With energy prices rising, simple things like learning how to save money on laundry can be a real help. The cost of living has rapidly increased in the UK, and is said the worst is yet to come. Great. Something else to look forward to!
Luckily, I can be a bit of a master money-saver when I need to. I used to live pay check to pay check (I’m hardly well-off now, but things are slightly less dire), and any saving I could make at all helped my get by.
I think it’s really important to make lots of tiny savings, especially while we don’t know just how bad things will get. By winter the cost of maintaining a home could be much, much higher, so we all need to start budgeting for it now. Here’s how to save money on washing clothes.
How to Save Money on Laundry UK
I learned how to save money on doing laundry from a family member who spent years working as a domestic appliance engineer. A firm believe in repair, don’t replace, he learned lots more tips from colleagues and passed them on to me.
Below are the best tips I’ve ever heard. Tried and tested by him, my mum, and anyone else in my family who will listen.
Save money on laundry detergent by using less
It might sound a little grimy to use under the directed amount of detergent, but modern washing machines clean so well that detergent is barely necessary unless your garment it particularly soiled ore smelly. So if you’re wanting to keep costs low, switch out from the pods or tabs and go old school with a box of powder then use exactly half recommended amount. The only time this might not work so well is if you’re washing sport clothes, things like a football kit can get muddy or a cheer uniform can get sweaty. In these cases, us the recommended amount.
Go off brand
While you might prefer the branded detergents, supermarkets own brand or budget brands will do the job just as well. Get something cheaper, use less of it and reap the rewards by saving cash!
Fabric softener is superfluous
Sorry to break to you, but fabric softener is just a nice-smelling luxury. If you live in an area with especially hard water, you can add a little white vinegar to the wash, but even that might not be needed. The thing with fabric softener is that it doesn’t clean.
It does make your garments, towels and bedding a little softer, but even then you’d have to be very sensitive to notice while these items are in use. In fact, your bedding will feel much more crisp if you don’t use it – it’ll just be harder to imagine you’re in meadow as you drift off to sleep without the scent.
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Wash at the cheapest time of day
This is one of the oldest tips and I’m certain everyone knows it. Experts have always said it’s better to wash at night. The trouble is, that’s only true for some people. Certain tariffs are cheaper at certain points in the day, and others are constant. Check with your energy supplier before you pull and all-nighter by the washing machine.
Use a short, cool cycle
This is another hack that might seem a little grubby but is perfectly fine for lightly worn clothes. If it’s not soiled, stained or stinky, then a cool wash on a short cycle with a small amount of detergent should be enough. You’ll use less water and less energy which will save loads over the course of a year.
Fill your drum
Always get the most out of running your washing machine by washing a full load. Washing only a handful of items means you’ll need to run the washing machine more frequently, costing you more in the long-run.
Use the sun as a stain remover
If I hadn’t been lurking in the mums groups on Facebook, I’d have never known this simple tip. Basically, the sun is your best stain remover. The sunlight seemed to bleach out any unsavoury stains. If the stains fade but don’t disappear, get them back on the line (even if they’re dry) and more often than not, they’ll disappear. It worked wonders on getting spaghetti sauce out of white babygrows.
Run and extra spin cycle
Most washing machines will have a setting that allows you to put your clothes through an extra spin. This function is great for getting rid or even more excess water before trying to dry you clothes, so if you really must use a dryer or a heated rack, you won’t need to leave it on for as long.
Ditch the dryer
I bought my very first dryer in 2020 and briefly, it was the best thing I ever did! I hadn’t grown up in a house with a dryer and I hadn’t had space for one before when I lived alone. It’s been real godsend, but I’ve definitely noticed it on my energy bill. Now the novelty has worn off, I tend to only use it if I absolutely have to. Things like getting school uniform ready in the winter, or washing the baby clothes when we’ve had a run of rain. The rest of the time, things get dried on the line.
Throw in the towel
If you must use the dryer, chuck in an already-dry towel to cut your drying cycle time down, dry your clothes quicker and keep energy costs low.
Use a drying rack
An indoor drying rack can be cheap way to dry clothes indoors. depending on your budget, you could go for standard drying rack – or a heated drying rack can help speed things up, without costing as much to run as a dryer.
Take care of your hardwear
There’s nothing worse than your washer or dryer completely packing up beyond repair and needing to be replaced. One way you can help these essential items last longer is to take good care of them. Descale your washer if you’re in a hard water area, clear your dryer filter, and repair minor problems. Keeping equipment running for longer can help you put some money aside for when your appliances eventually give up the ghost.
How do you save money on laundry? Share your tips!
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