How to Save Money on....Laundry

Did you know in many Westernized countries, a laundry dryer is not considered a necessity? Drying racks are used almost exclusively for drying clothes. Now, living in the frigid Mid-West, this is not always the best option.

Scouring the internet, articles will abound about how much detergent to use, if any. If any? Yeah. Well have you tried washing your clothes without detergent? Some people swear it makes no difference. How about this? Start using half what you normally use and see if it comes out clean. If it does, use 1/4 the detergent. If it's still pretty good, go 1/8 and then finally skip it. Not everyone is a mechanic with greasy, grimy clothes.

I will admit the one place I will use detergent and bleach is my towels, underwear, socks and bed linens. This is psychological to me. I have to know I used this stuff or I won't let it touch me. Yes, I'm nuts.

So, what other tricks are there to save money here?

I have a laundry schedule where I wash one load a day, every week.
*Daughter's
*Son's
*Mine and Hubby's
*Hubby's work clothes
*Towels
*Every two weeks bed linens, but I have two sets for each bed, so they are changed weekly.
 I air out the comforters every week on the best weather day of the week, then toss in the dryer for 30 minutes on high.

My method;
Laundry is washed first thing in the morning.
I wash everything on gentle wash, normal spin speed.
I stop the cycle after the water fills the tub and let the clothes soak, setting a timer for 30 minutes.
I use the shortest wash time cycle.
I run all laundry loads through 2 final spin cycles so as much water is extracted as possible.
All laundry is hung on drying racks for at least 8 hours. This at least diminishes the amount of time in the dryer by half and during the summer, I can line dry outdoors.

Is this a lot for work? Yes. Does it take time? Yes. Does it eliminate electrical and gas use for the dryer? You bet!