How to save on laundry cost - help please!

gemmylou86

Hi all!

I'm currently working out a budget based on the advice from this site. One of the areas I could do with saving on is washing detergent and fabric softener. I'm mummy to a 6 month old so I have been using fairy non bio and comfort pure but the costs are becoming a joke when you factor in how often washing gets done with a baby around!

Can anyone recommend a good alternative own brand or such that I can switch to? Or anywhere I could buy in bulk? Unfortunately I don't have makro or costco close by.

Thanks in advance

santer_2

One option

http://www.greennippers.co.uk/bambino-mio-non-bio-eco-baby-washing-powder/

Worth considering the 6 box option at £23:94 delivered which should give 156 washes

A lot seem to use less than the suggested amount as a way of saving, so could be worth experimenting there.

Not sure what you pay for comfort at the moment

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Comfort-Concentrate-Liquid-Fabric-Conditioner/dp/B003UUA9G2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340724376&sr=8-1

The Aldi and Lidl offerings seem to stand up well

ms_rivet

I agree with the previous poster about Aldi and Lidl, their products both get recommended by the Good House Keeping institute. You could try the Aldi Almat Non Bio washing powder which is £2.99 for 30 washes with the So Soft Pure and Gentle Fabric coditioner which is 99p for 40 washes.

Alternatively if you are nearer a Lidl try the Formil Non Bio which is recommended by Prima and the Doussy fabric conditioner in the white bottle. Prices aren't given on the Lidl site but they are about the same as Aldi.

LadyDee

Add a scoop of soda crystals (99p shop) to your machine and use only half the amount of washing liquid. I use half a capful of liquid and have never been disappointed with my wash. I do also use a scoop of Whizz stain remover (99p shop).

Flibbertygibbet

I use some ball type things to rub around the wash, with half the recommended amount of powder. I have often wondered if the eco wash balls, filled with pellets, JML and similar, are any good as they seem the cheapest option.

Also on here, there are some make your own washing liquid gloop with borax and grated soap etc, but that seems a bit extreme to me.

jumbojuice

I use those persil things with the balls that you put in the drum.. what you need to do is not fill up the whole thing, usually half does the trick and you get a lot out of the bottle.

Nile

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Rainy-Days

Keep an eye out on Sainsbury's website as well they regularly have the Fairy non bio powder box 80 washes on for £10.00. If you can afford to do it stock up then. Same with fabirc softener as well I only buy that when it is on offer.

Popperwell

There is a liquid non bio and fabric softener in Tesco's(I can't remember what it is called)it cannot be missed as both only cost £1 and they are perfectly as good as the more well known brands...

BitterAndTwisted

Flibbertygibbet wrote: »

Also on here, there are some who make their own washing liquid gloop with, soda crystals, borax and grated soap etc, but that seems a bit extreme to me.

It might seem extreme but it isn't really. It would just take about half an hour of your time and cost a couple of quid to make a year's supply. And it cleans just as well as any proprietary detergent I've ever used.

In the first instance I'd be halving the manufacturer's recommended amount. For lightly soiled garments you could get away with a quarter of it. Also, fabric conditioner isn't absolutely necessary either. There are ways aand means to scent laundry if that's what you like. Some detergent are so strongly scented you probably don't need any. I just use vinegar in the final rinse.

ginnyknit

Unless clothes are stained or OH is a manual worker I would use 1/4 of the recommended dose, if you are nervous just try it once. As for whites I add a splosh of gloop (theres a thread around for it) watered down so it doesnt bung up the machine or a spoonful of soda crystals. My washing is always nice and clean - in fact I have less problems with stains than I did when I blithely added the full dose. I use fast washes when I can to save on leccy, rare,y use fabric conditioner and only iron when needed. Good luck trying out everyones tips