When doing laundry today I started thinking about how I have never in my entire life followed the detergent manufacturer's recommendations for how much to use. Depending on the condition of the load, I use between 1/2 and 2/3 of the recommended amount, and everything always comes out perfectly clean. The only time I use close the recommended amount is when I am washing my cleaning cloths, because they are so dirty. I think it was my grandmother who taught me this trick ... She was a child of the Great Depression and learned frugality out of necessity.
I wonder how much money I have saved over the years by adjusting the amount of detergent to what I think is necessary rather than what the company with the profit motive tells me to use?
I do the same thing with dog food. I've never given my dog the full recommended amount. Even tho he gets LOTS of exercise, if I gave him the full amount recommended on the back of the bag he'd be ... well, he'd be fat and the dog food company would be richer. I monitor his weight and adjust his food volume when necessary.
Come to think of it, tho' I very rarely take over the counter meds, when I do I will usually start with a half-dose and see if that works. That is probably more about not wanting to overmedicate than with wanting to save money and resources, but it's another example of where less can be just enough.
Laundry Detergent
August 27th, 2007 at 02:44 am
August 27th, 2007 at 03:25 am 1188185158
With the aspirin, it also best to take only what's needed because you are not supposed to take more than a certain amount in 24 hours.
August 27th, 2007 at 03:57 am 1188187071
August 27th, 2007 at 04:15 am 1188188150
August 27th, 2007 at 01:06 pm 1188219962
August 27th, 2007 at 05:33 pm 1188235998
August 28th, 2007 at 05:13 am 1188278015
boomeyers - LOL. Didn't even think to mention shampoo, but you're right ... the whole "repeat" business is so silly.
Ima - If I had a little dog who was a picky eater, I'd do the same. My boy, however, would probably eat a full 40-lb bag at one sitting if I let him.
Oh ... I just thought of another one ... Our car's manufacturer recommends changing the oil every 5,000 miles so that is what we do. The guys at the oil change place of course always put a sticker on the inside of our windshield reminding us to change our oil again in 3,000 miles. I always just mentally add 2,000 miles to whatever the sticker says!
August 29th, 2007 at 03:40 am 1188358803
I use one tbsp of bi-o-klean organic laundry liquid on my laundry, except my kitchen cloths and undergarments, which get a full dose of Chlorox for color to kill germs. My clothes always smell clean and fresh even though the recommended amount of bi-o-klean is 2 tbsp.
January 10th, 2011 at 05:57 am 1294639043