Factoring in all costs including $10 per hour for your time, we can spend up to $1690 per year on laundry according to Hassel Free Laundy. Also considering that laundry, a regular and mundane chore, has a significant environmental impact, it makes sense to try to do less laundry. The fact is that most clothes are only worn once before they end up in the laundry pile. So what do you do if your favorite shirt starts to smell like a locker room or you can't get out those wrinkles? Read our 5 tips on how to do less laundry and refresh clothes without washing them.
1. Hang clothes outside: Hanging clothes outside for just 10 minutes will make them smell fresh and remove any musty odors caused by humidity and moisture buildup.
2. Put vinegar into the fabric softener compartment of your washer: Vinegar has some natural deodorizing properties which will help eliminate smells left behind from sweat or food.
3. Baking soda: Sprinkle a light dusting of baking soda into your clothes and leave overnight to absorb any odors. Shake it out in the morning and you're good to go! The same tips can be applied for other stinky items such as shores, gym bags, and even bathroom mats and rugs!
4. Essential Oils: Use a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Lavender and eucalyptus are two wonderful choices as they're known for their deodorizing properties! Drop them into your laundry basket, on some rolled-up tissue paper or even on some cotton balls, and enjoy the subtle scent all week!
5. Steam your garments: Try the Nori Press and Nori Fabric Facial.
Not only is the design new but it also includes its very own Fabric Facial and this is what makes this new iron different and perfect for the environmentally conscious. The Fabric Facial helps to freshen your clothing and thus cuts down on trips to the cleaners or to your washing machine! Your clothes last longer and colors stay as bright as the day you bought them.
Note: Certain delicates like suede cannot be steamed, it's recommended to turn them inside out before steaming.
If you're looking for more ways to reduce laundry costs, consider switching to cold water washing as it uses less energy than warm or hot washes and can save you up to $200 per year! Vinegar is also a good clothing freshener and is cheaper than scented fabric softener, just add a bit of vinegar to the final rinse cycle in place of fabric softener. This will add some fresh smell to your washed clothes!
Try hand washing a couple of delicate items together and save by not running your washer for a small load.
What's more, if you approach your laundry in a well-organized way and avoid washing too few clothes in a single load, you can reduce the amount of energy needed for each wash by up to 40%. If your washer and dryer are not the latest model, consider buying an upgrade if needed. Check your local appliance stores for rebate offers on energy-efficient washers and dryers.
The Nori Press
The Nori Press is a new type of steam and dry iron combo that is perfect for students. It's easy to store, fast, and easy to use and provides outstanding results without the need for an ironing board. It's quick to set up (no ironing board required), fosters sustainability, and transforms ironing into a fun and simple process.
FAQs about how to do less laundry
- What is the average cost of laundry per year?
: The average family spends up to $1,600 per year on laundry. A single person can spend as little as $200 or as much as $600 per year depending on how often they do laundry and the machine they use.
- What is the difference between hot water washing and cold water washing?
Hot water washing requires more energy than cold water washing. It's best to wash in cold water if you have the option because it uses less energy and saves money.
- What are the benefits of using a home appliance?
Using appliances instead of doing laundry by hand can be cheaper, faster, easier, and better for your clothes. This is true if you're doing full loads
- How much energy does cold water take versus warm or hot?
Coldwater washing uses less energy than warm or hot washes. This is because it doesn't take any energy to use cold water. Using warm or hot water requires that your water heater generate enegy to heat the water dispensed.
- How do I choose between a front and top-loading washing machine?
Top loading machines clean well but typically use more water and detergent.. Front-loading machines require less water but may use more energy but the spin cycle extracts most of the water from your clothes, making them much drier after they come out of the washer.
- Do you need a well-organized laundry system? Keep your dirty laundry in labeled bags if you want to reduce the amount of wash?
There is no specific system you need to follow for reducing your washing, but it is recommended that you wash similar types of items (towels with towels, bedding with bedding) together. Sorting your clothing by type and or color can avoid any mishaps like colors running onto whites or light-colored items.
- How do I choose the best detergent for my delicates?
When choosing a detergent, look for something that is designed to be used with delicate fabrics like silk and cashmere. All detergents are not the same. These will contain ingredients that are designed to protect your clothes during the wash cycle. There are many on the market such as Woolite, Tide Zero or Ivory Gentle to name just a few.
- How do I remove wrinkles from my clothes without ironing them?
After removing your clothes from the dryer, simply hang them or fold them while they're still warm. This will eliminate wrinkling.
- What are some tips for more efficiency when handwashing or doing delicates.
When you hand wash your delicates, use lukewarm or cold water and hang them to dry. This will help them last longer and with fewer wrinkles.
- What are some tips for using less load capacity in the washer?
Some ways to cut down on the number of clothes you put into each load include washing dark colors separately (they might bleed). Sorting your laundry will not only eliminate darker colors from running onto lighter ones but will in the end keep you more organized. Using less detergent whenever possible can help to eliminate having to use fewer rinse cycles, Washing only full loads will save water, time and energy.
- What are some tips for handwashing clothing?
When hand washing your delicates, use cool water. If you must use warm or hot water, make sure to check with the care tag first to make sure it's okay to use hot water. Never wring out your delicates by twisting them, but roll them up in a towel and press gently.
- What are some tips to reduce the amount of energy used when drying laundry? One way to reduce the energy used when drying clothes is to air dry them whenever possible.
When you do choose a home appliance, look for a high-efficiency one. You can normally find one that will. offer a rebate!
- What are some tips for handwashing delicates?
You can hand wash your delicates in cold or lukewarm water with a gentle detergent. Hang them to dry.
- What are some tips for using less water when doing laundry?
You can use less water in your washer by choosing the proper water level. Always sort your laundry and only run full loads so that you're not doing multiple small ones.
- What are some tips to reduce the amount of laundry done?
Sort your laundry and try to always run full loads. If you find that that blouse or shirt just needs a little airing out and can be worn one more time it will most likely make it to the next laundry day. Sorting your loads by color and type of fabric will help you see when you've got a full load.
