These laundry hacks will save you money
The average American family spends about $600 on laundry every year. Depending on where you live it costs roughly $1.50 to run a wash cycle and another $.50 or so a dry cycle, and this doesn’t even include the cost of supplies! Here are some simple changes that can save you big bucks in the long run, and will speed up the whole routine altogether, too.
Video Transcript
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ANNA DE SOUZA: The average American family spends $600 on laundry every year. $600. Today, I'm sharing some simple changes that can save you big bucks in the long run, and it will speed up your entire routine as well.
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Always wash full loads. Your washer uses the same amount of energy for a small load or a large load. So fill it up. Using cold water can cut your energy consumption by half as compared to hot water washes. Studies have found that up to 75% of the energy used for your laundry cycle is just to heat the water. Cold water can also help your clothes last longer since you'll prevent fading.
Save some cash by purchasing generic laundry detergent and boosting the performance by adding just a half a cup of baking soda to the wash cycle. It regulates the acidity or the pH of the water, helping detergents clean and remove odors more effectively.
Ditch fabric softeners for good with this next tip. Pop a half a cup of vinegar to your final rinse. It helps to soften clothes because it neutralizes and balances pH levels. Added bonus-- it can also help prevent static. And don't worry, it's not going to make your laundry smell like a salad.
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If there's any one way to cut down on energy and increase the life of your clothes, it's air drying them. Overdrying your clothes will cause shrinkage, warp elastics. And that lint tray, that's evidence of microscopic damage done to fabrics that will cause it to tear over time. Invest in a compact clothing rack you can use in your laundry room. Or if you live in a small space like me, you could prop it in your shower or tub.
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For most of us, it's just not practical to cut out the dryer altogether, but you can get the most bang for your buck with these tips. If you find that it takes you two, three, sometimes even four cycles to fully dry your clothes, make sure that you're cleaning the lint trap before every load. Lint can clog your dryer, and it keeps air from effectively moving around the dryer barrel.
Wool dryer balls have a multitude of functions. Not only do they bounce out pesky wrinkles and aerate your clothes, they also retain their heat, and some studies have found that it can speed up drying time by up to 30%. Sprinkle with a few drops of aroma therapy oil to amp up the scent factor too. It's a greener option that will save you cash on those pricey scented dryer sheets that are made with phthalates and synthetic perfumes.
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Dry cleaning has always felt like hocus-pocus to me. Is it wet? Is it dry? Who knows. What's not a mystery is that it can be super pricey. But there's a new option out there on the market for those of us looking to avoid this time-consuming and expensive chore. At-home dry cleaning kits usually come with a spot remover, scented spray, and either cloth or bags that you put your garments in to take a tumble in the dryer.
Not only will these tips help you save cash on each load of laundry, it'll also help your clothes last longer. Thanks so much for watching. Let me know your tips and tricks in the comments.
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