8 Frugal Laundry Hacks That Will Save You A Fortune

Shockingly, it’s been a while since I’ve shared a fresh batch of laundry hacks here on the blog, so I thought I’d rectify that situation today! This post will be a little different, as we’ll be focusing specifically on laundry hacks that can save you money.

frugal laundry hacks

With tips that range from saving on supplies to extending the lifespan of your clothes, these frugal laundry hacks will help you keep your clothes clean while keeping more money in your pocket!

A frugal person holding a basket of felt balls in the washing machine.

8 Money-Saving Laundry Tips

1. Use Dryer Balls

If it feels as though it takes forever for your clothes to dry in your dryer, a few wool dryer balls may be all you need to solve the problem!

Wool dryer balls are not only a natural, eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets, but they also help to speed up drying times. As dryer balls tumble around a dryer, they separate the items and create channels for airflow that help dry laundry up to 25% faster.

And with a lifespan of up to 1,000 loads, there’s no question that dryer balls are a more cost-effective option than dryer sheets or fabric softener!

I can’t live without the colorful wool dryer balls that are available in my shop and I’m not alone! Here is what just a couple of my customers have to say:

Best idea ever. I don’t know why it took me so long to try these but my laundry dries much faster and far less wrinkling. Even when I forget to unload right away. I have given sets away and use mine all the time. Love love love them!!!!

Rozellace

I use these dryer balls every time I dry clothes. They are so handy, can be used over and over (unlike disposable dryer sheets that just get tossed after use), and the colors are bright, cheery, and easy to locate when I’m unloading clothes from the dryer. I liked them so much I bought my daughter a set and she really likes them, too.

Terri C.

I decided to try these felt dryer balls as a substitute for commercial dryer sheets. Boy am I glad I did! They help dry my clothes and minimize wrinkles without heavy perfume. They will be a money saver as I won’t have to buy dryer sheets anymore.

Nicole G.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP

money saving laundry hacks

2. Wash In Cold Water

With a few exceptions (such as towels, whites, and heavily soiled items), I wash everything in cold water. Not only does this help extend the lifespan of my clothes and linens, but it’s also better for treating stains since hot water can cause certain stains to set permanently into fabrics.

money saving laundry hacks

3. Make Your Own Detergent

If you’re looking for ways to save money, making your own laundry detergent is a no-brainer! For around $30 in supplies, you can make enough powdered laundry detergent to last you the rest of the year (if not longer!)

And best of all, my favorite homemade powdered laundry detergent is just as effective as the store-bought stuff. Check out even more money-saving laundry DIYs here.

money saving laundry hacks

4. Fight Fading With Salt

You don’t need an expensive detergent or a fancy laundry booster to fight fading and keep colors bright and vivid. All you need is a couple of tablespoons of kosher salt!

Adding salt to the wash cycle when washing colors will help set the dyes into the fibers of your clothing. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to prevent fading and keep your clothes looking new longer.

money saving laundry hacks

5. Save Shrunken Clothing

Another reason why I prefer to wash my clothes in cold water is that it makes it much less likely I’ll accidentally shrink something. But even if I did shrink something, I could always use this easy 3-step process for unshrinking clothing!

It involves soaking the item in sudsy water, gently stretching it back into shape, and then allowing it to air dry to avoid any re-shrinking. I’ve used this method to revive several of my treasured clothing items, and I think it’s well worth the time for anyone to learn!

money saving laundry hacks

6. Brighten & Deodorize With Baking Soda

From smelly work uniforms to smoky camping clothes, tough odors can prove just as tricky to get rid of as stains! But when it comes to deodorizing smelly clothes, nothing I’ve tried works quite as well as good old baking soda.

Just add about 1/2 cup of baking soda to the washer along with your clothes. Not only will it help eliminate lingering odors in the fabric, but it will also help brighten colors and whites too!

money saving laundry hacks

7. Dissolve Residues With Vinegar

Much like I rely on baking soda for tackling odors, I always reach for vinegar when I’m dealing with stubborn residues. When absorbent items like towels don’t get rinsed well enough in the wash, fabric softener and detergent residue can build up on the fabric and form a stubborn film that detergent alone can’t remove.

But luckily for us, acidic vinegar can cut through that buildup and revive your towels. When you put those musty towels in the wash, add your normal amount of detergent and 1/2 cup of vinegar, and they’ll come out much fresher and cleaner!

(Want to avoid residue and buildup becoming an issue in the first place? Make sure you’re using the recommended amount of detergent for your load size, and add an extra rinse cycle for good measure!)

money saving laundry hacks

8. Read Tags Before Buying

There’s a lot to consider when shopping for clothes and linens, but taking the time to check the tags could save you a lot of frustration in the long run. If the tag says “dry clean only,” it’s good to know that before you buy it instead of realizing it after you’ve taken the tags off!

Related: How to Wash Silk The Right Way

By choosing clothes that you can wash and care for at home, you can save plenty of money on dry cleaning services over time.

Share your favorite frugal laundry hacks in the comments below!

Read This Next


Jill Nystul Photo

Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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34 Comments

  1. My wife worked for a company that made fabric softener,. She knew that fabric softeners were made with parrafin, which makes fabrics soft and fluffy, but isn’t exactly beneficial for making towels absorbent. We use the white vinegar,particularly when towels and the like are being laundered. We also stick with the perma press cycles for everything, on both the washer and dryer.

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  2. I use plain white vinegar in place of fabric softener. I used Downy for years but found it “gunked up” the fabric softener dispenser. I also learned that liquid fabric softener is hard on your washing machine for the same reason – gunk! So, when I got my new washer I switched to 1/4 c. of vinegar in the dispenser. It is a great replacement. Your clothes come out soft and the vinegar leaves no smell and you can use it on your towels! You can add essential oils to the vinegar and I’ve even put in a couple of sprigs of rosemary to scent it.

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  3. My daughter managed to leave some very wet t-shirts in the washing machine overnight, and they stank of damp. I suggested she wash them once again using baking soda, and then a second time with vinegar. She couldn’t believe that the smell had gone, and she is very sensitive.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  4. I learned at my mother’s knee to never use fabric softener on towels, as it will reduce their absorbency, and with time create a serious buildup. I am also seeing that on more and more on washing instructions these days. My dear mother-in-law used to use a ton of Downy on her towels, and while they smelled wonderful, you couldn’t dry yourself on them!
    I got really excited to make my own dryer balls when you first posted about them, but it was a search to find yarn that was 100% wool and NOT the “washable wool”variety, and when I did make mine, they never really felted like they were supposed to ( I even tried boiling them!) and would inevitably start to unravel. That is not something you want to have to untangle in your dryer! I had purchased extra yarn to make some some and give as gifts, but ended up being really glad that I never quite got around to it! I wound up buying mine, and love them, + they almost eliminate the need for fabric softener. White vinegar in the rinse water takes care of that, tho I do miss that wonderful Downy fresh scent that lasts so long. A few drops of essential oils on the dryer balls provides some fragrance, but it’s just not the same.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I like that my clothes have no smell at all, but when I DO want a scent (sometimes on my softest t-shirts, for example), I lightly spray them with Febreeze right before I hang them up. They retain a light scent. If I’ve sprayed several, the closet smells nice too.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  5. Awesome, helpful, easy-to-do tips! One of my favorite articles yet! Thank you, Jillee!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  6. Hi I always put amonia in my wash, something I learned from the Spanish women since I moved to Spain. Softens, removes stains, odours and prevents fading and colour run. However, I have to put my washer on a timer delay to come on very early in the morning but I would prefer to use liquid detergent (not capsules though) and I read somewhere that you can because when you pour liquid into the drawer the machine holds it in a cavity and it only then actually enters the drum when the machine starts. Do you know of this is true?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • It really depends on the machine, you can check your owner’s manual. My current front loader as well as my previous top loader would both hold the products for the right times when the wash started.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • On our LG front loader this is true. Once the machine begins to fill with water, some, if not all of the water goes into the dispenser to wash the detergent out of it and into the tub.This is also true for the liquid softener dispenser, but unless you always use hot water,some of that softener invariably ends up stuck in the dispenser, so it’s a good idea to periodically remove and clean the dispenser.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  7. Hi Jillee, It looks like we have the same LG machine. Do you know how to get the lid open once the wash has started. Drives me bonkers that the lid locks and I can’t let things soak ( like Pillows ) in a full tub of water. Is there a trick to this? My children are grown and gone ! I want my old washer back!!! Thank you for any help you can offer. Love your daily mail and all the tips! Great info.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I have a Maytag washing machine that does the same thing and I have the same complaint — you can’t let things soak. My machine allows you to interrupt the wash cycle and unlock the lid. But then it proceeds to drain and spin, so that you have to start the process all over again from the very beginning. Not quite what you had in mind!! This must be some sort of misguided safety feature I could do without, thanks very much.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Fortunately, on our LG front loader, there’s a pause button (not the power button), which stops the machine without disturbing the cycle it’s in, and unlocks the door so items can be added.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  8. I have another question my Nieces recently made some adorable tie dye shirts using Sharpies and alcohol. When they washed the shirts the color faded a lot I’m wondering if the Kosher salt would have helped to set the color.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  9. Hi Jillee, Thanks again for all the tips and hacks, I love reading them.
    I was told many years ago by a towel manufacturer in the UK that you should never use fabric softener in a towel load as the film it produces reduces the capilliary action of the towels which means they will be less absorbent. It also adds to the build up you mention that can make them smelly.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  10. Any special notes with these tips regarding front load washers? I see you adding directly into the wash tub, which can’t be done with front loads. Also, front loads adjust water automatically to the load size. I do love to add some vinegar to my towels every so often. They come out much fluffier and fresher. Thanks for that wonderful tip!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Of your machine has a softener dispenser next to the detergent dispenser, just put the vinegar in there. That’s what we do.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  11. Is there something other than wool dryer balls we can use?

    I am allergic to wool. The lanolin gives me hives…..not fun.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I use hard plastic dryer balls, when they become soft I buy a couple of new balls, they work like a charm for me. Many stores carry them and I bought mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Good luck

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • You can also wad up some Aluminum foil into a ball and use that.

      • I was surprised to see how smooth balls of wadded-up foil will become after a run through the dryer, but boy do they make a horrific racket in the process!

  12. I love the laundry soap. Hubby has some skin issues and the home made laundry soap has cleared up the skin issue. We can see a difference if we are in a hotel for a week when we go see our kids. The skin issue starts up again.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  13. Thanks for the great tips!! I would love to get more info on wool dryer balls. I understand the put essential oils on them and toss them in the dryer thing but I read somewhere about washing them to re-charge them (??). So I am curious about that and any other info I may not know.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  14. I got cat pee smell out of a blanket by soaking it in vinegar and water!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Another way is to soak it in Oxy-clean and water. Your way is a more natural method. Glad it worked for you

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  15. This is interesting. I had been told using a tablespoon of table salt would help keep my darks from fading. I finally had to quit using it because my darks would come out with a white residue on them. I finally figured out after deep cleaning our washing machine that the salt was causing it. I’m a little bit wary about using Kosher salt after my problems using regular iodized salt.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • You would only use the salt the first time you wash them as it will set the dye in the fabric. After that wash as normal.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • Thanks Pamm… That’s exactly what I was going to write. :-)

      • Okay thanks that what was confusing me. The vinegar tip for getting rid of Cat pee smell is good . My last kitty would get so nervous when going to the vet she would have an accident on the way. It would go through the towel I’d wrap her up in and also I would usually get some on my pants when I was holding her.

  16. Great ideas! I do have a question. I understand that heat in a dryer will basically bake a stain in, much like an oven does to food. But how does hot water set certain stains? The molecules in hot water are moving around more rapidly than in cold water, and the rapid motion removes stains. Curious to learn what I’m missing. Thanks!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I think in stains like blood it sets in hot water because the stain drys with the heat of the water.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • Treat a blood stain with Hydrogen Peroxide. It is found in most pharmacies, and in some supermarkets.

Leave a Comment

34 Comments

  1. My wife worked for a company that made fabric softener,. She knew that fabric softeners were made with parrafin, which makes fabrics soft and fluffy, but isn’t exactly beneficial for making towels absorbent. We use the white vinegar,particularly when towels and the like are being laundered. We also stick with the perma press cycles for everything, on both the washer and dryer.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  2. I use plain white vinegar in place of fabric softener. I used Downy for years but found it “gunked up” the fabric softener dispenser. I also learned that liquid fabric softener is hard on your washing machine for the same reason – gunk! So, when I got my new washer I switched to 1/4 c. of vinegar in the dispenser. It is a great replacement. Your clothes come out soft and the vinegar leaves no smell and you can use it on your towels! You can add essential oils to the vinegar and I’ve even put in a couple of sprigs of rosemary to scent it.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  3. My daughter managed to leave some very wet t-shirts in the washing machine overnight, and they stank of damp. I suggested she wash them once again using baking soda, and then a second time with vinegar. She couldn’t believe that the smell had gone, and she is very sensitive.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  4. I learned at my mother’s knee to never use fabric softener on towels, as it will reduce their absorbency, and with time create a serious buildup. I am also seeing that on more and more on washing instructions these days. My dear mother-in-law used to use a ton of Downy on her towels, and while they smelled wonderful, you couldn’t dry yourself on them!
    I got really excited to make my own dryer balls when you first posted about them, but it was a search to find yarn that was 100% wool and NOT the “washable wool”variety, and when I did make mine, they never really felted like they were supposed to ( I even tried boiling them!) and would inevitably start to unravel. That is not something you want to have to untangle in your dryer! I had purchased extra yarn to make some some and give as gifts, but ended up being really glad that I never quite got around to it! I wound up buying mine, and love them, + they almost eliminate the need for fabric softener. White vinegar in the rinse water takes care of that, tho I do miss that wonderful Downy fresh scent that lasts so long. A few drops of essential oils on the dryer balls provides some fragrance, but it’s just not the same.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I like that my clothes have no smell at all, but when I DO want a scent (sometimes on my softest t-shirts, for example), I lightly spray them with Febreeze right before I hang them up. They retain a light scent. If I’ve sprayed several, the closet smells nice too.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  5. Awesome, helpful, easy-to-do tips! One of my favorite articles yet! Thank you, Jillee!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  6. Hi I always put amonia in my wash, something I learned from the Spanish women since I moved to Spain. Softens, removes stains, odours and prevents fading and colour run. However, I have to put my washer on a timer delay to come on very early in the morning but I would prefer to use liquid detergent (not capsules though) and I read somewhere that you can because when you pour liquid into the drawer the machine holds it in a cavity and it only then actually enters the drum when the machine starts. Do you know of this is true?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • It really depends on the machine, you can check your owner’s manual. My current front loader as well as my previous top loader would both hold the products for the right times when the wash started.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • On our LG front loader this is true. Once the machine begins to fill with water, some, if not all of the water goes into the dispenser to wash the detergent out of it and into the tub.This is also true for the liquid softener dispenser, but unless you always use hot water,some of that softener invariably ends up stuck in the dispenser, so it’s a good idea to periodically remove and clean the dispenser.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  7. Hi Jillee, It looks like we have the same LG machine. Do you know how to get the lid open once the wash has started. Drives me bonkers that the lid locks and I can’t let things soak ( like Pillows ) in a full tub of water. Is there a trick to this? My children are grown and gone ! I want my old washer back!!! Thank you for any help you can offer. Love your daily mail and all the tips! Great info.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I have a Maytag washing machine that does the same thing and I have the same complaint — you can’t let things soak. My machine allows you to interrupt the wash cycle and unlock the lid. But then it proceeds to drain and spin, so that you have to start the process all over again from the very beginning. Not quite what you had in mind!! This must be some sort of misguided safety feature I could do without, thanks very much.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Fortunately, on our LG front loader, there’s a pause button (not the power button), which stops the machine without disturbing the cycle it’s in, and unlocks the door so items can be added.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  8. I have another question my Nieces recently made some adorable tie dye shirts using Sharpies and alcohol. When they washed the shirts the color faded a lot I’m wondering if the Kosher salt would have helped to set the color.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  9. Hi Jillee, Thanks again for all the tips and hacks, I love reading them.
    I was told many years ago by a towel manufacturer in the UK that you should never use fabric softener in a towel load as the film it produces reduces the capilliary action of the towels which means they will be less absorbent. It also adds to the build up you mention that can make them smelly.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  10. Any special notes with these tips regarding front load washers? I see you adding directly into the wash tub, which can’t be done with front loads. Also, front loads adjust water automatically to the load size. I do love to add some vinegar to my towels every so often. They come out much fluffier and fresher. Thanks for that wonderful tip!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Of your machine has a softener dispenser next to the detergent dispenser, just put the vinegar in there. That’s what we do.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  11. Is there something other than wool dryer balls we can use?

    I am allergic to wool. The lanolin gives me hives…..not fun.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I use hard plastic dryer balls, when they become soft I buy a couple of new balls, they work like a charm for me. Many stores carry them and I bought mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Good luck

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • You can also wad up some Aluminum foil into a ball and use that.

      • I was surprised to see how smooth balls of wadded-up foil will become after a run through the dryer, but boy do they make a horrific racket in the process!

  12. I love the laundry soap. Hubby has some skin issues and the home made laundry soap has cleared up the skin issue. We can see a difference if we are in a hotel for a week when we go see our kids. The skin issue starts up again.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  13. Thanks for the great tips!! I would love to get more info on wool dryer balls. I understand the put essential oils on them and toss them in the dryer thing but I read somewhere about washing them to re-charge them (??). So I am curious about that and any other info I may not know.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  14. I got cat pee smell out of a blanket by soaking it in vinegar and water!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Another way is to soak it in Oxy-clean and water. Your way is a more natural method. Glad it worked for you

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  15. This is interesting. I had been told using a tablespoon of table salt would help keep my darks from fading. I finally had to quit using it because my darks would come out with a white residue on them. I finally figured out after deep cleaning our washing machine that the salt was causing it. I’m a little bit wary about using Kosher salt after my problems using regular iodized salt.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • You would only use the salt the first time you wash them as it will set the dye in the fabric. After that wash as normal.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • Thanks Pamm… That’s exactly what I was going to write. :-)

      • Okay thanks that what was confusing me. The vinegar tip for getting rid of Cat pee smell is good . My last kitty would get so nervous when going to the vet she would have an accident on the way. It would go through the towel I’d wrap her up in and also I would usually get some on my pants when I was holding her.

  16. Great ideas! I do have a question. I understand that heat in a dryer will basically bake a stain in, much like an oven does to food. But how does hot water set certain stains? The molecules in hot water are moving around more rapidly than in cold water, and the rapid motion removes stains. Curious to learn what I’m missing. Thanks!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I think in stains like blood it sets in hot water because the stain drys with the heat of the water.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • Treat a blood stain with Hydrogen Peroxide. It is found in most pharmacies, and in some supermarkets.