Save Money While Doing Your Laundryby Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger 04 Jul 2006 12:36 PM
However, doing laundry can get expensive with all of the different products available. From detergents, to stain sticks and sprays, boosters and bleaches to fabric softener sheets, there are so many different things to try. But there are definitely a couple of ways to cut costs. Fabric Softener Sheets Do you want to make them last a little longer? Just cut them in half. Some people cut them in thirds. I prefer in half, because they seem to work a little better. Only use one half. Do not TEAR them, because with experience I've learned, when they are torn, they often get stuck to a particular outfit and really don't work too well. By doing this, you can use them longer and in more area's of your home (more on that another time!) Borax My favorite laundry product! What exactly is BORAX? It is a laundry detergent. It comes in a green and yellowish box that says "Twenty mule team BORAX" or something similar to that. It usually sells for under three dollars a box and can be found near TIDE... usually around the laundry boosters. Why is BORAX my favorite laundry product? BECAUSE Borax has many uses!! It is awesome for brightening laundry, deodorizing trash cans, scrubbing grout, cleaning dishwasher and garbage disposals. I've been told it has mild disinfectant properties. Anything that you can use baking soda for (except cooking of course) you can use borax for too. The combination of the two makes for an awesome cleaner that doesn't have any harsh smell. It's easy to find, cheap to make and lasts for awhile, and is so useful in many places in the house! Softener Use much less than the packaging says. Use liquid softener and dilute with water. Spray it inside your dryer, or saturate a clean rag and throw in your dryer with the laundry instead of a fabric sheet. You can use this several times by dampening the rag between loads. A small bottle will last for a long time! Fabric softener makes materials lose their absorbency, and they do build up over a period of time, causing them to yellow. There is a health concern regarding their use as well. It's definitely in your best interest to consider using something else in addition or entirely on it's own - use vinegar. It's not as frugal as commercial fabric softener using the methods above, and you must use it in your washer, in the softener dispenser, or in a dispenser ball, or put it in the first rinse water. Use 1/4 cup for a load to get the real benefit. Vinegar is actually so much cheaper than fabric softener. It will do a number on static cling too! And it doesn't even make your clothes smell bad. In fact you don't even smell it. And you can purchase Vinegar at Sams or Costco in HUGE gallons - saving a bundle that way too. Hopefully these compiled tips will help you save some on your laundry load. Do you have any tips to share? Nicole Humphrey writes articles for the Scrapbooking Blog and for the Frugal Blog. She also guest blogs on a variety of topics. You can read more of her articles by clicking here. Related Articles: Two Of The Biggest Ways American's Waste Money In the Kitchen More Ways American's Waste Money In The Kitchen Freezer Cooking For Your Family Essential Items For Freezer Cooking Great Ways To Cut Food Costs Part 1 Great Ways to Cut Your Food Costs Part 2 Great Ways to Cut Your Food Costs Part 3 Saving Money On Groceries part one Saving Money on Groceries part two Saving Money on Groceries part three Learn more about Nicole Humphrey  Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments  mama_rhapsody (405) 28 Aug 2006 04:15 PMI've been using vinegar as fabric softener for months, it's really a great idea! Community Tags borax, fabric softener, frugal tips, laundry, washing clothes Discuss this article
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Strangely one of my favorite chores is laundry. I have never figured out why, but its kinda relaxing for me and I can do so many other things at the same time.
