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Love Those Laundry Savings
It is a beautiful autumn day here, what my mother used to call a good washing day. The sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, and there is the gentlest of breezes. Not enough to twist the washing around on the clothesline, but just enough to gently move it as it hangs.
So of course I've been doing laundry. And that had me thinking. It's one of those things we all need to do, whether we like it or not. And it can be expensive - but does it have to be?
So of course I've been doing laundry. And that had me thinking. It's one of those things we all need to do, whether we like it or not. And it can be expensive - but does it have to be?
Did you know that keeping up with the washing and ironing can actually save you money? Well, it can!
Some tips to make it easier are:
1. Treat stains as soon as possible after they happen. You have a better chance of getting stains out of clothing before they actually become 'stains'. If you can at the very least soak the item until you can treat the problem mark, you are half-way home! And there are a lot of common household products that make great stain removers.
Some tips to make it easier are:
1. Treat stains as soon as possible after they happen. You have a better chance of getting stains out of clothing before they actually become 'stains'. If you can at the very least soak the item until you can treat the problem mark, you are half-way home! And there are a lot of common household products that make great stain removers.
“Hubby got a lot of engine oil on his brand new shirt yesterday and I found the best thing to get it out was sunscreen!! Yes, you read right, everyday sunscreen just rubbed over the oily patches (and popped through the washing machine) removed all the oil without any fuss and all the marks have clean gone. It saved me from having to run to the shops and part with cash for a special stain remover and worked better than they have in the past. Sunscreen works great and is something every Aussie home has in the cupboard.”
Contributed by Virigina, Merrylands
Contributed by Virigina, Merrylands
2. Sort the washing.
Sorting into groups i.e. whites, coloureds, darks, nappies etc will not only keep your whites white and your darks lint free, but if you only have one or two white items a day, and one or two darks etc, why not allocate a day to that load?
Sorting into groups i.e. whites, coloureds, darks, nappies etc will not only keep your whites white and your darks lint free, but if you only have one or two white items a day, and one or two darks etc, why not allocate a day to that load?
“I only do one load of washing a day, but I sort it into different loads. For example, Saturday is dark day. It’s the end of the working week and I have the school jeans and my husband’s work uniforms to wash, so I do them on Saturday. Sunday is whites & underwear day, ready for the start of the week, Monday is light coloureds, Tuesday is dark coloured, Wednesday is towels, tea towels, bath mats etc, Thursday is sheets and on Friday I do delicates and handwashing. We are an extended family of 6 and this works well. I only have to iron twice a week, usually 10 –15 minutes tops, and then everything else just gets put away.”
Contributed by Dorothy, Glen Waverley
Contributed by Dorothy, Glen Waverley
3. Line dry whenever you can.
Using the power of the sun to dry your washing is FREE! So, line dry wherever possible. If you hang washing as soon as the machine stops, it most likely won’t need much ironing either. And in winter, use your clothes horse.
Using the power of the sun to dry your washing is FREE! So, line dry wherever possible. If you hang washing as soon as the machine stops, it most likely won’t need much ironing either. And in winter, use your clothes horse.
“I love the smell of my washing when I dry it outside, and I love the drop in the electricity bill when I don’t use the dryer. Even on wet days, I hang my washing on a line – I asked my husband to put up a clothes line in the garage for me to use in winter and on wet days. It cost $3.95 for the roll of rope from the hardware and I have three lines strung across the garage. Now when it rains, I can still do the washing and get it dry.”
Contributed by Carole, West Pennant Hills
Contributed by Carole, West Pennant Hills
4. Don’t waste money on expensive laundry treatments
You can save a lot of money by keeping a bar of laundry soap and a soft nail brush in the laundry. For dirty marks on collars and cuffs, damp the soap, rub over the mark, give a quick brush and drop in the washing machine. Or make our Stain Removing Soap. To remove oil based food stains, try a drop or two of ordinary dishwashing liquid and rub into the stain. Use ordinary white vinegar as fabric softener – much, much cheaper and it won’t stain clothes if it accidentally gets spilt on them. Use a $2 spray bottle of water instead of ironing spray – cheaper, better for you, your clothes and the environment.
You can save a lot of money by keeping a bar of laundry soap and a soft nail brush in the laundry. For dirty marks on collars and cuffs, damp the soap, rub over the mark, give a quick brush and drop in the washing machine. Or make our Stain Removing Soap. To remove oil based food stains, try a drop or two of ordinary dishwashing liquid and rub into the stain. Use ordinary white vinegar as fabric softener – much, much cheaper and it won’t stain clothes if it accidentally gets spilt on them. Use a $2 spray bottle of water instead of ironing spray – cheaper, better for you, your clothes and the environment.
“Use a dryer sheet to take the static out of your clothes, just rub it over your clothes instead of paying $5.95 for 100ml of anti-static spray. It works wonders. “
Contributed by Jo, Crib Point
Contributed by Jo, Crib Point
Well, have you figured out how keeping up with the washing and ironing can save you money?
When you keep the washing and ironing up to date, you never run out of clean clothes so you always have something to wear!
If you always have something clean to wear, you won't need so many changes of clothes!
It’s a drag having to do it – but one or two loads a day can keep Mt Washmore down and your wardrobes and your wallets full.
When you keep the washing and ironing up to date, you never run out of clean clothes so you always have something to wear!
If you always have something clean to wear, you won't need so many changes of clothes!
It’s a drag having to do it – but one or two loads a day can keep Mt Washmore down and your wardrobes and your wallets full.