Save Money By Using Less Laundry Detergent

We’re all familiar with the concept of saving money using coupons and watching for sales. But, all too often, people forget that simply reducing the amount of product we use can go a long way towards saving money.  Check out some interesting facts on the next page.

According to Consumer Reports, measuring the correct amount of laundry detergent per load is harder than ever, and, as a result, people are using too much. Make no mistake, this is no accident on the part of brands such as Tide, All, Wisk or Purex. Getting consumers to use more product on high-frequency items such as detergent and shampoo is actually a common marketing technique used by many companies to increase sales.

In the last few years, concentrated detergents have become more commonplace. While they enable consumers to use less product, formulas used to determine concentration levels vary widely throughout the industry. That means a 2X concentrated formula of Purex might be the same as a 4X concentrated formula of Tide. For consumers who frequently switch brands based on price and sales, they very often end up measuring the wrong amount for their load size.

The concentration amount can also create confusion over value and the amount actually spent per load. Larger bottles may seem like they contain more product, but if the formula isn’t concentrated, the cost-per-load may actually be higher than the product in a much smaller bottle. It can be even more difficult to discern cost-per-load on bottles the same physical size, but with different concentration amounts and price tags.

As a savvy consumer, what can you do to ensure you get the best bang for your buck? Take a calculator shopping with you. Find the price per load by dividing the price of the product by the number of loads per bottle.

Also, always read the product instructions each time you buy a new bottle. Measure the product using the guidelines provided, keeping in mind one product may require you to fill half the cap, while others only need a ¼ capful for a normal load.