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Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

Kaleva

(38,068 posts)

13. Prewashing my dirtiest clothes in the tub after taking a shower made a big difference

Reply to Fumesucker (Reply #11)

Tue Sep 11, 2012, 08:35 PM

Sep 2012

When I know I'll be doing laundry the following day, I'll first presoak overnight my dirtiest clothes in the bathtub after taking a shower . The next morning, I'll hand wash those clothes in the tub and wring them out as best as I can before bringing them down to the basement with the rest of the laundry to wash. I'll still use the water in the tub for flushing the toilet.

Doing it that way has made a noticeable difference in the clarity of rinse water compared to the first time I had captured the rinse water for use as the wash water the next time I did laundry. As far as I can tell, my clothes are just as clean now as they were when I was trying to save water.

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14 replies

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Highlight:

Turning my old, heavy duty top load washing machine into a high efficiency model [View all] Kaleva Aug 2012 OP

I'd think hard about hauling a five gallon bucket of water up two flights on a regular basis.. Fumesucker Aug 2012 #1

A 5 gallon bucket filled 1/2 way or so would lessen sloshing over the sides while hauling Kaleva Aug 2012 #4

Looking at your other post about rainwater for gardening I gather you pay 1.6 cents per gallon. Fumesucker Aug 2012 #6

Now that's an idea! Use the rinse water for the next loads wash water. Thanks! Kaleva Aug 2012 #7

A few days ago,I timed myself taking a shower & calculated I used about 12 gallons a day showering. Kaleva Aug 2012 #8

Anything that avoids lugging water up two flights of stairs and still saves is a win in my book.. Fumesucker Aug 2012 #9

A couple of things. Curmudgeoness Aug 2012 #2

The thing about even the off brand detergents is that one can't use that water for gardens. Kaleva Aug 2012 #5

The other thing about the high efficiency... Phentex Aug 2012 #3

A possible 3-peat with the washing machine rinse water Kaleva Aug 2012 #10

How did the clothes come out? Fumesucker Aug 2012 #11

I won't know that till the next time I do laundry Kaleva Sep 2012 #12

Prewashing my dirtiest clothes in the tub after taking a shower made a big difference Kaleva Sep 2012 #13

Whatever you do TuxedoKat Oct 2012 #14