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.

 

[piglet1979]

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.

Yes, you can put more in a load. For the 2 of us, we do 1 load for anything that needs to hung up (2-3 jeans, a couple of tee shirts, and about 2 sweatshirts), 1 load of wash and dry (tends to be a smaller load), towels (4-5 big towels, several wash clothes and some hand towels). We don't have the agitator either and fill the clothes about half to 2/3 to 3/4 full. We have a setting that we use that the machine decided how much water it needs by the weight of the clothes. For detergent we only use up to the first line.

All the antibacterial things you use are not really helping you. It can be hurting you as well since the germs can become resistant to it. Plan soap and water works fine to kill germs.

Last year DS got the flu. I tried like hell to not get it (my grandfather had just passed away and i didn't want to miss the funeral). I was lysoling the entire house (we have 1 bathroom), washed my hands like crazy, and I made him stay in his room. About 5 ish days later DH got it. I made him stay in the room and I slept on the coach. Then I got it the day after the funeral. There was no amount of anything I could do to not get it. In a surprising twist DD did not get it. She has a crappy immune system that she had just did her first infusion of antibodies for but also the only one that got a flu shot.

 

[Nettlelondon]

Here most washing machines have a maximum guide weight per load. It might be worth looking to see if yours does (if you no longer have the manual you can probably find it online) and then weigh your clothes, individual garments if that is easier to see how much you are washing and review from there.

 

[Tygerlilly]

The main issue is DH laying on the ground for something auto related in the "good" jeans

What is it with men and the sudden need to lay on the ground in their good jeans to look at something related to cars? I swear every time mine wears nice clothes he suddenly wants to inspect the dirtiest thing on the planet.

you can only wear them once and then wash.

We're just not gonna talk about how many times I've wore the same pair of jeans this week. It might frighten you.

 

[piglet1979]

We're just not gonna talk about how many times I've wore the same pair of jeans this week. It might frighten you.

I am the same with Jeans and PJ's.

 

[Nettlelondon]

The UK Consumer Association, in association with Good Housekeeping came up with the following:

• Underwear: 1 wear
• Bras: 2-3 wears
• Jeans: 6-10 wears
• T-shirt: 1-2 wears
• Sweatshirt: 5-6 wears
• Workout gear: 1 wear
• Pyjamas: 3-4 wears
• Whites: 1-2 wears
• Skirts: 5-7 wears
• Dresses: 1-3 wears
• Coats: 1-2 washes per season
• Swimwear: 1 wear
• Hats & gloves: 2-3 washes per season
• Towels: 1 wash per week

 

[Nettlelondon]

And their guidance on jeans​

How to wash jeans​

Keep your jeans looking great for longer by following these tips:

• Don’t over-wash them. Some hardcore jean enthusiasts say you should never wash your jeans (including the Levi’s CEO), as this can cause them to fade and the fabric to weaken. But so can everyday grime, dirt and oils - so wash them every six to 10 wears - or when they're really dirty.
• Turn jeans inside out. It will prevent fading and bleeding onto other items.
• Use detergent carefully. Opt for a mild detergent and never over-use it - half the recommended amount should be fine. Using too much will result in a build-up on your jeans, making them stiff. To stop your black jeans from fading, you can also buy detergent made for darker clothing.
• Use a cold-water setting. A low heat cycle will stop your jeans from fading and shrinking. Washing on a cold setting is particularly important when cleaning stretchy jeans.
• Don’t wring out. Twisting and turning your wet jeans will break down the fibres. Carefully fold over to squeeze out excess water.
• Never tumble dry. Too much heat can cause fading, shrinking and fabric damage. Instead air dry, preferably out of direct sunlight.
• Where possible, hand wash or spot wash Levi’s, coated and black jeans so you can avoid the machine as much as possible.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Sorry I took this thread off topic by asking about laundry. No more of those stupid questions. Back to stuff about money and dumping debt.

 

[huggybuff]

Sorry I took this thread off topic by asking about laundry. No more of those stupid questions. Back to stuff about money and dumping debt.

What you asked pertained to money because you're spending too much on detergent by using too much and you're wasting money on water/electricity or gas by doing too much laundry. Whether you want to address those issues is up to you.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

What you asked pertained to money because you're spending too much on detergent by using too much and you're wasting money on water/electricity or gas by doing too much laundry. Whether you want to address those issues is up to you.

Oh ok. Wasn't sure. That's why I apologized. But, I will take the advice and use it like I always do. So thanks again.

 

[Nettlelondon]

Sorry I took this thread off topic by asking about laundry. No more of those stupid questions. Back to stuff about money and dumping debt.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Or a penny less debt.

So definitely not off topic. I suspect your energy supplier or some sort of consumer group could give an idea of how much each washing load costs which may shock you.

 

[ironz]

What you asked pertained to money because you're spending too much on detergent by using too much and you're wasting money on water/electricity or gas by doing too much laundry. Whether you want to address those issues is up to you.

Oh, yes, it's very pertinent.
My husband works a fairly physical job, and works out, so generates the most laundry. I am at home in comfy clothes most of the time. That said, we do generally 4 or 5 loads of laundry a week.
None on hot water. Most things dried on low, except towels.

At one point in our lives when I was very underemployed, we made our own laundry detergent and hung a lot of our clothes out to dry. I actually wouldn't mind having an outdoor clothesline again.

Some of the additives (esp fabric softener) can actually add residue to your clothes where they are not as clean. And can make towels less absorbent.
So there are definitely savings to be made in the laundry realm.