Doing laundry more cheaply and gently isn’t just a good idea when you have deep pockets. Saving money often goes hand in hand with saving nature.
How to save on laundry?
How to save money when doing laundry? Everything is possible, but it also has its pitfalls. Modern washing machines are great helpers and offer a whole range of programs that we didn’t even think about before. How to wash not only economically, but also ecologically? If you wash at low temperatures, it will bring less burden on your wallet and nature.
The author of the post published on the profile will also give you advice in her post on TikTok @budgetingmumofficialwhich washes clothes at only 20 °C.
Washing at lower temperatures or short programs is cheaper
Washing at only 20°C is possible, but the results will be mixed. Of course, it is possible to use special stain removers, but they are on average slightly more expensive than the average washing powder. If you are comfortable washing at 20°C, remove stains by hand before washing. The estimated savings when comparing one load of laundry washed at 20 °C instead of 40 °C is about CZK 1.25, and this is very close to the difference in the price of a dose of ordinary detergent and stain remover.
The washing machines thus offer twenty-minute programs. They can also be labeled as express or ecological and economic ECO, which usually last an hour. Another option is to use steam. Such a program usually takes 15 to 30 minutes for the washing machine.
Sort your laundry and don’t forget about hygiene
However, there is a certain “but”! Do you wash to keep your clothes clean? That’s when such short programs are not enough. They are deliberately labeled as refreshing. This means that it is suitable for clothes that are not visibly dirty and must not be sweaty. It is, of course, logical that well-washed clothes stay in the washing machine for some time.
And that’s not all. Short programs do not manage to wash the clothes well enough, although washing at low temperatures is extremely ecological, but even this has its pitfalls.
While the steam that refreshes the laundry but does not wash it is very hot, ie 60 to 70 °C, the ECO type program uses temperatures typically between 40 to 60 °C, but very short 15 or 20 minute programs often only 20 to 30 °C. You probably guess that the temperature is extremely important for the disposal of dirt, it affects not only the dirt itself, but also the solubility of the detergent.
However, although you will have cleaner clothes, you will not eliminate various potential germs, and the washing machine may start to smell unpleasant. Bacteria, viruses, but also fungi have varying lifespans, from a few hours to a few months. Especially in winter, when diseases are more common, it is therefore advisable to use temperatures above 50 °C and do not forget to wash jackets, gloves, scarves and other pieces of clothing that are most exposed.
What does this mean in practice? Use very short programs, but sort the dirty laundry so that such washing makes sense. For dirty, heavily sweated clothes, choose the optimal program according to the material, but also according to the time.
Load the washing machine optimally. This means that the drum should be about three-quarters full. Laundry that cannot move in the water during rinsing in the drum will not be washed well.
Optimum fulfillment and use of a suitable program is both economical and ecological. You can further reduce the impact on nature by using biodegradable detergents and fabric softener, which can easily be replaced with vinegar for softening.
It is more ecological and economical to dry in the air instead of in a dryer, however, it is not necessary to talk about the advantages of dryers at length, their practicality is certain, but you will pay extra for it.
Sources: kondice.cz, idnes.cz
