(ARA) – For many families, household budgets are still tight in the wake of the recession. But whether times are tough or not, it makes sense to save money wherever you can. There are plenty of small ways to start cutting costs. One of the best places in your home to start saving is the laundry room.

Whether you’re single, share a two-person household or have a big family, finding ways to save money in the laundry room can have a big effect on your budget – and not just in the amount you spend on detergent. Some adjustments to how you wash and dry your clothes can have an effect on utility bills, the amount of time you spend on laundry and even your impact on the environment.

Here are some ideas for smart ways to save that start in the laundry room and have results that go well beyond its walls.

* Cut down your dry cleaning bills. It’s tough to find a closet that doesn’t have any “dry clean only” labels, but to reduce the amount of money you put into those garments, consider a dry clean alternative like FreshCloz. Using state-of-the-art ozonic technology, pure ozone circulates it through your clothes, which helps with odor removal and preserving your garments. You can simply slip your clothes inside the garment bag, carry on doing the rest of your laundry, and come back to fresher clothes. It allows you to cut back on the number of trips you make to the dry cleaner, which is a major expenditure. Its environmentally friendly nature also makes it a great green dry cleaning alternative.

* Create your own laundry detergents. Armed with borax, washing soda and grated bar soap, you can make a highly effective laundry detergent for a very good value. There are plenty of step-by-step instructions that can be found on the Internet. An extra tip is to add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to create a custom scent that you’ll love.

* Remember to keep it cool. One of the easiest steps you can take is to wash your clothes in cold water. It’ll save you money on heating, and it wastes less energy.

* Let it all – your laundry, that is – hang out. In good weather, let the dryer sit idle and break out the clothespins. Hanging your clothes is a much more eco-friendly option, but it also adds up to savings on your utility bills. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the pleasant smell of clothes that have been hung out to dry in the fresh air. If it’s a rainy day, try using drying racks inside your home. Clothes might feel slightly stiff initially, but they soften up shortly after you put them on.

* Cut your drying time. Sometimes, you just need to use the dryer instead of hanging things out to dry. To cut down on the time your items spend spinning around in the warmth, add dryer balls. Often made from felted wool yarn or scrap fabric from old sweaters, these little laundry aids dramatically cut drying time, which is kind to your wallet and the environment. They can be purchased pre-made or you can make your own – there are plenty of resources on the Web that provide detailed instructions.

Some of these solutions – like the FreshCloz dry clean alternative – can even help your clothes last longer, which can add up to major savings. You can find more information about it at www.freshcloz.com Once you see how much you can save by taking these simple steps in the laundry room, you’ll want to look for clever cost savings in every room in the house.

Courtesy of ARAcontent