There is no such thing as a small saving. As you have always heard, save the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves. With a number of small savings here and there, you could make a big difference to your bank account at the end of the month! Here are 14 tips to avoid losing money when you are doing your laundry.
1. Use less detergent
It may seem like a small thing, but in reality, if you half the amount of detergent you are using, obviously it will last you twice as long, and you only have to buy it half as often! It’s simple maths, but it’s true that the vast majority of stains come out with water alone, and the detergent is there simply to add a nice smell. When you notice the price of a box or a bottle of detergent, you’ll see that this saving is not to be sniffed at!
2. Use shops’ own-brand detergent
There is no need to buy the most expensive brands -detergents are all the same. Sometimes, like many own-brand products sold in the big supermarkets, the product inside the bottle is identical to that of the very well known brands. Meaning you are only paying for branding and fancy packaging. The difference in pricing can be enormous, and you can pay up to three times as much for the big brands. If you use tip number 1 as well, you’ll be making significant savings! Alternatively, you can always make your own detergent with our simple tip!
3. Don’t wash clothes unless they really need it
This may also seem obvious, but it’s not always as clear as you may think! Sometimes you can even wash clothes without having worn them. You can wear jeans and jumpers several times before washing them. Clothes that are only worn for a part of an evening don’t necessarily need to be washed either. Think before you automatically throw everything into the laundry basket!
4. Use the cold wash cycle
Cold washes are very practical when you don’t have any major stains on your clothes. They are also recommended to avoid damaging delicate fabrics. You don’t always need to do a hot wash. Changing from hot to cold washes, if you use the machine once a day, can save you up to €150 a year!
5. Use a stain remover before washing
No more need to put on hot washes if you use a stain remover! Stains that have been pre-treated will disappear all by themselves during washing.
6. Wash clothes at a lower temperature
Cold washes don’t work for everything, but you can still put on a warm wash, reducing the temperature to 30°C. This also has the advantage of not damaging or shrinking your clothes. Keep it in mind for your next wash, because this tip could save you up to €50 a year!
7. Use a pre-wash
If you’re very unlucky and the 3 last tips haven’t worked, use a pre-wash cycle on your washing machine. With this tip, your clothes will be pre-washed beforehand with very little water. The advantage of this tip is that you don’t have to go back to using higher temperature washes, and your clothes stay intact for longer!
8. Use a laundry net
You surely have delicate items in your wardrobe, that you are afraid to put in the machine! We feel your pain. Using a laundry net will ensure your delicate clothes will last longer, because they are protected during the spin in the machine. This will prevent you from having to buy new clothes -a clear saving!