It all comes out in the wash.

by: ALifeLessFrightening

Sat Mar 26, 2011 at 15:55:08 PM EDT

Maybe I'm unusual, but I actually find the chore of doing laundry personally satisfying.  I find it oddly relaxing; perhaps it appeals to that long-lost time in my life when I used to have time for clean, neat, and orderly.  But...I ran out of laundry soap the other day.  I often make my own, but one bottle of store-bought detergent bought for convenience turned into another, and then another, 'till a few days ago I decided that when my current bottle ran out I would just simply not allow myself to buy another. And thus, I took my love of nice, orderly laundry hostage.  "Either make that batch of laundry detergent," I bargained with myself, "or watch the clothesline site empty for the next several sunny days."  

The lonely clothesline will win.  I'm making the detergent today.  

So why am I taking up valuable space on the internets with talk of something so mundane as laundry?  Because unfortunately, laundry can be an incredibly wasteful chore in terms of energy and dollars spent.  We wash load after load in warm or hot water, in petrochemical-based suds shipped from god-knows-where, then toss them into that most inefficient beast of household appliances--the dryer--to finish the deed.  Fortunately, this also means there is quite a bit of room for improvement. Yes, most of the following is common sense, but if you're like me (see aforementioned discussion regarding my own laundry soap-making slacking), you need the occasional reminder and/or kick in the pants to do something about it.  So follow me below the fold for tips (and recipes!) to shave kWhs off your energy usage and save big-time dollars.

Wash in cold water.

Your washing machine likely defaults to warm water for the wash and cold for the rinse, so remember to set it for a cold water wash.  Most everyday laundry doesn't require warm water to get sufficiently clean, and washing in cold has the added bonus of keeping colors brighter longer (or preventing black from graying if, like me, that makes up the bulk of your wardrobe).  If you've got something greasy or funky, pre-treat and/or pre-wash the trouble spot by hand; wash in warm only when necessary.  

Wash full loads at a time.

Washing a few full loads instead of several smaller ones saves water and energy, especially if you have a top-loading washer.  I have a high-efficiency, front-loading model that promises to automatically "know" the amount of laundry I've put in and adjust the water used accordingly, but the Luddite side of me doesn't quite believe it can be all that smart.  Instead, I try to be organized and "budget" my loads, making it less likely that I'll throw in a small load just to wash a few key items. It also helps me stay organized and budget loads if I can set aside a set laundry day(s) each week.  

Wash less.

Do your jeans really need to be washed every time you wear them?  Likely not, unless you are a mechanic or get really dirty.  I have a farm so I do get plenty funky, but I have certain jeans that are work jeans.  Since I'm only wearing them to get funky around the farm, I just wear the same dirty ones a few times before washing.  The chickens don't care (well, if they do, they're being polite about it and keeping it to themselves).  

Make your own laundry soap.

Making your own laundry soap saves money, period.  When I first assembled the ingredients to make the recipe that follows, I did the math to determine the cost for one batch.  Including shipping costs for the items I had to order online, a batch of this laundry detergent--which lasts me several months--cost me a whopping $1.72.  I'm not entirely convinced of the eco-friendliness of the recipe I use, as I am not sure of the chemical makeup of some of the ingredients, but I am under the assumption that it is the lesser of two evils (not being full of chemical brighteners and perfumes and such).  And once you've got the ingredients on hand, your soap isn't burning fuel being shipped from manufacturer to warehouse to storefront.

Liquid Laundry Soap

You'll need:

1/3 bar Fels Naptha laundry soap (or other bar soap)
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (note: not baking soda! This is a totally different creature)
1/2 cup borax powder
Water
Essential oil(s) (optional, for scenting)
Bucket for mixing
Bucket or other container for storing

Method:

• Grate the soap (I use my box grater).
• Combine 6 cups of water and grated soap in a saucepan and heat at low to medium low, stirring occasionally, until the soap melts.
• Add the washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.
• Pour 4 cups of hot water into the bucket. Add the soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.  If you are using essential oils, add and stir in now. Let mixture cool completely.
• Once cooled, store mixture covered in a plastic bucket or other plastic container.  (I reuse liquid laundry detergent jugs because they have those handy pour spouts and measuring cup lids.)

Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry, adjusting as necessary.  I use a high-efficiency machine and 1/2 cup is plenty; your mileage may vary.  

Some additional comments:

The finished product will not be homogeneous, but will instead be a slightly gelled liquid with slightly more congealed bits floating around.  This is normal.  It will be the color of whatever bar soap you use.  I use the Fels Naptha, so mine has a yellow-ish tint to it.  Honestly, it looks kind of goober-ish, but I'm cool with that.  

I have heard 'round the internet that some folks don't use the Fels Naptha. Some use plain old Ivory bar soap, some use whatever they happen to like the scent of.  I personally have not tried this particular recipe with anything other than the Fels Naptha; however, I don't think that it is the most natural option, and I would like to experiment with other soaps once I've used up my stash of the Fels Naptha.  My one hesitation with using other bar soaps is the amount of suds that they might make--the Fels Naptha doesn't suds too much, but I wonder about, say, the Ivory.  I have a high-efficiency machine, so suds are to be avoided.  

For the parents out there:  I've used this soap successfully with all types of cloth diapers. Omit the essential oils if using for nappies, as even small amounts of oil in the wash can cause build-up on the fabric.  

Scent:  Lavender essential oil is nice.  I also like grapefruit or other citrus oils to use for scenting.  Sometimes I just let it go naked.  The Fels Naptha soap does have a scent that it will impart to the finished product, but I find it does not linger on the clothes.  If you use essential oils, don't go overboard; a little goes a long way. Add 10 to 15 drops, maybe a couple more, and smell to see if you've reached your desired result before adding more.

From RiaD in the comments:  The suggestion of lavender and tea tree essential oils in combination.  Both have antiseptic qualities, and lavender is, of course, wonderfully relaxing.  

The above recipe is the same or similar to most of the laundry detergent recipes that you'll encounter via a Google search.  Several years ago I did try a recipe that made a powdered detergent.  At the time, I had a top-load washer, and it worked fine.  I don't know if the homemade powdered detergent will work in a high-efficiency machine, because it contains grated soap that probably won't dissolve and dispense properly in the soap dispenser.  I have since lost track of the exact recipe I used, but the following recipe is similar (and is basically the liquid laundry soap recipe without the water):

Powdered Laundry Soap

You'll need:

1 cup grated soap (again, Fels Naptha or other soap)
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
Few drops essential oil (optional)

Method:  Combine all ingredients well and store in an airtight container.  Use one to two tablespoons per load, depending on soil level.  

Hang it out!

If your homeowners association rules don't allow outdoor clotheslines--which, in my personal opinion, is one of the most ridiculous restrictions I've ever heard of, but I won't bore you with a rant--change them!  Project Laundry List is the online resource to check out for all things clothesline, including mounting a successful attempt to get your local restrictions changed.  

If you can't hang your laundry outside--perhaps you live in an apartment, maybe the weather is bad, or you fear offending your neighbor's delicate sensibilities--dry inside.  You can get really creative, even in small spaces.  There are nifty retractable clotheslines you can hang in a basement, extra room, or your laundry room.  Folding racks are great, especially for delicates and other items that you might prefer to lay flat.  When bad weather prevents me from using our outdoor line, I use plastic hangers and hang whole loads to dry on the shower curtain rod in a bathroom.  I keep a folding rack handy for small items such as socks and anything that I lay flat to dry, such as sweaters.  

And no, line-dried towels aren't crunchy, they're exfoliating!  Ok, some fabrics (such as terry cloth and denim) do come off the line fairly stiff.  Personally this doesn't bother me, but if it does bother you there are a few things you can do to combat air-dried stiff clothes:

• Try adding 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse water when you wash.  It's purportedly helpful not only as a fabric softener, but also to keep whites and colors bright and to keep lint off of clothes.
• Give your clothes a few good, hard shakes before hanging up, and then again when taking them down.
• Wear them!  I find that my jeans are only crunchy for the first few minutes of wear. Similarly, towels soften up after the first use.
• If all else fails and you just can't tolerate the stiffness, go ahead and toss your jeans and towels in the dryer for a few minutes to "fluff" before folding.  Try the air dry setting (with no heat).  Either way, you've still used a lot less energy than if you'd run all of your laundry through the dryer.

Please share your favorite energy-saving and frugal laundry tips in the comments!