It’s fun to get free laundry product samples to help us with the laundry, and a few new laundry product coupons inspired me to do this roundup! I recently got my Snuggle fabric softener sample (no longer available) and I’m using it as we speak. I put about 1 tablespoon in the fabric softener dispenser, and then fill it up with water to dilute it. Since I usually don’t use fabric softener I honestly wouldn’t like the smell of my clothes if I didn’t dilute it.
I enjoyed reading the comments on my last laundry-related post when I shared that I’m using the dryer balls instead of fabric softener sheets or liquid. I learned that you can also use tennis balls as a substitute for buying the dryer balls. And that vinegar can be added instead of fabric softener in your washing machine. If you have any other frugal laundry tips, please leave them here! It’s fun to try new things and cross some products off our grocery lists to never buy again as we find better substitutes.
Samples:
Bounce Awakenings Dryer Sheets
Coupons:
$1 Tide Total Care (thanks Shannon!)
$1 Tide To Go
$1 Ecover Laundry products
$0.75 Shout Advanced Gel or Foam
Downy TotalCare Coupon (offered by Walmart) No longer available
Ultra Gain scent sample but hopefully includes coupon (offered by Walmart)
Update 9/20/08: I got my Downy coupon from Walmart for $1 off any Downy
The Bounce Awakenings sample offer is no longer available according to their site
I have made my own fabric softner “sheets” for about a year now and love them. I just a 1 to 4 ratio of fabric softner (snuggle…smells so good) to water in a squirt bottle. I spray about 6 squirts on a clean rag and toss in my dryer with the laundry. I use so much less this way, but still get the smell I love. I stopped putting it in the wash altogether when I figured out that is really just breaks down the fibers in your clothes and makes them wear out faster.
I cut my dryer sheets in half so I get twice as much for my money and they still work just fine.
Thanks, Tara – I’ve already linked to the Walgreens coupon in my Hottest Coupons list on the right sidebar.
On my list of things to never buy again is laundry detergent. I make my own. I blogged about it here . I have done it several times and it works very well. I have my two aunts doing it and my mother-in-law. It really is easy and I don’t know why more people don’t do it. One thing though, it does not sud up as much as regular laundry detergent, but it also doesn’t have the chemicals in it either.
Hi,Can’t email you directly b/c my computer won’t allow it. There is another Walgreen’s Coupon. 10 off of 40!Tara
I love Snuggle liquid fabric softener. Just the original kind, but because we’ve been cutting back I no longer buy it. I just use a generic brand of dryer sheets. They are much less expensive. BTW…I had an allergic reaction to the ICY Hot patch sample that I got in the mail from Wal-Mart. It seems that the manufacturer has now actually taken this off the market. I just thought you might want to know and spread the word!
May I comment on the “smell” of laundry? I do like if detergent or softener makes my clothes and towels smell nice (like lavendar or vanilla), but I recently tried Tide Total Care Refreshing Rain. I bought it without smelling it:( After about 6 loads, I wondered why everything smelled “musty”. It was the “rain” smell. Not sure if I got a bad batch, but I would try the other scent offered if you download the coupon.Liz