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I read somewhere long ago you could reduce your electricity bill by doing the laundry on a cold water cycle. I was a bit skeptical that the clothes would get cleaned right but it's been fine. It must have saved me money over the long run not using all that hot water but don't ask me how much because I honestly couldn't tell you. I do an odd hot wash for the whites every so often but apart from that, it's cold water cycles all the time. Give it a try! Every penny counts. :)
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The best way to save on the laundry is not to do so much! My husband has a habit of taking off a sweatshirt he's only had on maybe a few hours and throwing it in the laundry basket instead of wearing it the next day or another one. I get mad because all he's done is watch TV. It's not as if he's been doing any kind of dirty jobs! I have to remind him every so often doing that costs us money that we don't need to be spending right now.
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Another tip is to use less laundry detergent. I found that whatever it says on the bottle or box the dosage is, you can use two thirds of it.
Good point! We always use less because too much irritates my husband's skin anyway. He says I'm trying to get rid of him quietly by giving him detergent poisoning LOL. I can back up what greenmachine said. Less is more.
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Hi there. I use less detergent but hadn't tried a cold water wash. I'm fussy about how clean my clothes are but I see you all haven't had problems. Do you use the laundry detergents that are for cold washes only?
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Hi there. I use less detergent but hadn't tried a cold water wash. I'm fussy about how clean my clothes are but I see you all haven't had problems. Do you use the laundry detergents that are for cold washes only?
Since I converted to doing cold water washes I've used the normal laundry detergent, frazzledmom. I think those cold water washes are a marketing ploy and nothing else. They're more expensive too. Your clothes get cleaned just as well with cold water if not better. I think hot water sucks the color out of clothes even on a warm water cycle faster.
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Febreze is excellent too for clothes that only need freshened up a little. Obviously if you've been doing a job that gets you filthy the clothes need a proper wash but for mine where I've not been doing much apart from light housework, a quick squirt gives me one less laundry item and another day's wear.
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That's an interesting option, frankly it's the first time I heard about someone trying it. I am interested in saving energy myself so I thought on a long run and got some new energy efficient Kenmore parts. I think I'll also try this little cold water trick, see how much I can minimize my electricity bill.
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We have been using cold water Tide for the last few years and always do our laundry in cold water. We could almost disconnect the hot water line to the washer as far as I am concerned. I do not know how much $ we have saved in our utility bill over that time, but like many other ways to save $, it's a no-brainier.
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Thanks for the tips but I am also wondering if cold water doesn't affect the washing machine. Not all the washing machines are effective on cold water, it takes a certain number of spins and an good detergent. I think we'll soon see cold water machines specifically designed. Until then am just fine with my washer.
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Hi albertt, nice to meet you. What basis do you have for saying that about not all machines being effective on cold water? I've never heard that and am yet to see a machine that doesn't have a cold water wash cycle. Just curious where the facts lie.
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Hi albertt, nice to meet you. What basis do you have for saying that about not all machines being effective on cold water? I've never heard that and am yet to see a machine that doesn't have a cold water wash cycle. Just curious where the facts lie.
I'd be interested in more on that too. Hello to you albertt. Welcome! :)
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I'm wondering about odors...anyone have any ideas? It just seems to me that hot water works better on the really stinky stuff...
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I very rarely use the hot water anymore for laundry. It saves you electricity also because the cycle's shorter too. Another tip is to use less laundry detergent. I found that whatever it says on the bottle or box the dosage is, you can use two thirds of it. That extra third you save is like getting a free sample of laundry detergent every fourth wash.
Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are. - Alfred Austin