Mom’s Money

Liquid Laundry Detergent Is Hard To Give Up

In my effort to create a sane family budget, I looked at every item I brought home from the grocery store for a couple months and found a constant luxury… liquid laundry detergent.  I quit using the powdered kind some years ago when I started bringing home a bigger paycheck.  What a luxury!  Seems a little silly, but I actually like doing laundry, so using all the best products was fun for me.

Now comes the financial crunch.  I can’t afford to drive my car AND wash my clothes if I don’t let something go.  Since my paychecks don’t stretch like they used to, I started glancing at the powdered laundry detergents, but have been turning my nose up and walking right over to my expensive addiction.  But, when I compared even the concentrated liquid detergents to the powdered, I knew I had to switch.  One thing I’m thankful for is that there have been improvements in powdered laundry detergents over the years.  There are a lot more brands to choose from, and many have improved the powder to dissolve more quickly and thoroughly than they did in the past.  The thing that hasn’t changed is that, if you have a top loader,  you still need to start the washer filling, add the soap, and then add the clothes.  That took some getting used to, but the payback is worth learning this little step! 

I don’t feel so bad now when I stock up on laundry detergent.  I don’t gasp when I get to the checkout, and my laundry turns out just fine.  I still like to add a few brighteners and boosters, but the money I’m saving by using powdered detergents helps make me feel okay about buying just a few luxuries!