Laundry is a chore that we all need to do, but it doesn’t have to be such a pain. With these amazing eco-friendly laundry hacks you’ll learn how to save money by making your own detergent at home and using dryer sheets creatively!
Eco-Friendly Laundry Hacks
You’ll also find out about the different ways you can make reusable dryer balls for your clothes, which are good for the environment.
Use An Eco-friendly Laundry Soap
Depending on how much laundry soap you buy each month, switching to eco-friendly detergent can save a lot of money and it’s much better for the environment. There are plenty of options on the market, with most eco friendly laundry detergents being relatively sensitive on your skin and very gentle on the environment. Another option is always making your own laundry soap at home. It is very easy and quite cheap! You’ll need Borax, baking soda and lemon juice. All you do is take 1/4 cup of Borax, 1/2 cup of baking soda and the juice from one lemon to fill up a container with enough soap for about 64 washes. Use two tablespoons per load. It’ll do the trick, but if DIY cleaning products is not your thing, or you struggle to see how this will actually clean your laundry, you are better off buying an eco-friendly brand.
Essential Oils
There’s nothing like having your clothes smell great, but you should be careful since most products available on the market are filled with chemicals. There is a solution though and it doesn’t involve empty promises: essential oils! You can add ten or fewer drops of essential oil in any natural laundry soap and there you go! If you want to make your own detergent at home, here’s how: mix 1/2 cup of Borax, 1/2 cup of baking soda, and 1/4 cup of salt with three tablespoons of Dr. Bronner’s soap. Add ten to twenty drops of your favorite essential oil into the mixture and that’s it – super easy-peasy! Try lemon if you don’t like the smell of lavender, or grapefruit if you are looking for something fresh.
Dryer Sheets For All The Things!
There are plenty of clever things you can do with your dryer sheets that have nothing to do with drying your clothes. Who knew these little pieces of fabric could be so versatile? Here’s what you can do:
Stuff them in the shoes you don’t wear very often – this makes them smell nice and it kills bacteria.
Mix together 1 tablespoon of dryer sheets with a half cup of water in a spray bottle then add ten drops of any essential oil you’d like. Shake it up and use this mixture in your shoes every other day or when they start to smell bad. It’ll make them smell great again! This solution will also work for smelly gym bags or lockers if you don’t have a fancy shoe deodorizer.
Dryer sheets can be used in a number of creative ways, but they’re probably most commonly associated with reducing static cling and making our clothes smell good after washing them. You can use dryer sheets to remove lint from carpets or furniture, or you could even rub one on a pair of your shoes if you need a quick shine before going out for the night!
Place one under your mattress before putting on clean sheets and not only will they absorb moisture but they’ll make your bed smell amazing!
For a more eco option, you can make your own reusable sheets with essential oils.
Reusing Old Dryer Sheets
Cut up used dryer sheets and add them to your laundry while it’s drying for static-free clothes. If you do this, make sure to use the same scent as the one you used on your clothes, or use more than one type if you like lots of smells. You can also tie dryer sheets in your shoes or under your bedsheets instead of using fabric softener sheets. This is not only better for the environment, but will also give you more of that fresh smell!
Make Your Own Laundry Balls To Save Money And Be Green
Reusable dryer balls are easy to make with just two ingredients! All you need are pantyhose and dryer balls. If you don’t have any of those just use some old socks, or better yet recycle some that you buy at the store! Cut off the feet of your pantyhose and tie knots in them until you have around six. Add around eight to ten dryer balls inside and tie another knot on top, then cut off any excess pantyhose if needed. Throw your new eco-friendly laundry balls in with your wet clothes and they’ll do all the work, saving you money while also being good for the environment!
Only Use The Dryer When You Need To
If you have clothes that are line dried or air dried, then just skip the dryer altogether! It’s good for your clothes since it doesn’t break down the fibers. Not to mention, if you’re doing laundry less often, it can help reduce energy costs. It will also give your clothes a longer life span! If you need to do some tumble drying, don’t opt for the high heat setting and instead go for low heat when drying items like delicates and workout wear.
Even though we all know what a dryer does, not everyone knows the right way to use it without wasting more energy than is needed. If you don’t remove your clothes from the dryer when they’re finished then this will cause them to become too hot and damage them over time, which shortens their lifespan. You can avoid this by checking on your laundry every few minutes if you have a newer dryer with a sensor, but if yours doesn’t have one then you should take out your clothing after about half an hour of drying time.
Share Your Eco-Friendly Laundry Hacks in the Comments
If you’re looking for ways to save money and be eco-friendly, then these laundry hacks will help you get started. From using Borax and lemon juice as a cleaner to making your own dryer ball out of socks or pantyhose, there are plenty of creative options that won’t cost much at all!