The money saving is currently presented everywhere. If you feel like you can't save any more, take a look at our tips that will help you save some money when washing, drying and ironing your laundry.
A clean and well-functioning washing machine and high-quality detergents are one of the basic prerequisites for saving money when washing and drying laundry. When clothes are properly washed, dried and ironed, their lifespan is extended at the same time.
Energy efficiency of the washing machine
If you want to save money when doing laundry, you need to start by inspecting your washing machine. Look primarily at energy efficiency. If you have an older piece at home, its energy consumption can be up to twice as much as a new one. A washing machine, which will have an A+++ mark on the energy label, usually consumes around 0.65 kW. When washing 3 times a week, this can represent a difference of 700 crowns per year.
Such a washing machine can help you save up to several hundred crowns per year. In addition, an economical washing machine usually only uses 6-8 liters of water per kilogram of laundry, which is another money saving.
Take a good look at where the washing machine is located. On a flat surface, the washing machine burns less energy and the spin cycle is shortened. Make sure that the washing machine is clean, in addition to fresh and fragrant laundry, you will also save some energy.
Economical operation of the washing machine
Wash the laundry at lower temperatures. Sometimes it is necessary to turn on the program at 90 °C, but if it is not necessary, do not turn it on. At 90 °C, mainly bed linen and sometimes children's clothes are washed. Be guided by the fact that the lower the temperature, the higher the energy saving. When washing at 30 °C, you can save even half of the energy used, which can get up to 1,000 or more crowns per year. At 40 °C, you can wash most stains and the washing will still be relatively economical and gentle on fabrics. You will then save on buying new clothes.To save energy and water, do not do the laundry too often, but at the same time do not overfill the washing machine. There should always be a palm-width space left in the drum. It is ideal if one washing cycle uses a maximum of 49 liters of water. If possible, use cost-effective programs.
If your washing machine has a delayed start and you have a higher and a lower electricity rates during the day, schedule your washing so that it starts in the low rate. If your washing machine can't do it, try to turn it on at a low rate, it's no longer true that it is only during the night.
Drying and ironing
Although it is a great helper, the tumble dryer is one of the biggest "energy consumers". To give you an idea, it is probably such an „eater“ that a family of four would save 300 kWh of electricity (approximately 2,000 CZK) per year if they dried their clothes on a regular dryer.If there is no other way and you are going to iron the laundry, take it out of the dryer earlier, while it is still little wet. You save on drying and steaming when ironing.
But be careful, don't iron clothes that are little too wet or too dry, the energy consumption during ironing will then be lower. Also think about whether it is really necessary to iron all towels, dish towels or T-shirts for use at home and for sports.
Prepare homemade detergents
You can also save quite a lot of money by preparing homemade detergents. In addition to saving money on buying commercial products, they are also suitable for people with allergies and small children.For 10 liters of washing gel you need:
- 10 liters of boiling water
- 300 g of crystalline washing soda (or 150 g of powdered washing soda)
- 1 laundry soap (Marseille, Jelen, etc.)
- 15 drops of essential oil (e.g. lavender)
- Finely grate the soap. Add it to 2 liters of boiling water and stir until the soap dissolves. Slowly stir in the washing soda, mix, and finally add the remaining 8 liters of boiling water (hot will do).
- After cooling, add the essential oil and leave for 24 hours and the washing gel is ready to be used.
Dosage: 250 ml of washing gel is enough for normal washing, more gel is needed for dirtier clothes.
Washing powder
To prepare a kilogram of washing powder you need:- 1 kg of washing soda (sodium carbonate)
- 100 g of laundry soap Grate the soap on a grater. Prepare a 3-liter container and mix washing soda with a laundry soap in it. Be careful not to inhale the powder, as soda can irritate the mucous membranes.
Dosage: 2 spoons (25-30 grams) per full washing machine.
Soap slime
To prepare soap slime you need:- a cube of laundry soap (175–250 g)
- 6 liters of hot water
- 100 g of powdered washing soda or 250 g of crystalline washing soda
Grate the soap and add to a bucket with 1 liter of boiling water. Stir until dissolved and then add 5 liters of hot water. Stir in the washing soda and let it dissolve. After cooling, a thick slime is formed, which is suitable, for example, for washing baby diapers.
Dosage: 250-500 ml depending on the soiling of the laundry. Put soap slime directly in the drum of the washing machine, not in the compartment. If you have harder water, add half a cup of washing soda.
Shoes like new
In addition to clean clothes, you also need to think about cleaning your shoes. All you need is an old toothbrush and toothpaste to keep your sneakers looking like new. For a rubberized white sole or toe cap use a pure white toothpaste without a colored additives. Apply the toothpaste with a toothbrush and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Finally, wipe it off with a damp cloth. If necessary, repeat the procedure once again.As you can see, you can really save money on washing. Therefore, you don't have to walk around dirty, you just have to choose a suitable washing method and the savings come into your pocket. Send clothes that cannot be washed in a washing machine, such as coats and so on, to a dry cleaner. This may seem like a large amount of money at first glance, but given that the purchase price of a woolen coat is many times higher, it is a negligible amount.
