The laundry room is an often-overlooked room that not only serves an important purpose but also plays a major role in your electricity bills. The washer and dryer are two of the most expensive appliances in your home that see the most use. Considering the average American family does 400 loads of laundry annually, that’s a lot of use and expense. Creating an efficient laundry room not only makes your task easier, but it also saves you a pretty penny on electricity, detergent, and water. Here are some good ways to go about it.
You don’t have to wash clothes in hot water.
Using hot water to wash all of your clothes is the best way to run up your monthly utility bill. Choosing the right water temperature for each load is key to laundry energy-efficiency. Delicate fabrics, items that could shrink, and dark colors that tend to bleed should be washed in cold water. Soiled clothing and man-made fabrics can be washed in warm water. Bedding, towels, cotton white, and stained clothes should be laundered in hot water. Switching from hot to warm water can cut your energy use in half, and even more when you use cold water.
Find efficient ways to dry your clothes.
You likely transfer your wet clothes straight from the washer into the dryer. While a dryer offers convenience, it’s the most energy-hungry appliance in your home. The best way to make your dry cycle more efficient is to ensure the spin speed of your washing machine is in the highest setting. This will wring out as much moisture from garments as possible and help reduce your drying time.
Switching over to high-efficiency detergent for your high-efficiency washer will create fewer suds and use less water. The type of dryer sheets and fabric softeners you use in your dryer can also impact its efficiency. Synthetic fabric softeners can contain irritants and harmful chemicals that leave residue on your clothing and in your dryer. Switching to an all-natural, eco-friendly dyer ball can soften your clothes while reducing energy consumption.
Premium wool dryer balls from Tru.Earth help fluff clothes, linens, towels, and jackets while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and preventing static cling. Made with premium New Zealand wool, wool dryer balls work to improve air-flow while absorbing moisture to lessen drying time. Their dryer balls are synthetic-free and suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies. The eco-friendly alternative to plastic dryer balls, dryer sheets, and liquid fabric softeners can last for more than 1,000 loads of laundry, which saves money in the long run.
Handle your delicates with care.
The best way to launder your bras and delicate undergarments are to hand-wash them in cool water. Another option is to put bras in a mesh lingerie bag and use the delicate cycle on your machine.
Women going through menopause experience a variety of symptoms such as mood swings, weight gain, insomnia, and low sex drive. Women’s breasts naturally droop with age, and when dealing with hot flashes, it helps to have the right underwear. MenoLabs offers helpful tips on how to find everyday wear bras and underwear made from natural fibers for optimal comfort and support.
There’s no room in menopause for constrictive underwires that become painful. Some women find their breasts become a larger size, while others find the opposite. Be sure to get an accurate bra size you that you can find a comfortable fit with excellent support. Night sweats and hot flashes create the need for breathable undergarments. Synthetic fabrics don’t help your skin breathe and can cause irritation. Cotton underwear in bikini and brief styles offer full coverage and breathability. Moisture-wicking undergarments and cooling bras for menopause are great options that are absorbent and help you feel cool despite the inner heat.
Keep these tips in mind the next time laundry day comes around. The more efficient you make laundry time, the more money you will save in the long run.
