Thrifty Thursday - Laundry Savings

This week for my Thrifty Thursday post, I'm talking about saving money while doing laundry!

Obviously, the easiest way to save money doing laundry is to use coupons on the laundry products you buy. You can easily still be brand loyal - many brands put out coupons on a regular basis in Sunday newspaper coupon inserts. If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for your brand of choice's email and mailing list - not only will you be the first to know of any new scents or products, you may also receive exclusive coupons and rebate offers.

You can also make your own laundry soap - there's some great "recipes" available on the internet.

Do you only use a single laundry hamper? Consider purchasing a laundry sorter instead - a bin that has compartments. You'll be more inclined to do full loads, therefore saving on water and energy costs, if you have one - instead of sorting through one big laundry bin and getting annoyed.

If you use dryer sheets, most can be easily cut in half to save money. (I say the exception is on towels, where you need the nice smelling stuff the most!) Just cut them ahead of time, so you aren't fumbling around with each load. If you use a liquid fabric softener just because you hate static cling, did you know that a couple of teaspoons of vinegar in the fabric softener area does the same thing? Yup, it's nature's own fabric softener! If it's for the scent, consider using just half the recommended usage and see how it works for you. If you still have static, or it doesn't smell the way you want it, then adjust accordingly.

Speaking of dryers, don't forget to clean your lint trap out after every load! Your laundry will dry faster. Invest in a lint trap cleaning kit as well to clean out all the icky stuff that you can't reach - it's also a fire hazard if not cleaned properly.

Line drying your clothes will help you save on electricity, and it can also prolong the life of your garments if done properly. Be careful not to leave clothing outside in the sunlight for too long since it can fade the fabrics. For delicate clothes, think about hanging them inside. If you have a sturdy shower curtain rod already installed, simply hang clothes on hangers from it. There are also nifty retractable lines that you can purchase for hanging in your bathtub - your bras will thank you for it. ;) (You'll save the cost of the line by not having to replace even just one bra as often!) You can also purchase a drying rack. I have one, and in the winter especially it's great because I can keep it near the fireplace, and the clothes are dry in a jiffy! (Just be careful that it's not too close, or you end up with a fire hazard!)