(Offline)
I usually change the beds weekly and wash everything. That's a lot of water! Can I extend that in any way? I've always done that because that's what my mom did.
(Offline)
I don't wash my comforters that much unless they get muddy paw prints on them or start to smell stale. It's not good for the filling to do it so often. Once every couple of months is more than enough.
(Offline)
Use cold water. You can calculate how much switching to cold water can save you here.
See the right hand column.
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/get-out-of-hot-water
(Offline)
You could use Febreze to freshen the quilts. I like to spray my comforters with that and then hang them out on the line to get some fresh air circulating through them. I do the same thing with rugs. They don't always need washed, just aired.
(Offline)
I'm with cookiefan and the rest of the girls. I don't think you need to wash them so often, especially the quilts. You'll weaken the fabric faster too.
(Offline)
I do my sheets every weekend. Use a shorter wash cycle if possible. I got in the habit of using a long one for absolutely everything when really there was no need. Getting out of a habit like that saves you money on both water and electricity.
I haven't washed my comforter since February.
(Offline)
Good tip Jewel! I use the long cycle out of habit too and I know we're not that dirty. I need to do that as well. I wash my comforter only a couple of times a year, usually early spring and late summer. Sheets I do about every two weeks or less. They get washed more in summer than winter.
pennywise, you could always make them sleep out on the porch. That will keep your sheets clean and cut the laundry costs. ;)
(Offline)
pennywise, you could always make them sleep out on the porch. That will keep your sheets clean and cut the laundry costs. ;)
Good idea LOL! Give them a dog dish too and that will save you from washing all that pesky cutlery and crockery. ;)
(Offline)
You could use Febreze to freshen the quilts. I like to spray my comforters with that and then hang them out on the line to get some fresh air circulating through them. I do the same thing with rugs. They don't always need washed, just aired.
Savannah, I like the Dollar General generic brand of Febreze. I also tried the Renuzit Odor Eliminating Spray in Citrus and it's very good. Both are much cheaper.
(Offline)
You could use Febreze to freshen the quilts. I like to spray my comforters with that and then hang them out on the line to get some fresh air circulating through them. I do the same thing with rugs. They don't always need washed, just aired.
Savannah, I like the Dollar General generic brand of Febreze. I also tried the Renuzit Odor Eliminating Spray in Citrus and it's very good. Both are much cheaper.
I found the DG version was on the strong side when I first sprayed that on bedding. I decant it into a squirt bottle and dilute it with water, half and half. It goes even further and doesn't do any less of a job.
(Offline)
pennywise, you could always make them sleep out on the porch. That will keep your sheets clean and cut the laundry costs. ;)
Good idea LOL! Give them a dog dish too and that will save you from washing all that pesky cutlery and crockery. ;)
I award you both the Best Idea Award LOL. ;)
I'm going to take on all this advice. Thanks! I also like the suggestions here. Can you believe we do 400 loads on average a year? No wonder I hate laundry.
7 green ways to save money in the laundry
I would extend it a little and do it every ten days instead of every week. That gives you one less wash a month and will mount up.
Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor.
- Samuel Johnson