With the rising cost of living, any extra money in your wallet could really make a difference. The costs of keeping your clothes clean can stack up, so CHOICE experts have revealed some tips to save you time and money when doing your laundry.
"By following our tips, you could save more than $500 just by adjusting your laundry habits," says Director of Reviews and Testing Matthew Steen.
1. Fabric softener
"If you're looking to save money, your first step should be ditching fabric softeners for good," says Steen.
"Fabric softeners coat your clothes and towels in nice-smelling chemicals that leave a residue on your clothes and reduce the moisture absorbency of your towels. This not only can irritate sensitive skin but recoats your clothes with chemicals after you've just cleaned them," says Steen.
"If fluffy towels are important to you, put them in the dryer for 10 minutes; the warm air will soften them, or just give them a hard flick when they come out of the washing machine, which will take out some of the stiffness," says Steen.
2. Laundry beads and in-wash scent boosters
"Laundry beads are similar to fabric softener but instead of liquid, they are small soluble beads that are added to the barrel of your washing machine. Our experts have calculated that this product may add a whopping $372 to your annual shopping bill," says Steen.
3. Laundry detergent pods
"No pouring or measuring makes detergent pods an appealing and convenient option, but the benefits stop there," says Steen.
"Detergent pods are more expensive per wash than liquid or powder, and don't perform as well according to our tests. So by using liquid over pods, you'll not only save money but get a better wash," says Steen.
4. Laundry detergent
"We've found that using a third of the recommended amount of laundry detergent still effectively cleans your clothes. Plus, using less detergent will last three times longer, meaning less money out of your pocket," says Steen.
"By using less detergent you're helping the environment as well. You'll be using less packaging and less detergent will end up in our waterways," says Steen.
"Overdosing on detergent can also cause a 'scrud' build-up in your washing machine, which overtime can decrease your washing performance," says Steen.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
