It's laundry week at The Frugal Girl!
Or maybe just a few laundry days, depending on how much I have to say!
Since the Horrible Electric Rate Increase happened in our area, my husband and I have been trying really hard to reduce the amount of electricity we use. We figure there's nothing we can really do about the rate we pay, so our only recourse is to be careful with our usage. One way we've done this is by making some changes to the way we do laundry(actually, to the way I do laundry! I don't let my husband do laundry, because I'm sort of picky about it.)
Here are a few ways that I save money while using my washing maching.
1. I wash full loads. I don't have any solid numbers on this, but I know it's more efficient to wash 3 pounds of laundry in one large load than it is to wash two 1.5 pound loads. This might be a little difficult to manage if you're single, but with the six of us that live here, it's rarely a problem to come up with a whole load of laundry. Still, though, since 85-90% of your washer's electricity usage comes from heating the water, this tip won't save you nearly as much as the next one.
2. I wash almost everything in cold water. According to Michael Bluejay's electricity site, 7.5 loads a week in a cold/cold cycle costs $10 a year, whereas 7.5 loads a week done in a hot/cold cycle costs $155 per year(using warm/cold costs $83 a year). This assumes 10 cents per kilowatt hour, which is a tad less than what I pay, but regardless of how much you pay per kilowatt hour, the comparison here is useful. The bottom line is that using hot water costs 15 times as much as using cold water.
I read on Michael Bluejay's site that by using hot water in your laundry, you use more electricity than you would by keeping your refrigerator door open 24 hours a day. So, washing in cold water is at least worth some consideration. If you can't bear to give up the heated water altogether, try washing at least some of your dark loads in cold water, or try using warm water instead of hot.
Now, for two objections:
Cold water doesn't get my clothes clean. I know that some people use hot water because they feel it cleans better, but I've not had any trouble getting our clothes clean while using this method. If you do have trouble, try letting your clothes soak in the washing machine(I do this by leaving the lid open...at a certain point in the cycle, it won't run any longer and it just sits until I shut the lid). I've not scientifically tested this, but from what I've read, I've gathered that soaking is one of the most effective means of removing stains. I also try to pretreat any particularly bad stains with something like Spray n Wash or Shout, and that usually takes care of them.
Cold water won't kill germs and bacteria. While I'm sure that hot water kills some of these off, I can say that none of us have gotten any sort of disease from my laundry practices. In fact, we're a pretty healthy bunch! If I was washing cloth diapers, I'd probably use warm or hot water, but as it is, none of our laundry is terribly germ-infested to begin with and so I use cold, with nary an ill effect.
So, give it a try! You'll save a pretty decent amount of money, plus your clothes won't be so prone to shrinking or fading.
In Ireland, no one has dryers. This is because very few people can pay the enormous heating bill these create. Everyone has a drying "tree" out back or a handy fold out on as seen at Ikea.
I pay the same price to do one load of laundry now matter how hot or cold since I use the coin operated machine in my building (which I know is not cheap, but there are few other options). I am hoping to buy a folding rack from Ikea so I can dry my clothes in my apartment. It is a little pricey ($20.00 I think) but I will make up for it in 20 weeks or less through the money saved not having to use the coin operated dryer! I know rope is probably cheaper, but in my little apartment I'm not sure where I'd string it without having it go across the whole place 🙂 and I'm not sure I want to make such strong holes in the wall I'll be accountable for when I move out. We'll see. I am really excited to not use the dryer though!
Oh yes, a post on line-drying is coming up this week...don't worry! lol
And I bet you'll save your $20 in less than 20 weeks. 😉
Another way to save a little money is to use something like soapnuts or eco wash balls. Because there is no residue, you can cut the rinse cycle out - thus saving electricity and water.
I always wash in cold water, except an occasional load of grimy socks. I've not had any trouble either. No germy germs, and most stains come out, especially if I remember to pre-treat!
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? 🙂
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.
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! 🙂
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
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 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.
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
Do you ever use Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing to whiten your clothing? It seems to really help...makes those whites dazzle......
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.