Debt Dumpers 2026

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I guess the perk to hubby's and my jobs are that we don't need "work clothes".

DW has to dress up because she works as a loan officer at a bank. But she only has 2 pair of work pants. So we wash those often. And I sit at a desk, and I have to wear a collar and jeans. But I only own 2 pair of jeans, so I'm washing jeans every other day since you can only wear them once and then wash. That's why we average a load of laundry per day (3 pair of jeans or 4 towels or 7-8 tees constitutes a load for us).

 

[afan]

I'm washing jeans every other day since you can only wear them once and then wash.

Not true, unless they are gross or you are doing things that make them dirty, you can/should wear jeans for several wears between washing. I wash them more than recommend but it's generally because I took the dogs somewhere so had them on my lap or got a massage or pedicure and the lotion smells.

Google it. Same with her pants, if I only had 2 pair I'd wear each twice before washing and then I'd buy a 3rd pair.

A lot of us wash our clothes more often than we should based on recommendations.

I also don't wear my outside pants in the house unless I've come home and I'm leaving again. I want to be comfy at home so that means I'm not cooking/spilling etc with them on.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Jeans (denim) is actually the one things you shouldn't wash super frequently (unless there's visible stains then it doesn't matter if you just washed it you could at the very least spot clean them). It's not necessary and breaks down the denim faster.

Febreze is your friend

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

Not true, unless they are gross or you are doing things that make them dirty, you can/should wear jeans for several wears between washing. I wash them more than recommend but it's generally because I took the dogs somewhere so had them on my lap or got a massage or pedicure and the lotion smells.

I’m thinking there is OCD involved based on the prior comment on fear of germs & how much needs to be wiped down immediately in the kitchen.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

DW has to dress up because she works as a loan officer at a bank. But she only has 2 pair of work pants. So we wash those often. And I sit at a desk, and I have to wear a collar and jeans. But I only own 2 pair of jeans, so I'm washing jeans every other day since you can only wear them once and then wash. That's why we average a load of laundry per day (3 pair of jeans or 4 towels or 7-8 tees constitutes a load for us).

You seem to have a lot of habits that are contributing to your budgetary issues that are super easy to adjust that don't take sacrificing. While I totally agree your wife's supposed outrage over your electricity bill during a rare super cold front for where you live you've got a lot of other things that are contributing to high utility bills. Hot water, frequent (and not fully necessary) laundry being done not only uses up water but also electricity and laundry products you have to buy. Try adjusting that to be more conscientious about your habits there and if you have to stair step down on that habit where you reduce over time.

I had a college roommate who never really had to do household stuff herself until she moved in with us. While she didn't quite get the trash task down one thing she would do is dry all her clothes on hot. Electricity was capped per month but was included in the rent. If we went over that cap it was then split 3 ways (that's how many of us total lived in the apartment) and put on our rent (which was done as individual leases with individual bills). We were going over a lot on electricity and she would complain about it. Well an easy habit that I adjusted was adjust the dryer setting to medium heat then eventually low heat...and to her surprise her laundry was still getting dry. I wasn't surprised because that's what I would dry my clothes for so many years on low heat. It did help on the electricity cost just by an easy adjustment.

 

[afan]

I’m thinking there is OCD involved based on the prior comment on fear of germs & how much needs to be wiped down immediately in the kitchen.

Which is unfortunate both in the stress it potentially causes but also that as a society we've gotten to germ adverse and want antibiotics for everything that we end up with super bugs that don't react to the antibiotics we do have.

I don't use antibacterial hand soap at home, we don't need it, washing with regular soap is sufficient in most cases.

Plus anything airborne at home isn't going to die with any of this stuff. Try keeping a stomach bug to only one person in the house, it doesn’t matter how much you wipe stuff down.

Just don't touch your face if you haven't washed your hands when you're out and about.

 

[Nettlelondon]

Febreze ( I assume you have it in the US) is marvellous for extending wear between washes but I agree, there may be some germ issues at play with the frequent clothes washing.

 

[royeheat]

You seem to have a lot of habits that are contributing to your budgetary issues that are super easy to adjust that don't take sacrificing. While I totally agree your wife's supposed outrage over your electricity bill during a rare super cold front for where you live you've got a lot of other things that are contributing to high utility bills. Hot water, frequent (and not fully necessary) laundry being done not only uses up water but also electricity and laundry products you have to buy. Try adjusting that to be more conscientious about your habits there and if you have to stair step down on that habit where you reduce over time.

I had a college roommate who never really had to do household stuff herself until she moved in with us. While she didn't quite get the trash task down one thing she would do is dry all her clothes on hot. Electricity was capped per month but was included in the rent. If we went over that cap it was then split 3 ways (that's how many of us total lived in the apartment) and put on our rent (which was done as individual leases with individual bills). We were going over a lot on electricity and she would complain about it. Well an easy habit that I adjusted was adjust the dryer setting to medium heat then eventually low heat...and to her surprise her laundry was still getting dry. I wasn't surprised because that's what I would dry my clothes for so many years on low heat. It did help on the electricity cost just by an easy adjustment.

I agree with the reply to WDW post. I know he has made strides in saving money for this year but there are additional ways to save that this poster mentioned. TBH 7 -10 loads of laundry for 2 people a week is a lot. I know you are trying to save money but look into purchasing more of your fav jeans and pants. That might help to cut down on the washing and reduce your bill as the washer and dryer are top electricity users. Also look to see if there are hours that are off peak to do these things like running the washer, dryer, dishwasher

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I agree with the reply to WDW post. I know he has made strides in saving money for this year but there are additional ways to save that this poster mentioned. TBH 7 -10 loads of laundry for 2 people a week is a lot. I know you are trying to save money but look into purchasing more of your fav jeans and pants. That might help to cut down on the washing and reduce your bill as the washer and dryer are top electricity users. Also look to see if there are hours that are off peak to do these things like running the washer, dryer, dishwasher

Would it be better to try and put more clothes per load? We have a high efficiency on both, and the washer doesn't have the stick thing in the middle. We wash 3 pair of jeans at a time. Or 4 towels or 7-9 tee shirts. I don't want to fill it more than about 1/4 of the way full. But if putting more clothes and more detergent, laundry sanitizer and liquid fabric softener will lower our bills, I might try and do that. And just up what we buy of that stuff.