Miscelanious advice sought out

[PrincessPerky]

My husband and I were brainstorming ways to save money. First I have to brag about my wonderful husband. It turns out he closed the vents in the bathrooms, and hasn't had pop in weeks. Little things, but done unasked.

Ok now we also were thinking of putting plastic on our windows, the clear stuff that is supposed to insulate. Does that work even on newish windows? I am not to scientific, but I guess the layer of air insulates or something?

Also we were expiramenting with our dishwasher, apparently if you keep up with the dishes, normal wash works just fine. But the 'air dry' option is odd. Should we use it or not? What is the alternative? I can't find the manul anywhere so I was hoping someone with a whirlpool dishwasher might know? I have run it both ways and the only difference I can tell is when opening without the air dry the dishes are mostly dry, so I am guessing the air dry is cheaper just because I would prefer it on!

[vendigirl]

I put some window film on my very leaky windows this year. Our weather hasn't been too cold (relative to how cold it usually gets), but I don't feel much difference in temperature between the windows that are insulated and those that aren't. I read that window film can prevent from 15- 30% of the air leaks. I guess our insulation efficacy falls in the lower end of that. So, you may want to seriously consider putting up the cost of the insulation kits for what may be very little or no return.
As for dishwashers- I have a Maytag but I believe the difference in drying settings is either air dry or heated dry. You would definitely not want to use the heated dry option if you're looking to save on power. I think it was Jeff who mentioned trying to wash on the lightest cycle (china or similar) and shutting the machine off altogether after the wash and let the dishes air dry on their own. I often shut the machine off and then open the door letting the heat and most of the steam escape and then close the door. You may not want that extra humidity, but it's great for our house. I don't really know how much difference, if any these measures make, but it's worth a try.

[jeffrey]

From the September 22 Money Saving Challenge:

<i>The first step is to make sure that you always wash a full load of dishes. Heating hot water accounts for 80% of the energy used in automatic dishwashers. Since most dishwashers don't have controls to adjust for load size, you can cut the cost of running it by up to 50% just by making sure you only run the dishwasher when it's full. Running a half-filled dishwasher two times will use twice as much energy as running a single full load.

While most dishwashers don't have an adjustment for load size, many do have a number of different settings you can choose from. Many have an "economy" or "energy saving" setting. This turns off the heat during the drying cycle. You may also have a choice between an "air-dry" and "heat-dry" setting. Choosing the air dry setting will use 15% to 50% less energy than the heat-dry setting.

If your dishwasher doesn't have an energy saving or air-dry setting, simply turn the dishwasher off after the final rinse and open the door. It will take some time for the dishes to dry, but they will do so without using any extra energy...<i>

[PrincessPerky]

Thanks, My husband is really good about turning it off, I tend not to notice, Maybe I should time it and then set a timer so I know when it is done washing. I do do the full load thing, which means my dishwasher is sitting there with room for a whole two bowls right now, I am actually kind of funny about that . I even plan my next meal with filling it up in mind. (p-nut butter and grape nuts for breakfast)

Sorry for not finding the info before I asked for it.

On the plastic, I guess I need to find out how much it actually costs. but it really hasn't been that cold. I convinced him to set the thermostat at 67 and it hardly ever comes on. Outside is cold but inside is 68 - 70. But around here (Charlotte NC) the real cold comes in the ice storms of January. Electricity goes out every year and the house gets down to the 50's.

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Sorry for not finding the info before I asked for it.

Not a problem there...you wouldn't have had it unless your were getting the Daily Money Saving Challenges at that time and had saved them. We don't place the challenges on the site for a couple of reasons. First, they are supposed to be done one at a time on a single day. If we listed all of them, people would just read through them all, but not take the time to actually do them. Secondly, we are in the midst of compiling a book using them.

[PrincessPerky]

Oh good I can stop feeling guilty. I only got the challenges for less than a wek I think.

That sounds like a cool book. Let me know when it is out.

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

That sounds like a cool book. Let me know when it is out.

I don't think there will be a problem there

[PrincessPerky]

Ok lots of giggling .

Now I have a new question.

I cannot line dry outside of my house due to community restrictions, and there isn't enough room to do the whole load in my house, does it save money to line dry some, or is it a waste to run the dryer without the full load?

[crosses]

I can line dry my clothes, but this is what I do when the weather gets rainy. I do the wash in the morning and after the wash, I don't put them in the dryer right away. I try and seperate them a bit so that air can flow over them, but don't hang them to dry inside. If I come back in the late afternoon, most are damp, but no longer dripping wet. Then I throw them in the dryer and they take about half the time to get dry.

[PrincessPerky]

Ok I have checked, it took me so long cause .. nevermind, anyway. The stuff isn't really dripping wet when I take it out, I couldn't wring a towel that dry if I tried! But I did hang out some of the big blankets to dry suppose that saved a couple of cents.

[marla]

I find that when I dry things that are of the same material that they dry faster. If I do a load of colors and a load of whites, I'll sperate them into matching material to dry and at least the lighter materials dry much faster.

[PrincessPerky]

thanks that makes alot of sense

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Ok lots of giggling .

Now I have a new question.

I cannot line dry outside of my house due to community restrictions, and there isn't enough room to do the whole load in my house, does it save money to line dry some, or is it a waste to run the dryer without the full load?

My friend uses her attic to line dry. The attic is unfinished, but over the years they have put down plywood so she wont fall thru to downstairs. She has 6 lines that go the whole length of the house to hang clothes from

[crosses]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Ok I have checked, it took me so long cause .. nevermind, anyway. The stuff isn't really dripping wet when I take it out, I couldn't wring a towel that dry if I tried! But I did hang out some of the big blankets to dry suppose that saved a couple of cents.

If you take heavy material items like jeans, towels and blankes and let them air dry for a few hours, you will save a lot on your dryer bill. The idea of seperating them into like material when drying is a great idea.

[2moretrees]

Here is another hint if you don't have space to let your laundry air dry before putting it in the dryer. This works especially well for heaveir items like towels, jeans, throw rugs, diapers, etc. Fpr the heavier items, always run an extra "spin" cycle in your washing machine after it is finshed. Heavier items retain more water so the extra spin cycle will help with them. Then when you throw everything into the dryer, also throw in a clean, dry, fluffy towel with just cleaned the wet laundry. The fluffier the better. The fluffy towel acts as a absorber and cuts down the drying time by about 25%. I didn't believe it when I first heard it, but I tried it and now when I have to use the dryer, I always do this. It doesn't really work on lighter material clothes, but does well on the heavier things.

[econ o'miser]

Another tip - if I have left a shirt or other garment too long before ironing and it has dried-in creases, I chuck it in the dryer with a newly washed load for a couple of minutes then pull it out - it is then slightly damp and so much easier to iron, and saves messing about with steaming, or using a water spray bottle.

I always try to iron shirts while they are still damp, then hang on a hanger in the airing cupboard to finish off.

[2moretrees]

Originally Posted by econ o'miser

Another tip - if I have left a shirt or other garment too long before ironing and it has dried-in creases, I chuck it in the dryer with a newly washed load for a couple of minutes then pull it out - it is then slightly damp and so much easier to iron, and saves messing about with steaming, or using a water spray bottle.

ooooooo, I like that idea. I'll have to try that the next time I'm ironing

[LuxLiving]

I see that econ o'miser hasn't been around in a while, but what, my friends - is an airing cupboard??

Forgive me if that sounds stupid, but I'm having visions of a tiny closet door on an outside wall that opens to an outside screened-in-porch dealywhanker only closet sized thingymabob that you hang your clothes 'sorta' outside in to dry!

[Fern]

I have a whirlpool dishwasher and always use the air dry option rather than heat to sav $$. Or if you're in the area when it finishes the cycle, just pop open the door.

I also haven't used the clothes dryer all winter (i hangdry outside in summer). I just was shocked when got $153 electric bill the other day. That was even including not using the dryer, so i don't know what's going on. Only other energy hogs would be my iron (i iron daily cus i hate wrinikles) and my vaccum, which i use weekly.

[Bookie]

Originally Posted by LuxLiving

I see that econ o'miser hasn't been around in a while, but what, my friends - is an airing cupboard??

Forgive me if that sounds stupid, but I'm having visions of a tiny closet door on an outside wall that opens to an outside screened-in-porch dealywhanker only closet sized thingymabob that you hang your clothes 'sorta' outside in to dry!

English term for a small room built around the hot water heating system of a house and used to dry or finish drying clothes that would normally be hung outdoors.