Do you like doing laundry?
There is something wonderful about making things clean again. Then again, there is something rather icky about that cat-vomited, kid-messy, sticky mass you shove into the washing machine. I am of two minds about laundry.
Laundry can be a time suck if you let it. We only have three people (and three cats) in our family, and it takes up a bit of time. It used to take up more time, though. These days, I’m in a frugal and time-friendly laundry groove. Yeah.
How can you reduce the time you spend doing laundry? Get proactive. Ask yourself and your kids whether things are really dirty. If our laundry is smelly or dirty, or if it’s underwear or socks, it goes into the laundry. If we have worn it and it is not dirty, we can wear it again. This saves a lot of time and energy.
Ignore the mess. If your kids go through multiple fashion changes a day due to spots, either spot clean their shirt or pants or ignore it. Kids get dirty, and unless they’re really dirty, they don’t always need to be changed. Poopy pants are an exception. You have my permission (not that you needed it) to change those ASAP.
Hang things to dry temporarily. Swimsuits and towels can get a quick hang dry. They don’t need to go into the wash all of the time.
If you’re looking for eco-friendly washing solutions, washing on cold is one of the best. If you have pet or diaper laundry, by all means sterilize it in hot water. The rest of your laundry is likely not nasty enough to require hot water. It just needs washing. Experiment with the amount of soap you need too. Soap companies give directions, but since they’re supposed to sell soap, they tell you to use a lot. Figure out how much you actually need to get those clothes clean.
How can you rock the world with your eco-friendly and frugal laundry habits?
Hang drying is a big one. Yes, this is not a time reducing task. It does take longer than shoving your clothes into the dryer. However, I figure that the good smell of outdoor-dried laundry balances that out. Plus, there are the cost savings. Dryers are an energy suck.
When you can dry laundry outside, give it a try. We have a fold-up laundry line that’s good for small yards. If you’ve got a big yard, you can get the deluxe line version and have those white sheets waving in the wind.
In the winter, indoor drying is an option, especially if you live in a dry climate. Try it out in a rec room or a large laundry room, and you’ll save a lot on winter drying as well.
What do you think? Are these suggests weird? Gross? Or practical?