What setting do you use most on your washer?

I've never heard of a wrinkle control cycle on a washer! My delicate cycle is the shortest my washer has and is very gentle, yet gets the water all through the clothing. I'm also going to buy a "clothes tree", one of those contraptions that folds out and you hang your damp clothes on it. It will save electricity by not using the dryer! Since I don't have a job, nobody cares if my clothes are wrinkled!

I've stopped using hot or warm water entirely. I put a little bleach in with my whites in cold water and it gets them nice and bright! I'm too cheap to pay for the gas to heat hot water.

*LMAO* you are too cute Dragon! I haven't tried the delicates cycle I suppose I could for things that are not soiled up as badly. I usually only use that for things that should be handwashed including crocheted objects. THough since my origional post I got a coupon for some free detergent and since it was up to $14 value I found the largest container I could. So now I use 3tsp of powdered detergent in it and it comes out just fine & smells great! I wonder how much smell I'd get if I used the actual scoop that came with it? Oh well I'll never know as that's the problem w/ HE washers you have to be supercareful w/ non-HE detergent because it doesn't use as much water you don't need something that gets as much sudz so therefore I use next to nothing. I'm sure dish soap would work in a pinch too! How's that working for ya?

Try the delicate cycle on your kids' clothing. Really, the only thing a washer does is circulate water through fibers and it is aided by detergent that breaks up the tension and lets the water penetrate the clothing. Try that for a couple of loads. The delicate cycle is shorter, gentler and doesn't wear out your clothing as quickly. And only use half what the detergent says--after all, it's only there to break the tension of the water and allow it to flow through your clothing. 3 drops of dishwashing liquid will do the same thing! Yes, I've tried it. Once I've used up this current box of detergent, I'll be using my dish soap. I'll save the rest of my unopened laundry detergent for bartering when the government collapses.

That's too bad. Since you're on a fixed income you need to make your clothes last as long as possible. Maybe if you put a bug in their ear about the delicate cycle being much shorter so it uses less electricity? It might be worth a try.