
When you’re using a laundromat or community laundry room, it may feel like you have less control over some of the laundry process when it’s not your equipment. However, there are still many ways for you to save money on every load you do. Even if you’re just saving $5 a week, that adds up to over $250 in a year! Here are some ways for you to add to your money jar while still getting your laundry clean:
Don’t overfill the wash load.
Some experts will tell you to save up your weekly laundry so you can put it all in to one load. While you probably don’t want to waste one whole cycle on just a few items, you definitely do not want to overfill your load! Detergent won’t distribute evenly throughout the load during the wash cycle if your clothes are stuffed in there too tightly together. This results in laundry that isn’t getting cleaned, so you have to wash it again. Overfilling may also lead to over-soaked items from improper draining, so you have to use two dryer cycles. Either of these results means you’re paying more money and time extra cycles.
Use less soap.
One of the best ways to save money is to use less soap. Most people use way too much, which is bad for your clothes, and actually bad for the machine too. If your clothes come out sudsy, you’ll want to wash them again, costing you more money. It can also be a contributing factor to your clothing smelling bad, because the extra soap in your clothes can begin to mildew. Use only the recommended amount of detergent, which is usually about 2teaspoons per load. You’ll probably make that bottle last at least twice as long as you usually do!
Use generic brands.
The markup on brand names can be pretty significant, so you can also save on detergent costs by using generic or lesser-known brands. You may also want to consider buying in bulk or bigger containers at Costco or other economical stores that give discounts per ounce for getting larger amounts.
Don’t overfill the dry load either.
Pay attention to how many clothing items you are trying to dry. Many people overload the dryer, thinking it will save them money. Clothes dryers work by moving warm dryer air through tumbling clothing. If there is no room for the air to travel through, or the clothes aren’t tumbling, you may end up spending more money on additional dryer time. One properly loaded wash cycle goes into a single dryer. This will also save your clothing unnecessary wear and tear – which lowers your replacement costs too. One properly loaded wash cycle goes into a single dryer.
Clothes dryers work by moving warm dryer air through tumbling clothing.
Don’t use the extras.
You don’t need a dryer sheet, fabric softener, or any of those extras. All you need is a little detergent and water. If you have a stubborn stain, you can often get it out with household items that don’t require an expensive stain remover.
Separate your loads properly.
Lighter-weight clothes, need less time drying, so it makes sense to separate them from heavier cottons or towels. Delicate can also be separated out and washed in cold, and dried on low or even line dried back at your own place of residence.
You’ll probably be surprised at how much laundry coin you can save just by using the equipment properly. If you have any questions about how to use your facility’s equipment, visit us online. You’ll find more laundry tips, payment options, and equipment instructions at CoinMeter.com.