Comments on: It’s laundry week at The Frugal Girl! http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/ cheerfully living on less Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:14:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The Frugal Girl » Monday Q&A | My siblings, my childhood, and my clothesline! http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-19706 The Frugal Girl » Monday Q&A | My siblings, my childhood, and my clothesline! Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:08:05 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-19706 [...] How To Save Money While Washing Your Laundry (about reducing your washing machine’s electricity usage) [...] [...] How To Save Money While Washing Your Laundry (about reducing your washing machine’s electricity usage) [...]

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-15579 Jonathan Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:39:08 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-15579 I use generic Oxy-Clean in my laundry. When I have stains I want to get out, I let the washer agitate for several minutes, then open the lid and let it soak for up to several hours. This is another time my roommate calls something the magic powder. BTW: Oxy-Clean is just a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate. Several companies sell their own equivalent and it is MUCH cheaper. I get mine at Super Walmart. I use generic Oxy-Clean in my laundry. When I have stains I want to get out, I let the washer agitate for several minutes, then open the lid and let it soak for up to several hours. This is another time my roommate calls something the magic powder. BTW: Oxy-Clean is just a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate. Several companies sell their own equivalent and it is MUCH cheaper. I get mine at Super Walmart.

]]> By: Debbie http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-14169 Debbie Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:15:48 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-14169 Do you ever use Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing to whiten your clothing? It seems to really help...makes those whites dazzle...... Do you ever use Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing to whiten your clothing? It seems to really help…makes those whites dazzle……

]]> By: Kristen http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-232 Kristen Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:04:42 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-232 Hmmm, I'll have to give the vinegar a try! That's weird that it makes them smell good, because vinegar is sort of stinky. :p Hmmm, I’ll have to give the vinegar a try! That’s weird that it makes them smell good, because vinegar is sort of stinky. :p

]]> By: Audrey http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-231 Audrey Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:08:08 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-231 I never change the temperature dial on my washing machine, it is set at cold wash/cold rinse. I use my homemade washing powder and rinse (when I don't forget) with a little white vinegar in the cold water. I dry everything outside and my wash smells good and feels soft. Before changing to homemade washing powder I used liquid detergent and no vinegar rinse and my towels came in off the line as stiff as boards! No more, they are quite soft although they look a little rough. I too am going to look at drying racks in Ikea for the winter. I never change the temperature dial on my washing machine, it is set at cold wash/cold rinse. I use my homemade washing powder and rinse (when I don’t forget) with a little white vinegar in the cold water. I dry everything outside and my wash smells good and feels soft. Before changing to homemade washing powder I used liquid detergent and no vinegar rinse and my towels came in off the line as stiff as boards! No more, they are quite soft although they look a little rough. I too am going to look at drying racks in Ikea for the winter.

]]> By: Annie's Granny http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-230 Annie's Granny Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:21:18 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-230 I live 6 months of the year in Washington state, and use warm water with cold rinse for whites, cold water for wash and rinse on colored, and powdered detergent. I also use the clothes dryer (because I took my clothesline to AZ and haven't yet replaced it...my bad). The other six months, while living in AZ, I use nothing but cold water with liquid detergent, and dry everything outside on the line. My clothes look just the same both places, smell just as sweet...actually, I prefer the smell of line dried. I really don't feel it's necessary to use hot water to kill germs unless someone in the house has a communicable illness or infection. I promised myself a new clothesline for Washington next spring! I live 6 months of the year in Washington state, and use warm water with cold rinse for whites, cold water for wash and rinse on colored, and powdered detergent. I also use the clothes dryer (because I took my clothesline to AZ and haven’t yet replaced it…my bad). The other six months, while living in AZ, I use nothing but cold water with liquid detergent, and dry everything outside on the line. My clothes look just the same both places, smell just as sweet…actually, I prefer the smell of line dried. I really don’t feel it’s necessary to use hot water to kill germs unless someone in the house has a communicable illness or infection. I promised myself a new clothesline for Washington next spring!

]]> By: Bethany http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-229 Bethany Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:34:33 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-229 saw this article and thought of you http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2008/09/03/10-secrets-to-grocery-shopping-on-a-budget.aspx saw this article and thought of you
http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2008/09/03/10-secrets-to-grocery-shopping-on-a-budget.aspx

]]> By: Jill http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-228 Jill Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:22:47 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-228 Towels and sheets get washed the least around here so they get washed in hot but otherwise everything else is cold. We have too many allergies in this family to be able to line dry but I know it would save money and probably dry faster! :-) Towels and sheets get washed the least around here so they get washed in hot but otherwise everything else is cold. We have too many allergies in this family to be able to line dry but I know it would save money and probably dry faster! :-)

]]> By: Kristen http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-227 Kristen Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:39:05 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-227 FruGal-I use a liquid laundry detergent, so I don't know about the powder. If I were using powder, though, I'd probably fill the machine with a bit of warm water at first, to dissolve the powder, then I'd fill the machine up with cold water and then add the clothes. Regarding the germ issue..if you're using a dryer, the heat from that will kill any germs that have managed to survive the wash. Or if you dry outside in the sunshine, that will also kill germs. And so far in my 30 years, I've not heard of anyone suffering ill effects from washing normal laundry in cold water! lol Like I said, I'd use warm or hot water for stuff like diapers or for bedding that's been puked upon, but for a normal degree of dirtiness(I know, that's not a word probably! lol), I think cold water is just fine. FruGal-I use a liquid laundry detergent, so I don’t know about the powder. If I were using powder, though, I’d probably fill the machine with a bit of warm water at first, to dissolve the powder, then I’d fill the machine up with cold water and then add the clothes.

Regarding the germ issue..if you’re using a dryer, the heat from that will kill any germs that have managed to survive the wash. Or if you dry outside in the sunshine, that will also kill germs. And so far in my 30 years, I’ve not heard of anyone suffering ill effects from washing normal laundry in cold water! lol Like I said, I’d use warm or hot water for stuff like diapers or for bedding that’s been puked upon, but for a normal degree of dirtiness(I know, that’s not a word probably! lol), I think cold water is just fine.

]]> By: FruGal http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/09/its-laundry-week-at-the-frugal-girl/#comment-226 FruGal Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:28:57 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-226 I have been thinking about this, but it does bother me about the germ factor in cold water. I also wonder if you have to use the special washing powder for cold water, which costs more. Does anyone know whether you can just use regular powder? :) I have been thinking about this, but it does bother me about the germ factor in cold water. I also wonder if you have to use the special washing powder for cold water, which costs more. Does anyone know whether you can just use regular powder? :)

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