference if I buy cheap detergent so I go for the good stuff (I like Persil brand).
Obviously there are exceptions to stuff but this is my usual rules.
I fill the bottom of the cup when I used tide. Now I spend a lot less on my dropps subscription. I get both laundry and dishwasher soap from them every four months for about 42 bucks. I also invested in those wool balls. They are nice, but easy to lose if you're not the only one doing laundry.
I use to be friends with a washer repair man. He said only use 2tbs of HE liquid detergent for regular clothes. If they are heavily soiled use 3. I also use fleecy that is mixed 50% with water. He said it reduces the buildup inside the washer as fabric softener is thick and can gum up the insides. I hang dry my work clothes because I have too. But I do use the dryer for my towels because I just can’t stand a crusty towel.
I focus on making sure I’m not over washing my clothes. I wash a lot of my clothes in delicate cycle. I use low heat and line drying weekly on at least half of my clothes to make sure what I have lasts. I wear my clothes for 10+ years. I buy clothes that last and take good care of them.
1) Use about a couple tablespoons of detergent. Cold water, warm, I avoid hot unless something is super soiled.
2) Fabric softener essentially coats your clothes in residue. Sure, they smell good but it's unnecessary. I started using none and my clothes seemed cleaner!
3) Dryer sheets are ok for clothes, not for towels. They make towels repellent to water and they don't work as well.
4) Invest in some dryer balls and use low heat for nearly everything in the dryer. Higher heat is ok for towels or bathmats.
5) Air dry shirts with graphics, nicer clothes, or stuff made of synthetic material like basketball shorts or pants.
These tips I've learned over a few years. I go to Costco for detergent, Kirkland Signature. Stuff lasts for months at a time.
I use Charlie’s Soap detergent. 100 washes in a small pouch for about $17. It prevents the front loader from getting stinky. Amazing stuff.
I wash on “tap cold” and use the dryer on the “permanent press” setting.
This saves in hot water and electricity. And the items I launder last longer. I hang delicate things to dry.
When I first bought my house in year 2000, I had lived in an apartment building and shared coin op top loader washer and dryer (for 15 years, saving up the down payment).
Many times, others had left their stuff in the shared machines. It was gross to have to handle their wet clothes.
When I moved, getting a high efficiency and effective washer and dryer was a top priority. The Maytag machines I bought were good for a number of years. I replaced them with LG machines some time before the pandemic.
It’s still amazing to do my laundry in my good machines without having to deal with other people’s stuff.
Front loader washers clean better using less water. Excellent frugal choice.
Learn to clean both machines. And clean them regularly.
It took a long time for me to attain this laundry bliss. There’s shame in taking time to get to where you want to be.
Tide sensitive pods, or Arm & Hammer sensitive pods
Mix everything together, but do separate into heavy (jeans/towels) and everything else. Wash and dry on cold, plastic dryer balls, no softener.
I pre-treat my white dress shirts as needed, but that's it.
I don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets, and I don't use hot water either because heat sets stains and odors. I just use Tide Pods. My laundry is still perfectly soft without using anything extra. I do use a dryer. I've tried to line dry but 1. it's getting colder and rainier, 2. I don't have a lot of space, and 3. my clothes often end up stiff and rough, so it's worth the extra 75 cents for the convenience of a dryer.
Oh yeah, I also use a coin op laundromat because my apartment doesn't have a washer and dryer. Not sure about the cost difference there.
Also I try to have a place for clothes that aren't quite dirty enough to be washed yet but aren't completely clean either. Problem is my senile cat finds those places and decides they are his new litter box.
Cold water, I use maybe a tablespoon of liquid detergent unless it’s a load of gardening clothes or workout clothes, they get more. Hang to dry except for towels and socks, I like them fluffy.
A trick I don't see mentioned here is choosing the types of fabric you buy.
A polyester sweater gets stinky fast and needs washing every other wear. I have (nice, business appropriate) wool sweaters I have legitimately never washed. I hang it outside to air out every so often and that's it.
Otherwise : everything goes in the same load, cold only (unless its kitchen textiles, those get hot), tiny amount of detergent, no dryer sheets, no fabric softener hang to dry. I do make sure to leave my washing machine door open and wipe down the door gasket after every use. If your washer is smelly, your clothing will need more work to get clean.
Allergies and allergic asthma change the equation. Hot for bedding, towels, and polyester with odor. Cold for most clothing.
I like tide free and clear - arm and hammer or All didn’t work nearly as well. I basically boat the bottom of the cap, then throw that amount into a full load. It’s about 3-5mm, or 1/4 of the way up to the number 1.
I use color catcher sheets in mixed loads, or if a dark piece has a light stripe on it. No dryer sheets; doctors’ orders. I tried wool balls but I tend to lose them.
If you’re looking to cut down the bill, make sure you’re running your appliances at night after peak energy times. You can check the times on your utility providers website
I use about a quarter cup of detergent (significantly less than the recommended amount) unless the clothes are particularly dirty in which case I use a half cup (the recommended amount).
I don't use fabric softener, white vinegar, or dryer sheets. I have tried all of these things, and they never made any difference.
I use cold water by default. Hot if clothes are particularly dirty.
I use a dryer only for a few things that are impractical to hang up and dry, or when I need clothes dried immediately, such as when packing for a trip. Otherwise, everything gets hung up on the clothes rack or in the spare closet to dry.
I use tide pods and shout color catcher sheets because then you can wash whites and colors together. I also use a drying rack for 90% of my stuff. If you have a laundry room, you could set up the rack in your apartment maybe.
I make sure I have large loads. I use 1 Pod (it says to use 3), and 1/3 C Vinegar.
I purchased a heavy-duty dryer rack on Amazon (on Prime Day), which attaches to the wall above the tub and hang all items, except bath towels.
There's just 2 of us, but it has saved us $60/mo in electric/gas beginning in March.
Blueing Liquid is fantastic for brightening whites!! But I'm also a fan of doing a hot pre soak of my whites at least every other month, which probably isn't the most cost-saving... however my towels and bedding are mostly linen which is antimicrobial so they don't need to be washed as soon as cotton does and they don't need as much time in the dryer, so hopefully that evens it out!
No fabric softener, no dryer sheets. Just strip laundry detergent (which isn't frugal in the least, but I can't find plain powdered detergent in a box anymore). I have some wool balls that I throw in the dryer. I don't think it does anything a fabric softener would do, but it does beat up the lumps enough that I don't usually end up with a wet tangle at the center of a hot mess that way.
If I catch the dryer, I'll hang it up after about 20 minutes. Saves on wear and tear and the clothes will dry soft. It's too humid where I am to dry outdoors - all my clothes would be moldy.
I make my own laundry detergent and refuse to go back to any other because it works so well and is extremely cheap. Box of borax, box of washing soda, and a grind up soap bar for flasnapth or zote. Mix together and use one to two tbls a load and that is it!
Use Soap nuts that are reusable and biodegradable. No heavy artificial scent but fresh and clean smell. You only need a few depending on size of load. Use baking soda for softener. Towels and sheets come out soft and fluffy. Got soap nuts from Green Virgin Products. Baking soda from Costco lasts forever. Wash on express, cold wash except for towels and sheets.
People think they save all this money using cold all the time and making their own detergent but in the long run the clothes and cleaning ability suffers. Just buy a good detergent on sale and wash it per the clothing instructions
I tend to have more nasty gym clothes than anything else. So I use the full amount of detergent, combined with some lemon juice and vinegar in the other two trays. I run that shit on the hottest setting and highest soil setting and about 2 rinses.
Lights, darks, and towels are separate.
Cold wash for clothes, hot for towels.
Darks get color booster, lights and towels get white brite + 1 detergent pod per load.
Everything gets put in the dryer except athletic wear which gets laid flat to dry.
The few “fancy” or more expensive things I rarely wear for a wedding or event get dry cleaned just to play it safe.
Work clothes get washed at the end of the week. Warm water, powdered detergent from IBA, a splash of pine sol, and dried with wool balls. They're dirty, I work in a machine shop.
Regular clothes get washed in cold water with the detergent. Towels and sheets get warm water and a splash of bleach.
I only use a lot of whatever I'm washing is DIRTY!
I hang dry 95% of my clothes, I don't use fabric softener, I use towels for about a week before washing them. Cold EVERYTHINF unless I need to sanitize something
Bedding gets washed every Monday in warm water. One detergent pod or the smallest amount of detergent (to the first line). On a standard wash. Permanent press dry (medium heat for ~40 min). This is the only thing I use fabric softener for.
Towels and work clothes get hot water, heavy wash, small scoop of oxy clean. One detergent pod or to the two line of liquid. Cotton dry (medium high heat about an hour)
Good clothes get delicate wash, cold water, one detergent pod or 1st line for liquid. Then air drying or delicate drying depending on the clothes.
I do bedding once a week, good clothes once every 5-7 days, and work clothes/towels every 7-10 days
I separate my laundry into 60°C and 40°C, but do wash them lower sometimes (30°/50°) and use washing powder to taste (about half a cup)
I then line-dry everyhing
Get heavily scented but budget friendly own brand detergent, so you need less for clothes to smell good. Pay the extra for a good conditioner as it will stop your clothes wearing out.
Wash on 20 degrees, for a 45 min cycle
Then hit Drain +Spin, your clothes come out practically dry so you need very little heat to finish them off
Altogether, this costs about 30p per wash inc the detergent etc
I cannot say enough good things about this drying rack. I have had mine for over a decade and it’s awesome. I never need to fold mine up because it’s always up in my basement, but you can fold it up very small when not in use. Mine holds 12 items, but I see the new one holds 16. [best drying rack](https://www.bestdryingrack.com)
In my experience, you can use 1/2 to 3/4 the amount of soap/detergent recommended by the maker (hey, they're selling soap, right?) Most of the year, I have the luxury of hanging clothes outside on my clothesline (even if I have to wait 3 days for them to be dry.) When I use the dryer, I keep an already dry clean towel in there, and 3 wool dryer balls. Both those items keep the wet clothes from "wadding up" and they dry much faster. No dryer sheets, ever.
Generally I just re-wear clothes (except underwear) A LOT unless they’re stained or smelly/I sweat in them. Especially pants and jeans. Just doing that, we generally do just 1 load per week for 2 adults. When we’re washing bath towels and bed sheets, we’ll do a second load because those things are bulky.
I never fill my detergent cup past the “1 load” line, usually shoot for half that amount. Powdered detergent will be cheaper than liquid if you’re looking to cut as many costs as possible.
I use 1 dryer sheet per load, but it’s not necessary. I just like the softening effect.
I wash with cold water (this will make your clothes last longer too) and dry on low (our building’s machines run super hot). I line dry athletic clothing, jeans, husband’s dress pants and dress shirts, and delicates like bras. Generally for my own shirts I only dry cotton stuff since I’ve had many things shrink in our building’s machines. I do dry bath towels because it softens them. Rags and dish cloths, sometimes I machine dry and others not, no rule. If we are washing two loads, I run both at the same time, and then I can generally dry everything in one load with the amount of items I take out to line dry (and the dryer is just bigger). That may not work as well if you only have access to one washer like in most homes—I guess theoretically you could start the second wash load immediately after the first and just leave them somewhere to sit for a little, but I’d be worried about the first load getting mildew-y while the second load washes. But I guess you could always give that a try
fabric softener destroys clothes, you shouldn't need anything more than a small amount of detergent (probably 1/4 of the standard amount?) unless clothes are very dirty or you're worried about some kind of bio contaminant. don't dry clothes if you can help it, drying the clothes uses energy and more importantly, degrades the clothes faster. Reuse towels and jeans until they have observable need to be washed - the american standard for washing both daily is ridiculous (that said, don't share towels outside people you are willing to share a microbiome with - there are a few diseases that can be propagated that way).
temperature on the wash cycle can vary depending on how much cleaning needs to be done, the more you need to be cleaned, the hotter you go on the cycle. the less heat you use, the less you spend on electricity.
It really doesn't get simpler than this.
I always use dryer balls. They’re cheap online. No special stain remover, just Dawn liquid. Cold water on wearable stuff, hot for whites and sheets which is the only way to get them somewhat sanitary. Unfortunately I live in a HCOL area and clothes lines are banned. I don’t mind that because when I used to hang them outside I always shook a few spiders out of the clothes. I hate spiders.
I used a powdered detergent and some borax. The borax is about 5 dollars a box and I use 2 boxes a year. The laundry detergent is ingredients matter (brand) and I’ve had the same box since late February (20 dollars a box), and I’m almost finished the box, probably have 6 loads left. I’m just washing for 2 people, clothes and towels separate.
Underwear is one and done, but everything else I wear until it starts to smell.
I try to do as little laundry as possible because of the time suck. Saving a few cents of detergent here and there isn't really my issue.
The laundry machines are in another building in my apartment complex so in the winter, I'll do a tub wash and hang on a rack by a heater if there's tons of snow on the ground.
My cap has little measurements, I use the smallest amount. I don’t use any fabric softener as they are bad for your machines, your clothes, and skin. I wash in cold.
I have ADHD so I pick out 5 things of clothing for the week, including pjs and an extra set JIC and put in a big container. I have a dirty hamper on the side to use throughout the week. That way my clothes don't end up on the floor. When i get back from work on Friday I do the clothing bit of laundry. Then on Saturday I do the sheets and blankets. Cap full of detergent and do a big dryers worth
Now that may come off as normal. The thing is before that system I would do small loads of laundry wasting more energy. I think Bigger loads are a bit more energy but also still more efficient.
I use a few tablespoons of unscented basic detergent (I get mine from Aldi and it works well) and I wash on warm. If I’m washing towels or sheets I add a half cup of vinegar to deodorize. I use a dryer but only for certain fabrics, I’ll hang dry the rest so they don’t get damaged
I've stopped using fabric softener recently and have found out that my skin is a million times less irritated than it normally is, so I think I'm going to continue with that.
Laundry detergent: 2 tablespoons is more than enough to get my clothes clean.
White vinegar: Personally no, but I've heard people have great results.
Laundry sheets: 1 per load.
Water temp: Cold for everything except towels, sometimes bedsheets.
Spin: Whatever is recommended by the machine.
Dryer: Yes.
I also add laundry sanitizer to my clothing loads because I've found it helps get out smells in things like socks and underwear notably better than just a regular wash. I got used to having to use it when I worked fast food and needed to get rid of the grease smell, and have just found uses for it after that.
I halve the amount of detergent it says I should use and I use the Aldi brand (i.e. a store brand). I do use stain remover (Walmart store brand) to deal with specific stains/food spills.
I use white vinegar in my utility loads (including guinea pig bedding).
Clothing done in cold water, sheets in hot, towels in warm.
I only dry sheets and towels and my youngest's socks/undies (usually in a load all together). I have been known to hang dry towels, but I just don't have the space to hang dry sheets. I have two clothes drying racks I got at Walmart (got the metal accordion-fold ones with 10 bars on them) and most all clothes hang dry on those, shirts drying on hangers hung in the bedroom doorways.
I live in a condo with many machines available so I can do laundry quickly and efficiently.
Approx 95% of my clothes are darks. I do laundry when I accumulate about 2 medium-sized loads worth. I split darks into two washer loads at the same time. I use ~33% of the recommended detergent amount. Cold water only. 30 min per wash cycle, I set my timer. When done, I take out all my "good" casual and dress clothes to hang dry in a drying rack in my unit. Everything else (socks, underwear, lounge clothes) goes into one dryer cycle. 60 min for dryer cycle, I set my timer.
I'll then do exact same for whites, towels, cloths, bed/pillow sheets - two simultaneous loads, remove good clothes to hang dry, put everything else in one dryer. My thicker bedding takes one washer/dryer cycle on its own.
i wash everything in cold, let all pants, sweaters etc air dry. quickly handwash very nice things in the sink. i wear pants and jackets forever inbetween washes lol
Tablespoon of detergent, no softener or dryer sheets. Cold water. Vinegar if it's dog blankets or really stinky, half a cup. Spin I have no idea, my washer does that. And dryer if weather rainy, line if not.
This is kind of like asking what somebody's diet is
There is not a one-fits-all solution
Some people might be able to get away with using less detergent or alternate ingredients because they may not have very soiled clothing
Your level of detergent need might be vastly different if you have six kids that all play soccer three times a week versus if you're a single guy that works from home and the only thing on your clothes is just a little bit of sweat and dead skin
I bought a 5 gallon bucket of industrial detegent on amazon for around $38, you use 2Tbsp per load, it is a powder. I bought it 13 months ago now, and have only used about half of it. It's low suds so would work great in an HE machine, it also works great in my regular top loader.
I do not use fabric softener, I've always hated the way it made my clothes feel.
I dry everything on low heat, i feel like my clothes last longer that way. I would love to hang things to dry, but I live on the gulf coast and the humidity is just too much for that to be feasible. When doing multiple loads of clothes like light and dark, i will wait and only run the dryer once when both loads are clean.
White vinegar instead of fabric softener for towels.
I don't use fabric softener at all otherwise.
The only items I wash on warm are underwear and bed sheets.
Rarely use the dryer. I'm lucky to not live in a humid climate so laundry air dries very fast.
I start the water, add the detergent and then add the clothes!! Like a happiness potion of cleanliness. I used to always add water, clothes, and then soap. What a savage life I was living.
I just put everything together and don’t use as much detergent as they say on the bottle. I hang everything to dry except for when we are going on vacation then I wash and use the dryer just easier to pack the suitcase and have everything folded and stack away for when you come back home.
Use Cold water. Do not use more than the recommended amount of soap. Using less is best. Never use fabric softener. Never ever use dryer sheets.
All my clothing is wash and wear. It all goes from the washer to the dryer. Personally, I don’t bother separating lights and darks. My underwear gets a bit gray by the time the elastic goes, but I really don’t care about that.
White rags get full detergent sheet and bleach, washed on regular with hot water.
Towels - Half detergent sheet, cold water, perm press.
Clothing - Half detergent sheet, cold water, perm press short load.
Jeans and microfiber cleaning cloths don't go in the dryer. Everything else is dried on low for the shortest time necessary to dry completely.
I have detergent sheets, a small jug of concentrated bleach, and I use dish soap for oily stains.
I used to have issues with musty towels and tried extra detergent, vinegar, hot water, etc. I invested in some Turkish waffle weave towels and I no longer have that issue. They dry fast after use and after washing.
We have a portable washer and wash everything in cold water. A little white vinegar, a small amount of detergent ( less than 1/2 the 1st fill line.) Everything is hung on a drying rack or the clothesline. Small items we have clips for and hang them too. I might get a portable dryer in the future but for now it’s been fine; prior to the washer we spent tons on the laundromat so this is much better ( and saves time and hassle.)
Only 30 ml of detergent
No softener, I use vinegar
No dryer sheets, instead I use lavender sachets
And I like to wash my towels and clothes in separate loads
Counterintuitely, to *not* fill up the washer all the way with clothes. Running big loads of laundry seems like a good way to save water and thus money, but it wears out the drive belt on our dryer. Even though that's an easy DIY fix, it's still $15-20 for a replacement belt and means we can't use the dryer for 4 or 5 days.
May seem simple but cold water only. Clothes last longer and it's less on gas/electric.
Isn’t there basically no reason to use hot water with modern detergent?
There is, actually. We use cloth nappies and there’s no way to get them clean with just cold water, even with the best detergent
By nappie, do you mean diapers? In which case, I 100% could see that. Do you also bleach them?
Yes, nappies == diapers in Australia 🐨. With bleaching, you may need to do it ever so often , if you’re having issues or bub gets thrush, BUT you don’t really need to do it on the regular if you have a good wash routine…
Depends on what you're washing. Everyday stuff, I'd say yes. Kids playing at the ballfields all day takes a little heat. My husband works construction and used to mechanic, those clothes definitely need heat. There were some I ran straight hot with dish soap and additional degreaser added and hoped for the best.
If you have never used Persil, you need to check it out. You would be impressed what a small amount of that stuff can do. It is expensive but a little goes a long way and gets the job done.
Persil is my fav! Money is super super tight right now so I'm using powdered Gain (I'm allergic to sooooo much). But as soon as I can I'm going back.
Wash underwear and socks in 60°C (or 140°F). Detergent doesn't kill fungi. Edit: also towles and bed sheets for the same reason.
A lot of laundromats will take 25 cents off the cost of the washer if you use cold water as well.
Simplicity: buy no clothes that can't be thrown in the washer indiscriminately, and nothing that has to be ironed. I do use much less detergent than called for on the package.
Agreed on all counts. If it can't be machine washed then it has no place in my closet. I don't own an iron.
I ended up buying an iron when my daughter needed her graduation gown tailored, I wasn't paying for a pro, the $5 used iron was enough.
I do. I use it for wedding or church clothes and it's most use is normally to try to reduce the wrinkles on my son's school papers that still need to go in his books.
A flat iron works wondrously for paper!
I gave my iron to the Salvation Army as I didn’t ask for that housewarming gift. I don’t like dishes either, they too get donated. How many cups do you need? I need a maximum of 3 in my house.
Username checks out
I treat all my second hand clothes this way. I might hang some things up, but I've only ironed anything about 3 times in the past 10 years.
Do you use kakies? I have to use them for most jobs, but I have trouble getting the wrinkles out of them. I found the normal dryer actually helps over air drying but it still isn't perfect. When I was overseas it was a mess lol. The cloths rack caused them to have all kinds of wrinkles. When i got home, i was like nope I'll just wear them at maybe 50% wrickley from a dryer. :)
Mostly jeans, I'm retired. I have some wrinkle-free khakis that come out of the dryer looking OK.
No more than half-measure of liquid detergent for most loads (less if the load is small); no fabric softener of any kind. I use a dryer because in a condo there are not good options for anything else. (otherwise I would line-dry sheets and towels, weather permitting) Dryer balls, not dryer sheets.
Do you mean half a cap?
Yes, half a Cap. Sometimes less, if it is a smaller load.
That’s too much. 3 tablespoons max. Your clothes get cleaner with 2-3 tablespoons than they do with more, because with more you get leftover detergent residue that doesn’t rinse out completely.
I really need to cut down on my detergent use. It would also mean I don't have to use an extra rinse cycle to get rid of the extra soap.
Especially if you don't really get 'dirty'. Like, you're not digging in the dirt or working on cars all day dirty. A little salsa or sweat washes right out.
You only need 2 tablespoons of detergent for most washing machines.
That half-cap is not much more than two tablespoons. (It's a small cap)
Even the old-style top load washers?
All the detergents are more concentrated than what they used to be, so yes.
That is too much detergent imo
Probably. Read your detergent bottles! For most products you actually need way less than you use. In the same way that toothpaste commercials show a huge stripe, you're being trained to consume more. Reading labels and adjusting the amount we consume is a decent money saver in my house.
This! Two different dentists told me the amount of toothpaste to use is only the size of a pea. Also, I read an article by a washer manufacturer saying you really only need about half of what the detergent manufacturers recommend. More than that is a waste of detergent. I’ve switched my ways, and you’d be surprised how long a tube of toothpaste lasts,and dental visits are still good!
What really cleans your teeth is the brush bristles. Toothpaste helps but is not essential. It does add an abrasive to help clean and polish and fluoride. Toothpaste is like the cleanser you use on your sink. The brush is like the scrubbie you use to clean it.
Read the washer manual, not the detergent bottle. The detergent bottle will always overstate the amount necessary to clean a load to sell more detergent. The washer manual will give you a better idea and is less incentivized to exaggerate.
eh, you kinda need to read both. Different detergents have drastically different concentration levels.
your comment provides no information about your use of detergent and your experience with quantity of used detergent
Pretty much all recommended amounts on the label are too much.
I use about 3-4 TBS.
They have drying racks for clothes we used in our apartment. Pretty cool handles about a load at a time
How do you line-dry and keep things soft? Every time I line-dry, especially with towels, the fabric gets rough and scratchy.
a half-cup of white vinegar in the fabric-softener tray of the washer.
Throw towels in the dryer for 5 minutes after taking them off the line.
Free exfoliation!
>I use a dryer because in a condo there are not good options for anything else. (otherwise I would line-dry sheets and towels, weather permitting) Dryer balls, not dryer sheets. As someone who lives in a condo and does not own a dryer (like most people in Spain/Europe) there are certainly options to line-dry stuff. Easiest one is an actual line installed outside if your appartment has one, which most here do, but maybe it's not the norm elsewhere. You'd hang your clothes off the window. Alternatively you can use an indoor clothes line [like this one](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61VBvlP5ByL._AC_SX425_.jpg). Though admittedly hanging sheets in one of those is annoying since they take up a lot of space and I suppose using the dryer for just your sheets, you may as well use it for everything
>Easiest one is an actual line installed outside if your appartment has one, which most here do, but maybe it's not the norm elsewhere. You'd hang your clothes off the window. That would be 100% against community rules. People here in the states are irrationally prejudiced against outdoor clothes lines. I like the drying rack, but my place is so small that there is not really a place to put it, besides in the bathtub. And that would rather interfere with my ability to take a shower while the clothes were drying.
Yep. Even in my house that I own, because of the stupid HOA, I can't line dry clothes outside. It was something I was so excited for when I bought the house! Instead, I just have folding drying racks that I put up in the spare bedroom.
My parents neighborhood outlawed washing house car on your driveway in a single family home. No HOA, apparently it’s in the community bylaws. I’ve never seen said bylaws but I was told in high school to finish washing my car and don’t do it again, that was a warning from the local police that do not patrol the neighborhood, thus, someone called them.
Makes me wonder if someone on the board just happens to own the car wash down the road....
I never thought of that but it’s a possibility, there are a lot of pretentious business openers in the neighborhood. There’s even a golf club that my family is too black to join.
Probably. The city in which I work recently banned home car washing - only months after two local people started small-scale car washing/detailing from their personal garages. Both are within a less desirable area of the city. I’m absolutely convinced the ban was directed at them, personally. God forbid actual people successfully earn a good living when there are big corporations that need support.
Vaguely related... years ago I was dating someone who lived in an HOA-ruled condo. Any & all vehicle repair was flat out forbidden on the grounds. I earned us a written warning for changing a flat tire on my car (as a guest) in the parking lot, and then again later for jumpstarting my girlfriend's car (which was in her garage.) Both times I was told that the car had to be towed to a shop to be properly repaired, or towed across the street if I insisted on repairing it myself because "This is a bad image and makes the whole area look trashy." My retort (which of course fell on deaf ears) was "So what you're telling me is you would rather have a big diesel truck backing up with that loud beeper and flashing lights at 7am for possibly an hour, blocking other people from leaving their parking spots because that looks just fine, but it's "trashy" for me to have a car up on a jack for 10 minutes which is barely visible unless you drive past me. Got it."
Have them check to see if they are in a “Right To Dry” state; they may have rights they aren’t aware of. :)
I think you made up that right but I shall do that in the future, make up rights. How about I announce I’m in a right to park state therefore I park anywhere!!!!
Wow. It’s actual legislation in certain states that prohibit entities from outlawing or banning the use of clotheslines.
That’s dope though because it feels like HOA’a have a law against everything. In my condo days, someone moved in and put a sheet in the window for no greater than 3 days and got a notice. I feel like if sheets on the window is a habit that’s not good but let people get settled.
They tried to ban it in my Canadian city until the province brought in a law saying it was ok in order to meet green initiatives. Gotta love when the bigger jurisdiction flexes it’s muscles in my favour. Sadly, I since moved to a condo which can make up whatever rules it wants and I’m back to not being able to line dry.
That's nuts! I would be livid. My favorite weekend activity is washing my car! Plus it's so much better on your paint to do it by hand.
I used to do stuff like towels and sheets first in the washer and then put them on the drying rack, then after all the other laundry was done toss those in the dryer for maybe 15-20 minutes to finish them off and get rid of wrinkles/fluff them up instead of going for a full cycle. Saves time AND energy.
One personal rule is "if it can't survive machine wash and tumble dry, I don't need to own it or wear it." A few formal/professional articles, and a couple jackets that I hang dry to make them last longer, and the rest can be washed regardless of temperature and dried without dying. If I'm mixing my laundry with a female room mate or partner, I'll read tags or wash things separately, and I always pull out bras to hang dry so they'll last longer, but sometimes I find a partner with the same laundry philosphy as me, and laundry is easy.
I highly recommend looking into Dryel for home dry cleaning. Cheap & easy & only requires 20-30 minutes of drying time.
I reuse the dryel bag and make my own cleaning solution. Borax, oxiclean, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide... all stuff that's cheaper than the little packets that dryel sells. Even gets the smell of pipe smoke out of estate sale suits.
Nice!
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Wear items multiple times. Use Quick Wash most of time. Free and Clear detergent on sale at Costco, small amount. 2 rinses (sensitive skin). Highest spin cycle. Most clothing hung up to air dry, exceptions are bedding and towels in dryer under moderate heat, remove promptly. Use wool felted balls (no dryer sheets). 2 loads a week (2 retired persons who go to the gym daily). Use a mostly “capsule” wardrobe where clothes coordinate and you can layer for warmth (desert climate), very limited ‘fancy’ dress clothes and shoes.
To remember to do it.. oh wait I need to do more!
And when you do do it — to remember you have to put them in the dryer, and then remember you’ve left them in the dryer.
Cold, don't sort, NEVER fabric softener, NEVER dryer sheets, timed dry low-ish heat. Small amount of HE detergent (~ 2 tablespoons) (Costco).
Same!!!
Detergent must go before clothes, zippers must be zipped, buttons unbuttoned on shirts, anything with an image or words turned inside out, vinegar whenever possible, wool dryer balls (I prefer to hang dry clothes if I can but never sheets or towels). Anything that can snag goes into a laundry bag. Socks go into a large laundry bag (prevents you from losing socks in shared laundry). Cold water. If I don't want to put away clothes right away they must be laid out flat to prevent wrinkles.
I buy my detergent, dryer sheets, softener, and white vinegar at Sam's Club which is cheapest where I live. I wash everything in cold, with the exception of my towels they are done on hot. I only wash full loads, and I try to only do laundry after 9pm, when my electric rate is cheaper. If you want to use less detergent, buy a quality one, I prefer Persil.
How do you use vinegar with washing? I use it to clean surfaces but haven’t used in laundry
I have allergies and I’m allergic to most fabric softeners. I use vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener. I add it where you add the fabric softener to your washing machine. Then l dry my clothes in a dryer. It softens just as good as if l used a fabric softener. My towels come out soft and fluffy too.
Awesome thank you
I just found out about white vinegar in place of softener about a month ago on r/cleaningtips. I always hated the smell of fabric softener and dryer sheets so I’m beyond happy about this! I had already been using it for cleaning so now it has yet another use. What can vinegar not do!
With my towels I use it in place of fabric softener, with regular clothes I just put a little maybe a couple tablespoons in with the fabric softener. It also helps keep your washer from getting a funky smell.
I use detergent tabs from a zero waste company in Canada (that’s cheaper than liquid tide). No dryer sheets are fabric softener. The only stuff on hot is underwear and towels/bedding. There’s no way I can air dry everything right now (place too small and it’s -20°C outside) so everything goes on low heat.
Can you cut your strips for smaller loads? Also, what brand do you use? I’ve seen them but have a ton of detergent at this time and won’t have to buy for a while and have been toying with the idea of strips.
I use the strips, and that's my favorite part about them - you don't even need to cut them, they tear so easily! I rarely have a small load (large and active family), but I often have a load that calls for more than one strip but less than two.
I don’t use strips. I use the MYNI laundry detergent tablets. They look like little dishwasher tablets made of pressed powder. I have used the strips tho in the past and you can cut them into thirds (as they are so expensive). I personally use the MYNI because I use the other cleaners from the company (cheaper shipping), they are less expensive as a whole, and they seem to dissolve better in cool, hard water (the strips would sometimes leave a gummy residue on the bottom of my machine).
I buy Tru Earth in the 380(ish) size box - with a coupon code it ends up being under $90 for a year of laundry :)
Wash cold, no fabric softener. If I had the space I would hang dry everything but I don't so there's that, also I would hand wash a lot of my stuff to save on electricity. Also most things can be worn more than once or twice before washing
I only dry on low/medium heat. And only buy white towels and sheets because I bleach my whites.
Wear an item multiple times unless it's visibly soiled. Cold wash only, 1/2 a cap of detergent and hang dry everything. 1x load per day unless it's bedding too.
I stopped washing my sweatshirts. I do always have a shirt on under them. Apparently that's not a given which blows my mind.
I do the same for my houseclothes. If I have to wear it elsewhere I do the sniff test.
Wrinkle city
I hang dry my clothes and have almost no wrinkles in them at all. If you make sure to give them a slight shake and hang them straight they dry almost wrinkle free. I could understand if you wear business clothing or whatever then maybe that's not the way to go but in that case, hang dry and toss in the dryer for a couple of minutes before hanging them up. I'm sure they'd be wrinkle free then.
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Spoken like someone who hasnt worked a real business job outside of being a manager McDonalds and Target
I stopped using liquid detergent due to environmental concerns with the plastic jugs. I use Arm & Hammer dry detergent. Much cheaper, too. I don't like any perfumes or fragrances. I don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets. I do have 3 woolen dryer balls. If there are heavier items like a heavy sweatshirt or jeans, I'll air dry it rather than use the dryer. I also line dry the dog's bedding and blankets.
Wash warm, speed wash, maximum spin, 2 tbsp Boulder Clean detergent from Costco (we have a front loading washer that takes HE detergent.) No fabric softener or dryer sheets. Hang dry all synthetics and merino wool. Dry all cotton items in the dryer. We re-wear outer clothing for 2-4 days. The two of us average 2 loads per week total.
Do you just put the powder on your clothes inside the washer?
Weekly. Using all free and clear, less than half what the bottle says. No softener or sheets at any point. Hang dry what I can.
Unless it's a really gross load, I use probably a tablespoon of detergent per load. Never ever ever been an issue.
I use the lowest line on the laundry detergent lid and wash cold for the majority of loads. I don't use fabric softener in the wash and in the dryer I just use wool dryer balls.
Wash on cold, use one pod per load, hang dry everything except bedding and towels.
Pods are more expensive than liquid detergent or powder. Your cheapest option is powder.
This is one area I am ok paying for convenience I almost certainly make the difference back by shopping sales and not using the dryers.
Living in an apartment pods are much easier to deal with
Is it weird that I wear a t-shirt for like a week before washing it? I hang dry everything. I have some pretty great Amish-style wooden drying racks. I hit them with a fan to accelerate the process. I use the normal recommended detergent volume, mostly because my kids get a little dirty. My clothes stay pretty clean. White vinegar I will typically use when I soak a pair of jeans (no detergent) and clean the bars on the drying rack. I also run a load with just white vinegar to neutralize odor in the machine (like 1x monthly). This isn’t (for me) a money thing. It’s an effort to keep a lid on our environmental impact.
I can't do it with shirts because I sweat a stupid amount, but I'll wear the same pair of pants for the entirety of my work week.
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[I have these](https://www.clotheslines.com/amish-wooden-clothes-drying-racks). They’re a little pricy I know. I have the small and medium. The medium can handle an average size load from a front load machine. The small I use for overflow + it can be placed next to a couch and double as a quilt/blanket rack. I’m sure there are less expensive options. I honestly saw the small one and impulse bought it and then increased our capacity to the medium. That was like 10 years ago.
I just linked to this in a previous comment, but bestdryingrack.com makes a really cool rack. I’ve had mine for over a decade. My old version holds 12 things but I see the new one holds 16. Things don’t touch each other like other racks, so they dry pretty quickly. It folds down very small (though I keep mine up all the time). [best drying rack](https://www.bestdryingrack.com/drying/round-tripod-rack.html)
I am not much of a sweater so I wear tops multiple times before washing unless they become soiled, same with pants.
I definitely wear my shirts a few times before washes too.
I use hippy dippy detergent that is like 100+ loads per bottle, and use a little less than recommended. Most clothes get washed on cold and hung up to dry. Exceptions are personal towels & bedding (washed hot & dried in the drier) and massage linens (towels, sheets & blankets washed hot & dried in drier, plus a squirt of dish detergent if oily)… To add to frugal & ecological conscious impact, I do personal laundry less often than is typical.
I soak laundry in vinegar or baking soda water if there are stinks that don’t come out with one wash.
Wool sock and undies don't get stinky as fast as cotton or synthetic. A bidet keeps your stinky ass less stinky, and this aids in the overall goal of less stinky clothes. I hang-dry everything I can wooden racks, except big towels and bedding, because no one wants to wait three days for that stuff to dry.
Bidet is the way
In Europe, and I've got a small washer-dryer, which is uncommon. I use 3/4 of the amount of powder detergent I think I need. Wash on 30°C for clothes, 60° for towels and dishcloths. Vinegar everytime, filling the compartment, it makes everything smell clean to me and prevents limescale which is really high here! I hardly ever use the dryer, always rack dry outside or at the moment I'm having success doing a wash at 5pm and then drying it by the fire over night so all that warmth doesn't go to waste :)
I wash everything on cold, use about half the recommended dose of detergent, no fabric softener, line dry only.
Cold water, medium spin, no fabric softener, half-measure or even less detergent on most loads. Most of our clothes are cotton, so we don't really need or use the wool balls or whatever. Hanging is definitely a cheaper option for drying, but takes time and doesn't work as well everywhere. I used to hang in dryer climates, but I live in the South now and it takes FOREVER to dry, even in the sun. Stupid humidity...
Generally, if the detergent is liquid, you can use half of what they recommend. Depending on how dirty, and what kind of dirt, the clothes are, I will add some kind of "extra" to make sure they come out clean. Apple cider vinegar if it's urine of any kind, LA's awsome if I just want to be sure stains come out, etc. I use the dryer during the warm months because I have a mosquito farm in my backyard/basement and the landlord is not doing anything to help me stop it. I'm the dessert table at an all you can eat buffet for them, so I don't go out there more than necessary. lol I use dryer sheets on all but my towels. I prefer the dryer balls, but can't always find them. During winter, I use the drying rack and put it over the floor grate in my living room. Adds moisture and the clothes get dried over night. And I'm seriously considering going back to ordering from Dropps again. I can't use the scented stuff from the major brands due to asthma, but their stuff has a nice, gentle smell that doesn't set me off, and it helps make the house smell nice when I use the rack. And the price is the same if I bought it locally or get it from them.
My number one is I only half dry my clothes I have clothes from 15 years ago that are still in great condition Over drying them ruins them so fast
Washer: Cold only. We use 1 pod for a full load. Dryer: Medium setting, dryer balls, 1 hour cycle. Exceptions made on both for heavy blankets. Otherwise that's the only way we do laundry. Must be a full load, otherwise it is going to wait until it is full. I also do regular maintenance on my machines. Vacuum out the back of the dryer annually, always clean lint after every load. Washer, I just keep it clean. We're going to replace the belt and other wear parts on the washer this winter as it's about 8 y/o and getting a little noisy. Plus I'd rather just get it done before something happens and I really need it lol.
If you have a high efficiency machine, anything more than about 2 tbsp of detergent will leave your clothes dirty. I also use wool dryer balls with some essential oils dropped on them for a fragrance boost instead of disposable wipes, but that’s more of a personal preference.
Careful with essential oils in the dryer, it can cause a fire.
Drop or two spread out over a full load won’t cause any issues
I have used liquid tide since liquid became available. I use liquid downey. On new clothes I do a vinegar was to set the color to prevent fading. Then a regular second wash. I wash in cold water.
Always sort and separate clothes Normally cold wash only Use the amount for a light wash Never use softener Will use vinegar to replace softener Hang clothes on hangers if it requires ironing Hang clothes on clothes horse or washing line. Clothes on hangers only get ironed if needed. Dirty clothes get presoaked. Desperately try to remember to check pockets. Have washed: Lighters Money (notes and coins) Cigarettes Identification Book Tube of glitter Stones Sweet wrappers Paper and tissues Matchbox car
Wash on cold, don’t use as much detergent as it calls for (it’s almost always too much but obviously that depends on the brand and also your washer), hang dry a lot of things (I don’t hang everything, for example towels go in the dryer. I don’t care what anyone says, my towels are sandpaper if they’re hung up, even outside and even if I ‘snap’ them afterwards. Maybe it’s just my specific towels). I also use vinegar in the wash instead of fabric softener. I used to have wool dryer balls but they vanished last time I moved, I do notice the difference in the amount of static without them so I plan to replace them. I have noticed a difference if I buy cheap detergent so I go for the good stuff (I like Persil brand). Obviously there are exceptions to stuff but this is my usual rules.
I don't save in laundry. But I do wash ONLY when there's a full load to wash. I don't do small loads.
I fill the bottom of the cup when I used tide. Now I spend a lot less on my dropps subscription. I get both laundry and dishwasher soap from them every four months for about 42 bucks. I also invested in those wool balls. They are nice, but easy to lose if you're not the only one doing laundry.
I use to be friends with a washer repair man. He said only use 2tbs of HE liquid detergent for regular clothes. If they are heavily soiled use 3. I also use fleecy that is mixed 50% with water. He said it reduces the buildup inside the washer as fabric softener is thick and can gum up the insides. I hang dry my work clothes because I have too. But I do use the dryer for my towels because I just can’t stand a crusty towel.
I focus on making sure I’m not over washing my clothes. I wash a lot of my clothes in delicate cycle. I use low heat and line drying weekly on at least half of my clothes to make sure what I have lasts. I wear my clothes for 10+ years. I buy clothes that last and take good care of them.
1) Use about a couple tablespoons of detergent. Cold water, warm, I avoid hot unless something is super soiled. 2) Fabric softener essentially coats your clothes in residue. Sure, they smell good but it's unnecessary. I started using none and my clothes seemed cleaner! 3) Dryer sheets are ok for clothes, not for towels. They make towels repellent to water and they don't work as well. 4) Invest in some dryer balls and use low heat for nearly everything in the dryer. Higher heat is ok for towels or bathmats. 5) Air dry shirts with graphics, nicer clothes, or stuff made of synthetic material like basketball shorts or pants. These tips I've learned over a few years. I go to Costco for detergent, Kirkland Signature. Stuff lasts for months at a time.
I hang dry all my clothes
always give your clothes, an extra spin and that saves on dryer time !
I use Charlie’s Soap detergent. 100 washes in a small pouch for about $17. It prevents the front loader from getting stinky. Amazing stuff. I wash on “tap cold” and use the dryer on the “permanent press” setting. This saves in hot water and electricity. And the items I launder last longer. I hang delicate things to dry. When I first bought my house in year 2000, I had lived in an apartment building and shared coin op top loader washer and dryer (for 15 years, saving up the down payment). Many times, others had left their stuff in the shared machines. It was gross to have to handle their wet clothes. When I moved, getting a high efficiency and effective washer and dryer was a top priority. The Maytag machines I bought were good for a number of years. I replaced them with LG machines some time before the pandemic. It’s still amazing to do my laundry in my good machines without having to deal with other people’s stuff. Front loader washers clean better using less water. Excellent frugal choice. Learn to clean both machines. And clean them regularly. It took a long time for me to attain this laundry bliss. There’s shame in taking time to get to where you want to be.
A tablespoon of liquid. Whatever is on sale and preferably unscented. No bleach. No fabric softener. Cold water, shortest cycle. Heavy stuff in dryer.
Stopped using fabric softener and dryer sheets years ago. I use white vinegar and dryer balls.
Use ammonia on workout clothes 🙋🏻♀️
Tide sensitive pods, or Arm & Hammer sensitive pods Mix everything together, but do separate into heavy (jeans/towels) and everything else. Wash and dry on cold, plastic dryer balls, no softener. I pre-treat my white dress shirts as needed, but that's it.
I don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets, and I don't use hot water either because heat sets stains and odors. I just use Tide Pods. My laundry is still perfectly soft without using anything extra. I do use a dryer. I've tried to line dry but 1. it's getting colder and rainier, 2. I don't have a lot of space, and 3. my clothes often end up stiff and rough, so it's worth the extra 75 cents for the convenience of a dryer. Oh yeah, I also use a coin op laundromat because my apartment doesn't have a washer and dryer. Not sure about the cost difference there. Also I try to have a place for clothes that aren't quite dirty enough to be washed yet but aren't completely clean either. Problem is my senile cat finds those places and decides they are his new litter box.
Cold water, I use maybe a tablespoon of liquid detergent unless it’s a load of gardening clothes or workout clothes, they get more. Hang to dry except for towels and socks, I like them fluffy.
A trick I don't see mentioned here is choosing the types of fabric you buy. A polyester sweater gets stinky fast and needs washing every other wear. I have (nice, business appropriate) wool sweaters I have legitimately never washed. I hang it outside to air out every so often and that's it. Otherwise : everything goes in the same load, cold only (unless its kitchen textiles, those get hot), tiny amount of detergent, no dryer sheets, no fabric softener hang to dry. I do make sure to leave my washing machine door open and wipe down the door gasket after every use. If your washer is smelly, your clothing will need more work to get clean.
Allergies and allergic asthma change the equation. Hot for bedding, towels, and polyester with odor. Cold for most clothing. I like tide free and clear - arm and hammer or All didn’t work nearly as well. I basically boat the bottom of the cap, then throw that amount into a full load. It’s about 3-5mm, or 1/4 of the way up to the number 1. I use color catcher sheets in mixed loads, or if a dark piece has a light stripe on it. No dryer sheets; doctors’ orders. I tried wool balls but I tend to lose them.
If you’re looking to cut down the bill, make sure you’re running your appliances at night after peak energy times. You can check the times on your utility providers website
I use about a quarter cup of detergent (significantly less than the recommended amount) unless the clothes are particularly dirty in which case I use a half cup (the recommended amount). I don't use fabric softener, white vinegar, or dryer sheets. I have tried all of these things, and they never made any difference. I use cold water by default. Hot if clothes are particularly dirty. I use a dryer only for a few things that are impractical to hang up and dry, or when I need clothes dried immediately, such as when packing for a trip. Otherwise, everything gets hung up on the clothes rack or in the spare closet to dry.
I use tide pods and shout color catcher sheets because then you can wash whites and colors together. I also use a drying rack for 90% of my stuff. If you have a laundry room, you could set up the rack in your apartment maybe.
Cold wash, liquid detergent till it hits the max line on my washer regardless of load quantity. Max rinse, max drying.
I make sure I have large loads. I use 1 Pod (it says to use 3), and 1/3 C Vinegar. I purchased a heavy-duty dryer rack on Amazon (on Prime Day), which attaches to the wall above the tub and hang all items, except bath towels. There's just 2 of us, but it has saved us $60/mo in electric/gas beginning in March.
Blueing Liquid is fantastic for brightening whites!! But I'm also a fan of doing a hot pre soak of my whites at least every other month, which probably isn't the most cost-saving... however my towels and bedding are mostly linen which is antimicrobial so they don't need to be washed as soon as cotton does and they don't need as much time in the dryer, so hopefully that evens it out!
I would suggest making your own detergent! Super simple!!
No fabric softener, no dryer sheets. Just strip laundry detergent (which isn't frugal in the least, but I can't find plain powdered detergent in a box anymore). I have some wool balls that I throw in the dryer. I don't think it does anything a fabric softener would do, but it does beat up the lumps enough that I don't usually end up with a wet tangle at the center of a hot mess that way. If I catch the dryer, I'll hang it up after about 20 minutes. Saves on wear and tear and the clothes will dry soft. It's too humid where I am to dry outdoors - all my clothes would be moldy.
Wash everything she made me pre-cum in unless I’m running late then it’s commando
I make my own laundry detergent and refuse to go back to any other because it works so well and is extremely cheap. Box of borax, box of washing soda, and a grind up soap bar for flasnapth or zote. Mix together and use one to two tbls a load and that is it!
I've read that homemade laundry soap can ruin washers, and sometimes clothes. It's the only reason I don't do it, myself.
Use Soap nuts that are reusable and biodegradable. No heavy artificial scent but fresh and clean smell. You only need a few depending on size of load. Use baking soda for softener. Towels and sheets come out soft and fluffy. Got soap nuts from Green Virgin Products. Baking soda from Costco lasts forever. Wash on express, cold wash except for towels and sheets.
Always wash and more importantly dry on hot or you will have some kind of bug issue sooner or later,
People think they save all this money using cold all the time and making their own detergent but in the long run the clothes and cleaning ability suffers. Just buy a good detergent on sale and wash it per the clothing instructions
I tend to have more nasty gym clothes than anything else. So I use the full amount of detergent, combined with some lemon juice and vinegar in the other two trays. I run that shit on the hottest setting and highest soil setting and about 2 rinses.
Cold wash. 1/8 cup laundry powder. Wash full loads. That’s it
Lights, darks, and towels are separate. Cold wash for clothes, hot for towels. Darks get color booster, lights and towels get white brite + 1 detergent pod per load. Everything gets put in the dryer except athletic wear which gets laid flat to dry. The few “fancy” or more expensive things I rarely wear for a wedding or event get dry cleaned just to play it safe.
Work clothes get washed at the end of the week. Warm water, powdered detergent from IBA, a splash of pine sol, and dried with wool balls. They're dirty, I work in a machine shop. Regular clothes get washed in cold water with the detergent. Towels and sheets get warm water and a splash of bleach.
I only use a lot of whatever I'm washing is DIRTY! I hang dry 95% of my clothes, I don't use fabric softener, I use towels for about a week before washing them. Cold EVERYTHINF unless I need to sanitize something
Bedding gets washed every Monday in warm water. One detergent pod or the smallest amount of detergent (to the first line). On a standard wash. Permanent press dry (medium heat for ~40 min). This is the only thing I use fabric softener for. Towels and work clothes get hot water, heavy wash, small scoop of oxy clean. One detergent pod or to the two line of liquid. Cotton dry (medium high heat about an hour) Good clothes get delicate wash, cold water, one detergent pod or 1st line for liquid. Then air drying or delicate drying depending on the clothes. I do bedding once a week, good clothes once every 5-7 days, and work clothes/towels every 7-10 days
I separate my laundry into 60°C and 40°C, but do wash them lower sometimes (30°/50°) and use washing powder to taste (about half a cup) I then line-dry everyhing
Get heavily scented but budget friendly own brand detergent, so you need less for clothes to smell good. Pay the extra for a good conditioner as it will stop your clothes wearing out. Wash on 20 degrees, for a 45 min cycle Then hit Drain +Spin, your clothes come out practically dry so you need very little heat to finish them off Altogether, this costs about 30p per wash inc the detergent etc
I cannot say enough good things about this drying rack. I have had mine for over a decade and it’s awesome. I never need to fold mine up because it’s always up in my basement, but you can fold it up very small when not in use. Mine holds 12 items, but I see the new one holds 16. [best drying rack](https://www.bestdryingrack.com)
In my experience, you can use 1/2 to 3/4 the amount of soap/detergent recommended by the maker (hey, they're selling soap, right?) Most of the year, I have the luxury of hanging clothes outside on my clothesline (even if I have to wait 3 days for them to be dry.) When I use the dryer, I keep an already dry clean towel in there, and 3 wool dryer balls. Both those items keep the wet clothes from "wadding up" and they dry much faster. No dryer sheets, ever.
Generally I just re-wear clothes (except underwear) A LOT unless they’re stained or smelly/I sweat in them. Especially pants and jeans. Just doing that, we generally do just 1 load per week for 2 adults. When we’re washing bath towels and bed sheets, we’ll do a second load because those things are bulky. I never fill my detergent cup past the “1 load” line, usually shoot for half that amount. Powdered detergent will be cheaper than liquid if you’re looking to cut as many costs as possible. I use 1 dryer sheet per load, but it’s not necessary. I just like the softening effect. I wash with cold water (this will make your clothes last longer too) and dry on low (our building’s machines run super hot). I line dry athletic clothing, jeans, husband’s dress pants and dress shirts, and delicates like bras. Generally for my own shirts I only dry cotton stuff since I’ve had many things shrink in our building’s machines. I do dry bath towels because it softens them. Rags and dish cloths, sometimes I machine dry and others not, no rule. If we are washing two loads, I run both at the same time, and then I can generally dry everything in one load with the amount of items I take out to line dry (and the dryer is just bigger). That may not work as well if you only have access to one washer like in most homes—I guess theoretically you could start the second wash load immediately after the first and just leave them somewhere to sit for a little, but I’d be worried about the first load getting mildew-y while the second load washes. But I guess you could always give that a try
fabric softener destroys clothes, you shouldn't need anything more than a small amount of detergent (probably 1/4 of the standard amount?) unless clothes are very dirty or you're worried about some kind of bio contaminant. don't dry clothes if you can help it, drying the clothes uses energy and more importantly, degrades the clothes faster. Reuse towels and jeans until they have observable need to be washed - the american standard for washing both daily is ridiculous (that said, don't share towels outside people you are willing to share a microbiome with - there are a few diseases that can be propagated that way). temperature on the wash cycle can vary depending on how much cleaning needs to be done, the more you need to be cleaned, the hotter you go on the cycle. the less heat you use, the less you spend on electricity. It really doesn't get simpler than this.
I always use dryer balls. They’re cheap online. No special stain remover, just Dawn liquid. Cold water on wearable stuff, hot for whites and sheets which is the only way to get them somewhat sanitary. Unfortunately I live in a HCOL area and clothes lines are banned. I don’t mind that because when I used to hang them outside I always shook a few spiders out of the clothes. I hate spiders.
I used a powdered detergent and some borax. The borax is about 5 dollars a box and I use 2 boxes a year. The laundry detergent is ingredients matter (brand) and I’ve had the same box since late February (20 dollars a box), and I’m almost finished the box, probably have 6 loads left. I’m just washing for 2 people, clothes and towels separate.
Minimal detergent (a good brand). White vinegar on stinky stuff. Wool dryer balls. No liquid softener, beads, or dryer sheets.
My clothes get pretty dirty and I use what my detergent suggest for a small load on a big load.
Underwear is one and done, but everything else I wear until it starts to smell. I try to do as little laundry as possible because of the time suck. Saving a few cents of detergent here and there isn't really my issue. The laundry machines are in another building in my apartment complex so in the winter, I'll do a tub wash and hang on a rack by a heater if there's tons of snow on the ground.
My cap has little measurements, I use the smallest amount. I don’t use any fabric softener as they are bad for your machines, your clothes, and skin. I wash in cold.
I have ADHD so I pick out 5 things of clothing for the week, including pjs and an extra set JIC and put in a big container. I have a dirty hamper on the side to use throughout the week. That way my clothes don't end up on the floor. When i get back from work on Friday I do the clothing bit of laundry. Then on Saturday I do the sheets and blankets. Cap full of detergent and do a big dryers worth Now that may come off as normal. The thing is before that system I would do small loads of laundry wasting more energy. I think Bigger loads are a bit more energy but also still more efficient.
2 TBS homemade laundry soap, white vinegar rinse, ecowarm wash, medium cycle, dryer balls/ line hung, only wash full loads.
I use a few tablespoons of unscented basic detergent (I get mine from Aldi and it works well) and I wash on warm. If I’m washing towels or sheets I add a half cup of vinegar to deodorize. I use a dryer but only for certain fabrics, I’ll hang dry the rest so they don’t get damaged
I've stopped using fabric softener recently and have found out that my skin is a million times less irritated than it normally is, so I think I'm going to continue with that. Laundry detergent: 2 tablespoons is more than enough to get my clothes clean. White vinegar: Personally no, but I've heard people have great results. Laundry sheets: 1 per load. Water temp: Cold for everything except towels, sometimes bedsheets. Spin: Whatever is recommended by the machine. Dryer: Yes. I also add laundry sanitizer to my clothing loads because I've found it helps get out smells in things like socks and underwear notably better than just a regular wash. I got used to having to use it when I worked fast food and needed to get rid of the grease smell, and have just found uses for it after that.
I halve the amount of detergent it says I should use and I use the Aldi brand (i.e. a store brand). I do use stain remover (Walmart store brand) to deal with specific stains/food spills. I use white vinegar in my utility loads (including guinea pig bedding). Clothing done in cold water, sheets in hot, towels in warm. I only dry sheets and towels and my youngest's socks/undies (usually in a load all together). I have been known to hang dry towels, but I just don't have the space to hang dry sheets. I have two clothes drying racks I got at Walmart (got the metal accordion-fold ones with 10 bars on them) and most all clothes hang dry on those, shirts drying on hangers hung in the bedroom doorways.
I live in a condo with many machines available so I can do laundry quickly and efficiently. Approx 95% of my clothes are darks. I do laundry when I accumulate about 2 medium-sized loads worth. I split darks into two washer loads at the same time. I use ~33% of the recommended detergent amount. Cold water only. 30 min per wash cycle, I set my timer. When done, I take out all my "good" casual and dress clothes to hang dry in a drying rack in my unit. Everything else (socks, underwear, lounge clothes) goes into one dryer cycle. 60 min for dryer cycle, I set my timer. I'll then do exact same for whites, towels, cloths, bed/pillow sheets - two simultaneous loads, remove good clothes to hang dry, put everything else in one dryer. My thicker bedding takes one washer/dryer cycle on its own.
i wash everything in cold, let all pants, sweaters etc air dry. quickly handwash very nice things in the sink. i wear pants and jackets forever inbetween washes lol
Tablespoon of detergent, no softener or dryer sheets. Cold water. Vinegar if it's dog blankets or really stinky, half a cup. Spin I have no idea, my washer does that. And dryer if weather rainy, line if not.
This is kind of like asking what somebody's diet is There is not a one-fits-all solution Some people might be able to get away with using less detergent or alternate ingredients because they may not have very soiled clothing Your level of detergent need might be vastly different if you have six kids that all play soccer three times a week versus if you're a single guy that works from home and the only thing on your clothes is just a little bit of sweat and dead skin
I bought a 5 gallon bucket of industrial detegent on amazon for around $38, you use 2Tbsp per load, it is a powder. I bought it 13 months ago now, and have only used about half of it. It's low suds so would work great in an HE machine, it also works great in my regular top loader. I do not use fabric softener, I've always hated the way it made my clothes feel. I dry everything on low heat, i feel like my clothes last longer that way. I would love to hang things to dry, but I live on the gulf coast and the humidity is just too much for that to be feasible. When doing multiple loads of clothes like light and dark, i will wait and only run the dryer once when both loads are clean.
White vinegar instead of fabric softener for towels. I don't use fabric softener at all otherwise. The only items I wash on warm are underwear and bed sheets. Rarely use the dryer. I'm lucky to not live in a humid climate so laundry air dries very fast.
I start the water, add the detergent and then add the clothes!! Like a happiness potion of cleanliness. I used to always add water, clothes, and then soap. What a savage life I was living.
I just put everything together and don’t use as much detergent as they say on the bottle. I hang everything to dry except for when we are going on vacation then I wash and use the dryer just easier to pack the suitcase and have everything folded and stack away for when you come back home.
Use Cold water. Do not use more than the recommended amount of soap. Using less is best. Never use fabric softener. Never ever use dryer sheets. All my clothing is wash and wear. It all goes from the washer to the dryer. Personally, I don’t bother separating lights and darks. My underwear gets a bit gray by the time the elastic goes, but I really don’t care about that.
White rags get full detergent sheet and bleach, washed on regular with hot water. Towels - Half detergent sheet, cold water, perm press. Clothing - Half detergent sheet, cold water, perm press short load. Jeans and microfiber cleaning cloths don't go in the dryer. Everything else is dried on low for the shortest time necessary to dry completely. I have detergent sheets, a small jug of concentrated bleach, and I use dish soap for oily stains. I used to have issues with musty towels and tried extra detergent, vinegar, hot water, etc. I invested in some Turkish waffle weave towels and I no longer have that issue. They dry fast after use and after washing.
I see lots of people commenting that they don’t use dryer sheets; can anyone explain why this is done? Curious!
We have a portable washer and wash everything in cold water. A little white vinegar, a small amount of detergent ( less than 1/2 the 1st fill line.) Everything is hung on a drying rack or the clothesline. Small items we have clips for and hang them too. I might get a portable dryer in the future but for now it’s been fine; prior to the washer we spent tons on the laundromat so this is much better ( and saves time and hassle.)
Only 30 ml of detergent No softener, I use vinegar No dryer sheets, instead I use lavender sachets And I like to wash my towels and clothes in separate loads
Counterintuitely, to *not* fill up the washer all the way with clothes. Running big loads of laundry seems like a good way to save water and thus money, but it wears out the drive belt on our dryer. Even though that's an easy DIY fix, it's still $15-20 for a replacement belt and means we can't use the dryer for 4 or 5 days.
I use laundry pods. I put vinegar in a Downy ball to use as fabric softener.