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Home > Frugal Nugget #3: Don't Get in a Lather Over Soap

Frugal Nugget #3: Don't Get in a Lather Over Soap

March 15th, 2010 at 11:34 pm



Listen up, all you frugalites who make your own laundry detergent. It may be harder to justify going to all that trouble once you know that most consumers overdo it on the soap, both in the laundry and in the dishwasher.

According to an interesting New York Times

Text is story, and Link is http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/your-money/13shortcuts.html?src=me&ref=general
story, appliance repairmen will tell you that adding too much soap to dishwashers and washing machines is the "No. 1 sin."

In the old days, these appliances used a lot more water and detergents weren't so concentrated. Most people use as much as 10 to 15 times more soap than what's required, needlessly wasting their money and shortening the life of their appliances, said Vernon Schmidt, a career repairman and author of Appliance Handbook for Women: Simple Enough Even a Man Can Understand.

The author advises that between one-eighth to one-half of what's recommended on the product label should do the trick.

Suds, Schmidt claims, don't indicate your clothes are getting clean; suds mean you're using too much detergent.

By now you're probably wondering whether you're guilty of overdoing it. Conduct Schmidt's simple test to find out.

"Take four to six clean bath towels, put them in your front-loading washing machine (one towel for a top loader). Don't add any detergent or fabric softener. Switch to the hot water setting and medium wash and run it for about five minutes.

Check for soap suds. If you don't see any suds right away, turn off the machine and see if there is any soapy residue. If you see suds or residue, it is soap coming out of your clothes from the last wash."


As for dishwashers, Schmidt says, there's no law that says you must top off the soap dispenser.

Check out the full story for additional interesting tips on using your dishwasher, dryer and oven.

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Frugal Nuggets represent the occasional piece of frugal wisdom for those who have mastered the basics.


4 Responses to “Frugal Nugget #3: Don't Get in a Lather Over Soap”

  1. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1268747736

    Ive read this tip before, but most detergents sold today are low sudsing anyway, so you can use too much and still not have suds form.

  2. Suzanne Says:
    1268753746

    I think it's ok to split them up. Maybe wrap them in a bit bubble wrap.

  3. Jerry Says:
    1269645837

    I have a friend who told me something similar, but she uses so LITTLE soap that her clothes look dingy and still... um... smell. It leads me to the conclusion that she has gone the other way in her soaping efforts. Is there no insurance of a happy medium? =)
    Jerry

  4. Aspring Minimalist Says:
    1269801587

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    That's a great idea to log your mileage. I haven't been tracking on the odometer, but I also have had to only fill up just over half a tank for two weeks. And I am going to the subway tonight instead of driving. I hope that counts for something Smile

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