How To Save Money At The Laundromat

Whether you’re on a limited budget or are just trying to be smart with your money, going to the laundromat can be expensive, especially if you have a lot of clothes. For this reason, we offer the following tips on how to save money at the laundromat to help you stick to your budget.

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Saving money at the laundromat means less money spent on such a menial task. In this way, you can make that trip to the laundromat somewhat less dreadful knowing you are freeing up money for more important things. It also helps make your laundry efforts more efficient.  There are various ways to save money at the laundromat, the top 7 ways include:

1. Research Laundromats

The first step on how to save money at the laundromat is to find the facility with the lowest prices. Therefore, you need to research laundromats in your area until you find the facility that suits your needs as well as your budget. In your quest, you should also consider how far the laundromat is from your home, which can add to your travel costs. Also, note that more modern laundromats may charge more to use their washers and dryers.

2. Hand Wash Smaller Loads

Sometimes if there is a laundromat in your building, once your favorite pieces become soiled, you may be tempted to wash them in smaller loads, which can add up. Instead, wait until you have a full load of laundry before visiting the laundromat to make the most of your money. In the meantime, try hand washing your few favorites in a bucket or sink to help save time and money at the laundromat.

Bonus read: How to Save Money on Soap

3. Bring Your Own Laundry Products

The laundry products offered at the laundromat may be cute and seem convenient. However, because they are only designed for single use, they can be costly. Instead, bring your own fabric softener, detergent, and other laundry products, which can help save money.

You may even consider making your own detergent to save money, which can be done simply by mixing soap, borax, and washing soda and then storing it in an empty container until ready for use.

4. Use the Guide to Measure Your Detergent

Detergent adds to your laundry costs; therefore, you should be mindful of the amount of product that you use in order to help save money. To ensure you use the right amount of detergent, simply follow the guide you can find on the inside of the detergent cap or scoop. This shows measure lines to indicate the amount of detergent you need to use for small, normal, large, and heavily soiled loads.

To save even more detergent, experts suggest simply using half of the recommended amount of detergent, and then supplementing the rest with baking soda, which will not only help clean your clothes but also deodorize them as well.

5. Skip the Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets

Many people report no difference in their clothes after skipping the fabric softener; therefore, to save a few bucks on fabric softener, simply consider eliminating it altogether. Or, you could simply use wool dryer balls, which soften your clothes without the use of chemicals and even cuts down on the drying time.

Various people also swear by vinegar as a low-cost, effective way to soften your clothes. Simply add a cap full of vinegar to the fabric softener slot and enjoy clean, soft clothes sans the vinegar smell.

6. Skip the Dryer

Using the dryer at the laundromat can be expensive, especially if you have many loads. Instead, consider purchasing a clothes drying rack, which does an excellent job at air drying your clothes. It also helps prevent shrinking and wrinkling and helps your clothes maintain their shape. Simply, hang your wet clothes from the rods, then once they are dry, remove your clothes; then fold the rack neatly away for later use.

If you do use the dryer, avoid over-drying your clothes, which can accumulate costs. As a rule of thumb, most loads only require about forty minutes to dry if the machine is properly maintained and the lint trap is lint-free. You might even consider drying your clothes slightly, and then take them home to finish drying them on the drying rack to save money.

7. Only Wash What Needs to be Washed

Sometimes we remove our clothes and automatically toss them into the dirty clothes hamper; however, they may not necessarily be dirty. In fact, many items, such as jeans, bras, and other clothing can be worn at least two times before they need to be washed.

Washing clothes that are not dirty wastes time and money that you can spend on other things. So, before washing your clothes, be sure they need to be washed to save precious resources.

8. Use Customer Loyalty Cards

Another method on how to save money at the laundromat is to use a Customer Loyalty Card. Many laundromats offer some sort of Customer Loyalty Card, such as a points card or a punch card, that rewards you with free dryer or washer time after so many added points or punches, so check with the laundromat of your choice to see if they offer a Customer Loyalty Card, then be sure to use the card to save on future laundromat costs.

Some laundromats also offer other customer loyalty perks, such as free coupon books and other freebies, so be sure to inquire about those as well.

You might also like: How to Save Money When Washing Dishes

Conclusion

Ultimately, the key to how to save money at the laundromat lies in cutting costs and laundry loads where you can in order to accumulate savings. These are just a few of the ways you can save money on doing your laundry. If you have other tips on how to save money at the laundromat, please feel free to share your tips as well as any thoughts and questions you may have in the comments.