Let’s face it. Laundry is the least enjoyable household chore. You have to spend a lot of time sorting through the darks and the lights and go through several rounds of washing if you have a big family. And washing is the easy part. When you think you’re done, you have to start the drying process, fold the clothes, and put them away. The process seems never-ending.
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Laundry is also a drain to the modern green household. It takes up your time, energy, and money. But what if you didn’t have to go through all this hassle? What if you could save time, energy, and money and enjoy your laundry days a bit more? We’ve shared 6 genius hacks to help you do that. Let’s dive right in.
- Upgrade to Energy-Star Models
If you’ve been using the same washing machine and dryer for over 10 years, laundry troubles are inevitable. You’ll have to deal with high energy costs, and laundry day will seem like it lasts forever because the appliances aren’t as efficient as modern models. Consider upgrading to a twin wash energy-star model.
Energy-star-rated washing machines reduce water usage by up to 45%, and you cut back on energy by 25%. However, if upgrading isn’t on your budget at the moment, there are several ways to make your current machine work for you. To cut back on costs with your existing machine:
- Ensure you always have your water setting at the lowest setting.
- Use the load measurements correctly
- Avoid running numerous loads several days a week
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- Sort First
Most people lose a lot of time sorting laundry. If you sort all your darks and lights on the day you plan to wash your clothes, you’re in for a long day, especially if you have a big family. You’ll have to sort through different sizes, fabrics, and colors to avoid messing your clothes up. If you’re not well organized, this task can take hours.
Luckily, there are several things you can do to eliminate this hassle. These include:
- Invest in laundry basket dividers so that everyone knows where to place different types of clothes.
- Hang a laundry bag in the laundry room for small items like socks.
- Store dirty clothes in your washing machine until it’s ready to go. This way, you skip the bin and sorting process altogether.
- Use separate baskets to separate lights from darks.
- Use Cold Water
Did you know that your washing machine uses up about 90% of the total energy of heating water? Yes. If you enjoy washing your clothes in hot water, this may be the reason why you keep getting that hefty electricity bill.
You can back on your energy costs by using cold water. The simple shift from hot to warm cuts your energy costs in half, and using cold water saves you even more money.
- Take Advantage of Off-Peak Hours
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The time of day you do your laundry also impacts how much you incur in energy costs. For instance, if you do your laundry on a weekday at 5 PM, you’re more likely to incur more charges than doing your laundry on a weekend evening. This happens because every area has peak and off-peak hours.
It’s crucial to know the off-peak hours in your area so that you can choose the best time to do your laundry and spend less.
- Toss Tennis Balls into the Dryer
Drying large, bulky items like comforters and blankets takes a lot of time. Tossing a few tennis balls into the load can save you a lot of drying time. The balls separate the large water-logged materials, thereby reducing the drying time.
- Do Your Laundry Once a Week
The more you run your washer and dryer, the higher the cost, time, and energy you’ll spend. Instead of running small loads of laundry every day, consider doing all your laundry once a week. This way, you’re only spending energy, time, and money on one day instead of multiple days in a week.
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If you have a baby, this may not work because tiny humans go through numerous clothes in a day. In this situation, it helps to do your laundry every two to three days instead of every day. Again, sort the baby’s clothes beforehand to save time on laundry day or store them in the washer until it’s ready to go.
Wrapping Up
Laundry day doesn’t have to be dreadful. As you can see, there are various hacks to skip the sorting stage, reduce your energy use, and even cut back on your drying time. Try these hacks and say hello to better, more enjoyable laundry days. Also, if you haven’t already, consider upgrading your washer to an energy-star-rated machine. This appliance will go a long way in cutting back your energy costs.