Changing my laundry routine
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (352854)
Rockingham, Australia
January 21, 2024 8:37pm CST
The photo has nothing to do with the post.
My laundry habits have changed over the years. About a decade ago, I washed between 10pm and 6am as our power was much cheaper between those hours. That changed when we moved here as we have solar power so it makes sense to wash sometime after 8am when the sun’s rays are hitting the solar panels at a not-too-acute angle.
But the washing machine we purchased when we moved here takes 1 hour 20 minutes to do a regular load. If I can’t hang the washing out by lunchtime or soon after, it won’t dry by nightfall so doing two or three loads becomes problematic. So now I’ve decided to do a load each day. When the washing machine has finished, then I run the dish-washer if I need to. That takes a bit over an hour too but there is no drying problem.
Have you found yourself having to change routines over the years?
17 people like this
18 responses
@patgalca (18424)
• Orangeville, Ontario
22 Jan 24
I have changed my laundry routine slightly. Like you, it is cheaper to run appliances at certain times. This is why I do my laundry on Saturdays. Since my oldest daughter moved out I don't have nearly as much laundry to do. My younger daughter will do her own laundry once in awhile but she is not a clock-watcher and runs the appliances whenver. It used to drive me crazy but I'm getting over it.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (97999)
• United States
22 Jan 24
I think the only part of my routine is that I wait until my dishwasher is absolutely full to the brim before starting it. Since it saves water, I’m more cognizant of doing that. I never ran it half empty or anything, but at this point it is almost a game. Luckily, the dishwashing soap always gets them clean, no matter how full.
As for the washing machine - I use my dad’s at his urging, and I wash my things just whenever I happen to be over there. I also use their dryer. Even if I had a place to dry them on a line, my allergies get bad at just a little pollen. I’m a wimp, Judy. A wimp.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (352854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 24
I don't think you are a wimp at all. I would never say that about you. 
I fill the dishwasher too before running it. Like you, I find these things almost a game. What I'm saving is probably only pennies but it's the principle, isn't it? 
I fill the dishwasher too before running it. Like you, I find these things almost a game. What I'm saving is probably only pennies but it's the principle, isn't it? 2 people like this
@Juliaacv (53285)
• Canada
22 Jan 24
Our washing machine takes about an hour or so to run a load, and I have had to begin it as soon as I am out of the shower in the mornings so that I can get it done and outside to dry, in the nice weather, in good time so that it will be finished in good time that I can get it put away before the end of the day. During the cold, winter months, I still do it early as I sometimes will hang the bulky hoodies on hangers in our laundryroom. The warmth from the motors from the deep freezer, the bar fridge and the dryer in there help to speed up the drying process.
2 people like this
@Beestring (15333)
• Hong Kong
22 Jan 24
It's good that you can use solar power.
I used to take my shower in the evening. Now I switched to the morning. Feels more refreshing.
2 people like this
@TraveOnWorld (854)
• Georgia
22 Jan 24
When I camp, I wash every night. At home, we are used to doing once a week and have used laundromats for many years, we used to fill a load a week. When we came here, we found that laundromats do not exist and that every place has a washing machine. So we are back on DIY. All machines here have a economy cycle, so we use that, takes 30 minutes. Drying was not a problem until the last month or so, in winter the constant rain makes it a challenge to pick the day. Also, the sun has no heat now, so often it requires two days of hanging.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (163406)
• United States
23 Jan 24
We do not get an incentive relative to the time of day we use power or water, but I do tend to wash mostly on the weekends. I did not line dry last year, but I am hoping this summer is mild enough to do that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352854)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jan 24
Over winter it can sometimes to be difficult to get the washing dry outside but it's rarely a problem in summer.
@shaggin (74174)
• United States
22 Jan 24
The more people who have lived here means more laundry that has to be done. 6 people needing clothes and towels and wash clothes and dishcloths and hand towels and rags etc is a lot of laundry. Then 6 showers a day. All the dishes and pots and pans for those 6 people. There isn’t much time when our water isn’t running doing something. It takes my washing machine two hours to wash a load and my dryer 80 minutes to dry a load.
@ptrikha_2 (47853)
• India
25 Jan 24
I used to wash clothes in the washing machine late evening till early 2023.
However, since last many months, I try to do it by morning or afternoon.
It is due to my busier schedule, and also a Rat problem in the recent months.
The winter months are more challenging as clothes pile up more and do not dry quickly.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352854)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jan 24
It can be hard to get clothing dry in the winter, for sure. I put it on an airer in the lounge which is mostly nice and warm. I have a dryer but try not to use it unless I have to.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16910)
• China
30 Jan 24
Where I live,the power is cheaper between 10 pm and 8 am,so I usually boil the water before 8 am.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (94526)
• Arvada, Colorado
1 Feb 24
Well my wash routine is dictated by usually the communal laundry room.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (84752)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Jan 24
I only need to do laundry for myself about once a month. My friend has set up a washer for everyone to use but there is no dryer so It is always a problem getting the laundry dry. I have even draped it on the cat tree,
@just4him (318816)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
22 Jan 24
It takes a long time to wash a regular load of clothes. It's a good idea to do one load a day. It will save time.
I wash my clothes early in the morning when I get up. That way, I know I'll get my laundry done. I know it's outside of hours, but otherwise, the laundry room is always in use during the regular hours.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (188216)
• United States
22 Jan 24
No. We have the same charge for electricity regardless of the time. We use both the washer and the dryer. Physically neither of us can hang clothes outside. Have a good week.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (49573)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
22 Jan 24
Is the hour 20 minutes because of insufficient power or a quirk of your washer?
@LadyDuck (473958)
• Switzerland
22 Jan 24
The power is still cheaper after 10 pm and before 6 am here, I am glad I can "program" the time the washing machine starts. I do not dry everything in the machine, I hang most things in the laundry room. I dry the sponge towels, as they are softer when dried in the machine.
@wolfgirl569 (115782)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Jan 24
I have changed things over time. The weather sometimes decides my laundry schedule
@Fleura (31634)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan 24
Yes we've done exactly the same. We used to use the washing machine at night to get the lower rate; now we have solar panels so we do it in the morning. Not that we get a whole lot of power this time of year but I guess it all helps.
From March to September we dry it outside, but after September, washing hung outside just won't dry completely by nightfall, even on a breezy, sunny day, so we hang it on an airer indoors. And since we don't want that to be too crowded (or it won't dry there either) we normally just do one load a day. Unless we have guests, we normally just do two or three loads a week.
