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Tip Store: Laundry: Washing

Beat The Grubby Hand Towel Blues

​Do you find your hand towels change colour with the quick wash wipe of the comer and goers, then need a long soak to come back to some level of their normal colour? Relax, help is on the way. All you need to do is have a folded damp face cloth on the edge of the basin for an initial wipe.  This gets off any dirt and soap residue first and then dry as usual. The face cloth being damp gives up the collected dirt and suds easily and leaves the clean hand towel to just dry up any moisture left behind. A quick now and again rinse of the face cloth and all is good. It works well in our house with gardeners and handy people who get really dirty. The best is no more need to soak. One less job. Give it a try.
Contributed by Carolyn Koerntjes

Saving on Water for Washing

​In the laundry trough I have a bucket for my hand washing. This water after washing the items is put straight into the washing machine. This is about a third of the water needed for a load of washing. Also after being in the garden I wash my hands in the bucket and then pour this over my vegetables.
Contributed by Ann Green

​Cut the Cost of Washing Clothes

​I started with Cheapskates this year, but my mum was and is a thrifty woman. I made an excel grid and compared my total cost, and cost per wash, the name of the brand of washing powder/ liquid and where I bought it. I was buying Earth Choice liquid at $2 or less a 1 litre bottle (it gets down to $1.49 at Chemist warehouse). Anyway, my results surprised me. Aldi had Laudrite powder (normal price) for 4kg packs for $3.69. I put some in an old ice-cream container with a plastic measure to make sure I didn't add too much. This cleaned the clothes and ended up cheapest. 
Contributed by Ange Legge

Limit Wardrobe Size to Control Washing

To get the laundry under control, make sure you're not washing clothes that don't really need washing. Only wash if they have been worn at least three times, or have a mark or smell...I learnt this on the farm where we have limited water over summer.

Next, how many items of each variety does each person own? I try to work on the principal of 3, one that is being worn, one in the wash, and one that is clean. Except for underwear, where I have one for each day of the week.
Personally I have good clothes for going down the street in, and home clothes, that I can garden and get filthy in, plus work clothes.

So I have as my good clothes 3 tee shirts, 3 long sleeve shirts, 3 jumpers, 3 pairs of jeans, 3 skirts, 3 dresses, 3 sleeveless tops. Then I have the same, or a few less, that have been relegated to home clothes. Plus my work uniforms. If you don't wear all of these, cut them back accordingly.

I know kids get grotty quickly, but if they are at home in their home clothes, just work on the worn three times rule, if nothing else it will improve their immune system, and save you washing three outfits.
Contributed by Kate Crawford

Only Wash what You Need To

​We are on tank water so have to be very careful with water usage. First of all, ditch the tablecloth (I hate them) it's so much easier to give the table a quick wipe down. How often are you doing the bedding , a good airing is just as good. If the uniforms aren't too soiled get the kids to hang them up as soon as they get home and change into play clothes ,and on that point , if they are just play clothes they can be worn a few times as well. Same goes for the adults clothing as well . Pj's don't need to be washed after each use either. Towels can be used a few times if aired properly .To be brutally honest , sounds like you need the advice my mother gave me when my kids were younger " you are creating work for yourself". Just get tuff and tell the kids "no more!". Sounds like a busy household , maybe doing some research into a more minimal household might help and it is possible with kids . Good luck.
Contributed by Helen Smith

The Secret to Keeping up with the Laundry

​I have to wash every day. The secret I have found that works for me is to do a load or two every night before I go to bed and hang it out first thing in the morning. If you have a clotheshorse or a covered outdoor area use that; I've been doing this for years, even when my children were young, now they are adults still living at home. Washing late at night also saves on the power bill.
Contributed by Despina Hatzis

​Keep the Play Clothes for the Week

​At boarding school many moons ago, our play clothes were changed every Saturday. The children are only in them for a few hours every day and this could save you a bit of washing. 
Contributed by Leigh Oakey

Questions to Control the Washing!

Can school shirts be aired overnight, then worn for a second day? Can bed linen be washed every couple of weeks, in case you are washing it more often than that? Family members can hang their clothes up to air themselves, if they are tall enough.
Contributed by Alisa Perks

Whites, Colours, Darks Save Time

​We have five (now grown up) kids and have been at the never ending washing place!! Apart from joining a nudist colony, there is not much you can do to reduce more than you have, as they grow, so do their clothes, this means the same number of clothes equals more loads.  I had three big baskets in the laundry and my kids learnt to sort their own into whites, colours and darks, this actually saved a lot of time. From primary school, they hung out some loads of washing, I did struggle at times with this, (we have ADHD in the family) and one son in particular used to hang clothes with one peg from wherever he picked it up from the basket..... I had to BREATHE and remind myself that this was one load I didn't have to hang! Now it is summer, hang a load or two out at night, most times it will be dry by morning. When you need to replace your washing machine, buy the biggest you can, you can choose different water levels as needed. I was amazed at how much time this actually saved.
Contributed by Beryl Carder

Ask these Questions to Get a Grip on Laundry

If the quantity of washing and the fact that it's all your responsibility is a problem for you:
  • Is it dirty? Little people (and big) can opt for the washing basket instead of folding up and putting away unworn clothes...
  • School uniforms: 3 x shirts and 2 x pairs of shorts/trousers can last the week. Good to have spares to use if needed.
  • Do they need to get changed after school? More clothes to manage in their rooms too...They could wear their uniform after school until shower time and then straight into PJ's. As they get older and homework picks up and less tree climbing is happening after school, this works well.
  • School holidays - one set of clothes all day, until shower time.
  • Towels - we use light weight towels in winter, that dry quickly
  • Tablecloth - instead use placemats that can be wiped over after meals
  • Bed linen - On bed linen washing day, instead of making their beds the kids can take the sheets off their beds, they can load the machine and get out the next set of sheets out - this is easy if you keep spare linen in their bedrooms. Sometimes just changing the pillow case can give you an extra day...
  • Dirty washing baskets that divide darks, lights and colours can help, so washing is separated before you arrive in the laundry
  • Little kids can load clothes into the machine and you can add the washing powder and start it until they are old enough to do it. If they can reach, they can take the clean washing out of the machine and into the basket and again if they can reach the clothes line or clothes horse, they can peg it out. Each person can have one day to do their bit to help with a load - although this might take a bit of supervising until it's a routine - short term pain with long term gain.
  • Top loader v front loader - I love my front loader but it takes an age to wash a load and I do miss being able to add the odd sock etc. that I find after I have started the machine. Check you're using the most time/temp efficient cycle too.
  • Washing line - an undercover clothesline e.g. under the verandah, means not having to worry about rain so much.
Contributed by Lyn B.

​Halve Your Energy Costs When Washing

​With rising energy & water prices, a tip for saving money when doing the washing. Anything that isn't too soiled, sheets, pj's etc. I do on a delicate wash. This is a shorter cycle, therefore uses less water and power, and the washing comes out clean and smelling the same as if washed on a full cycle.
Contributed by Sharon Munnings

​Making Laundry Easier

Laundry can be tedious, expensive, etc. Save time, your energy and money by paying least as possible for gas or electric to dry clothing; make sorting and putting away easier; eliminate expensive fabric softener that can cause mucus membrane irritation (allergies). I wash clothing on wash and wear cycle, with half the recommended amount of detergent, no fabric softener. Hang wet clothing on plastic hangers on clothing rack to dry in a room with open window when weather allows. Can use wash lines with knots tied every 2 inches to keep hangers separate. To put away, just lift the hangers and bring to closets to hang. Only linens, towels, etc., are dried in dryer during winter. Other times they are hung on washline outside.
​Contributed by Lynn, PA

​Soften New Towels

Before you use new towels wash them in vinegar without fabric softener. If they have been used already just soak them in a tub with a couple of cups of vinegar then wash and again don't use fabric softener when using vinegar. I use vinegar instead of fabric softener now for all my washing, cheaper and cleaner for the environment.
​Contributed by Debbie, Burnside

​Socks on the loose!

Escapee socks can be a serious annoyance, especially if you have uniforms to wash. One good tip for minimising missing socks is to place all socks and underwear in their own basket and then wash together as a weekly load. Keep a bucket with a lid for sports socks that need to be soaked and dump them in it each morning. Then the night before wash day, fill it with hot water and soaker, put the lid on and let them soak. Tip the whole lot into the machine along with the rest of the load the next morning. Sort and hang them in pairs so that when you take them off the line they are folded immediately. This way you should always have pairs of socks, putting and end to those that magically disappear. You should find this a better way of keeping socks together than simply washing them in with everything else.
​Tip of the Day

​Turning Inside Out Saves Money

Approximate $ Savings: $100 or more

​ I used to always be at my family to turn their clothes in the right way before putting them in the wash.... not any more. For the last eighteen months I have been encouraging them to leave then inside out so that when I wash them I hang them on the line inside out - this prevents fading. I saved over $100 at the beginning of this year in school shirts alone - the ones from last year were as good as new and didn't need replacing as they still fit. Our everyday clothes are lasting longer too.
Contributed by Deb, Medowie

​Rinse Rather Than Waste a Wash

​If you have a bed wetter or leakage from a very wet nappy, don't worry about putting the sheets in a full wash, just put them on rinse mode (front loader) with some vinegar. The sheets are just wet not dirty. You'll save time (rinsing takes approximately 15 minutes) and a lot of water and detergent.
Contributed by Sharon, Canning Vale

​A Gentle Reminder on Laundry Protocol

I guess I'm preaching to the converted however sometimes blokes - a reminder doesn't hurt! In the laundry I save wear and tear on clothing by always washing clothes and drying them on the line INSIDE OUT (and also in the shade). Items are zipped/buttoned/ fastened where possible and my wife's lingerie always goes into a wash bag. The colours, buttons embroidery etc last considerably longer. I hang the clothes as soon as the spin cycle finishes and I hardly have to iron a thing. I divert the grey water into the tub for anything that needs a soak overnight. Simple stuff that looks after hip pocket. Oh -and always check the pockets for loose change and those tissues!
​Contributed by John & Sammi, East Fremantle

​Easy Machine Degreaser

I note some wonder about cleaning their washing machines. Epsom salts works as a degreaser, which is wonderful for cleaning the machine and hoses. If not sure, try some on the inside of the washing machine lid, where there always seems to be a build up of soap scum. Just sprinkle some on a sponge and with cold water the grease build up simply disappears. I was informed of this when I had my babies. They are now 34 and 32.
​Contributed by Corry

​Clean Machine

My washing machine repair man told me to put a dishwasher cleaner (like Finish, comes in a bottle) through the full wash cycle. Add the whole bottle to a hot wash and once full turn off and leave it in overnight, then finish the cycle. It is supposed to get rid of all that gunk that builds up, and thus make your machine last longer.
​Contributed by Tina

​Pre-load the Washing Machine to Save Time

Approximate $ Savings: Time - 1 hr week

​ Pop your washing into the machine the night before and put it on as soon as you get up the next morning. Before going to work put as many articles as possible on coat hangers and hang up quickly to dry on line. When you get home, clothing can go straight back into wardrobes without needing to iron - saves enormous amount of time and electricity each week. No more smelly washing, no more bundles of ironing - we have reduced our ironing to about 15 minutes a week.
Contributed by Cindy, Burpengary

​Twin Tub Savings

Approximate $ Savings: I haven't worked this out yet, but it must be a lot I do my washing the "old-fashioned" way, with a twin-tub washing machine.

​ I use only 1 load of water for 3 or 4 loads of washing, and rinse by hand in the trough. The savings are with water, detergent (only a small top-up needed for additional loads) and electricity as I don't have spray rinse cycle. My 3 loads are ready to hang in just over an hour, as I can rinse while another load is washing. I also empty the water onto the garden, but I guess that's another tip.
Contributed by Suzanne, Clarkson

​Save the Colours Fading

Hang coloured washing on the reverse side out so as to save the colours fading in our very hot summer months. This way the cloths will look new for many years. They include bed sheets and quilt covers. Colours on my cloths have remained vibrant for many years just because of this.
​Contributed by Josephine, Canterbury

​Washing Dark Colours

I always put my dark colours in a wash bag and just throw them in the wash with everything else. They are protected from fluff and they always come out a clean black. It saves me so much time in washing and also water.
​Contributed by Sarah, Chancellor Park

​Lazy Laundry

I am a young man, so I don't really like doing laundry. However, I have discovered a few good habits for use in the laundry... Firstly, I always wash my clothes inside out; the colour 'stays' much longer. Secondly, I always hang clothes on the line neatly, and again inside out. Then, I can just pull them off the line, give them a very quick iron, and they are ready to turn inside out and wear! Also, this makes folding socks in that convenient way for quick dressing MUCH easier!
​Contributed by Cam, Paddington

​Eliminate Lint

​For those who actually use a clothes dryer: to eliminate lint from fabrics throw in an old nylon stocking. Cut the top off a pair of pantyhose and tie a knot in the leg ends. Just toss into the dryer with the wet clothes and hey presto! No more lint.

​Soft Washing

For trying to soften clothes, do what hotels tend to do to make their towels fluffy. When the clothes are still a bit damp and not fully dry, put them in the clothes dryer to finish off. This works especially for towels, i know, I do it to keep them soft.
​Contributed by Joanne

​Loose Change

​Keep a jar in the laundry - to stash all that loose cash that floats around the bottom of the washing machine! In our house we have a rule - if you don't empty your pockets, then any change in the bottom of the washing machine goes to the kitty. When the jar is full, we put it into our holiday fund.
​Contributed by Cath

​Saving Money Doing Laundry

​Use the last laundry cycle for washing loads. It saves lots of water, the clothes come out just as clean, and it cuts the washing time down considerably!

​Cold Water Wash

​Up to 90% of the cost of washing clothes at home is due to the cost of heating the water. Washing in cold water can save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. Make sure the water level is adjusted to the size of the load and don't overload you machine.

​Sweeter Clothes

​To freshen laundry, add one-third of a cup of baking soda to the wash or rinse cycle. Clothes will smell sweeter and cleaner.