Save Money on Laundry

Diana
by Diana

Save money on laundry with these simple laundry routine and organization hacks. Laundry is part of daily life in a busy homesteading household. Don’t let washing and folding laundry take over your day and your wallet with these great frugal living and organization tips!

Our electricity bill grew tremendously when we moved to our homestead. One way we try our best to manage it is by handling our laundry more frugally. I’ve learned some ways I can’t wait to share with you.

A standard washer and dryer, even the new energy efficient model, would put a big spike in our daily hydro use. I had to change the way I was doing laundry if I was going to lessen the cost.

Have you taken a deeper look at your hourly consumption and seen just how much your daily chores are costing you in electricity? I suggest you do, and once you’ve applied these money saving laundry tips you’ll notice a savings too!


HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON LAUNDRY


Our new home meant a larger laundry room with old single pane picture windows, a big utility closet, an old drop down ironing board and room for a laundry sink. It’s essentially the farmhouse mudroom with the back porch off the back.

It was the first room in the house to receive a major cleaning and fresh coat of paint, because I knew there would be a lot of hours spent doing laundry in there.

I organized and decorated the space to be inviting and one I’d enjoy spending my time in. Laundry is so easily labeled as a not so fun chore, that finding ways to motivate and uplift the mood only help.


RELATED: THINGS TO MAKE AT HOME TO SAVE MONEY


LAUNDRY ROOM ORGANIZATION


Organizing and decorating the laundry room is often a space that gets overlooked, but it’s a key space for functionality.

In my large utility cupboards, everything gets sorted into bins from seasonal hats, gloves, garden gloves, sun glasses and more. Jackets hang and seasonal boots are stored away.

Being prepared saves you from going and buying new when you can’t find something. Get creative and use old boxes or jars for storage.


LAUNDRY ROOM SINK


An old farmhouse porcelain sink is my dream, it’s the ultimate centrepiece for a beautiful laundry room. But any standard big tub sink will do. I use my large sink for everything!

Mix up your floor cleaner in there when I mop my floors, start seeds for the window sill and soak heavily soiled laundry. Having a utility sink such as this one is an absolute must!


FIND JOY IN THE SIMPLICITY


I also went for a soft mat in front of my laundry machines to warm up the space a bit.

Wether you have a warm inviting laundry room or a dreaded basement with loud rattly machines that could rock a baby to sleep, these decor and organizing ideas will at least help you feel more comfortable in a dreaded space!


LAUNDRY ROOM SIGNS


Something about decorating with obvious labels for spaces in a country farmhouse must. Check out these sweet signs below.



SAVE MONEY WITH A LAUNDRY ROUTINE


I always start the laundry in the am. Go around and collect the dirty clothes from the day before and throw them in the wash. I only bother separating the kids stuff, the towels, beds and work clothes.

Separating lights from darks is another step that I don’t often bother with. Why would you have white clothes when you live on a farm?!

Instead of having a laundry day. Make a point of doing and load a day. Not just throw it in the wash and walk away, but a complete “wash, dry, fold, away” load.

On the weekends bed linens are washed and hung and towels are every other day. Choose the days of the week that work best for heavier laundry days to get the beds and towels done.


WASHING LAUNDRY MONEY SAVING TIPS


Separate and start your first load of laundry. Try not to over crowd for cleaner, fresher smelling results. But at the same time making sure your machine is full to save on wasting electricity. Theres a balance.

I use my homemade laundry detergent and soak any clothing in super washing soda for any hard to remove stains in my laundry sink.

Wash your clothes in cold water to help your energy bill. If something is really dirty, I’ll switch to the ecowarm option on my machine.

Try using a short cycle and see if it washes the cycle just the same. Not only will you save on your electricity but you’ll also be done your laundry sooner!


HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Homemade Laundry detergent is shockingly easy to make, requires only a few ingredients and costs next to nothing compared to the liquid laundry soap at the store. Make your own homemade laundry detergent using items around your house with this easy recipe!


HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE



MESH LAUNDRY BAGS


Mesh laundry bags are the perfect solution to missing socks and clean underwear. Throw these items together in a mess laundry bag and bring them to the couch for folding straight from the dryer without dropping a single sock!

AMAZON RECCOMENDS THIS SET OF LAUNDRY BAGS

BUT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN MESH LAUNDRY BAGS WITH THIS PATTERN


DRY LAUNDRY


The cheapest way to dry your laundry is on the line on a clear warm day. It’s also possible to hang your laundry to dry on a drying rack, hang it from an old ladder outside or in the house. Until I get my clothes line set up, I hang my sheets over my garden fencing. Whatever works.

The smell of fresh clean air on your sheets makes for a peaceful relaxing sleep.

In the winter, I hang my clothes on a drop down drying rack by the wood stove. or a ladder hanging just above my washer and dryer. This works best when I hang the clothes in the evening and wake up to fresh dry clothes to fold and put away.

If you must use your dryer, throw in a few dry towels to speed up the drying time. Make sure the lint catchment is cleaned up. Go ahead and save your lint. You’ll be surprised just how many ways there are you can use it!


RELATED: DRYER LINT FIRESTARTERS


LAUNDRY DRYING RACK




FOLD AND STORE LAUNDRY


The best folding tip I learned was from Marie Kondo from the Cleaning Up Series. It makes for finding items much easier.

In a small house, storing laundry can be an issue. I find it’s easier to have smaller wardrobe and store away seasonal clothes.

LARGE FAMILY TIPS


I often feel we have too much laundry for me to handle and I only have two children and a the two of us to wash for. If you have a large family, I recommend reading these tips from REFORMATION ACRES.

Diana
Want more details about this and other budgeting & minimalist living ideas? Check out more here!
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  • Michelle Michelle on Aug 16, 2022

    Yes Moving and will have a laundry room for the first time. Already have a washboard, ladder etc Cannot wait to do this

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