Laundry costs more in St. George than in most U.S. cities. Water rates here are above the national average because the city sits in the Mojave Desert. The Washington County Water Conservancy District has raised rates multiple times to manage demand. Every gallon you use for laundry costs more than it would in Salt Lake City, Denver, or Phoenix.
A typical family of four does 8 to 10 loads of laundry per week. At current St. George utility rates, that adds up fast. But you can cut your laundry spending by hundreds of dollars a year with a few changes.
Wash with Cold Water
About 90% of the energy your washing machine uses goes to heating water. Switching every load from hot to cold saves $60 to $100 per year on your electric or gas bill. Modern detergents are designed to work in cold water. Your clothes come out just as clean.
Cold water is also gentler on fabric. Colors fade slower. Clothes last longer. You spend less on replacements.
Run Full Loads Only
A half-empty washer uses nearly the same amount of water and energy as a full one. Running 2 half-loads instead of 1 full load doubles your water and energy cost for the same amount of clothing.
Wait until you have a full load before starting the machine. A family that cuts 3 unnecessary loads per week saves roughly 150 loads per year. At St. George water and energy rates, that is $75 to $120 in annual savings.
Clean Your Lint Trap Every Load
A clogged lint trap makes your dryer work harder. It takes longer to dry each load, which means more energy per cycle. A clean lint trap reduces drying time by up to 25%. That translates to real savings over hundreds of loads per year.
A clogged trap is also a fire hazard. Dryer lint fires cause an estimated 2,900 house fires per year in the U.S. Clean it every single load.
Use the Right Amount of Detergent
More detergent does not mean cleaner clothes. Too much soap leaves residue on fabric, which traps odors and dirt. It also forces your machine to run extra rinse cycles, using more water.
Follow the measuring lines on the cap. For high-efficiency machines, use HE detergent and use even less than you think you need. One tablespoon is enough for a standard load in most HE washers.
Buy Detergent in Bulk or Switch to Store Brands
Name-brand laundry detergent costs $0.20 to $0.35 per load. Store brands from Costco, Walmart, or WinCo cost $0.08 to $0.15 per load. That is a 30 to 50% savings on detergent alone.
A family doing 10 loads per week spends $104 to $182 per year on name-brand detergent. The same family spends $42 to $78 per year on store brands. Switching saves $60 to $100 per year. The cleaning performance is nearly identical.
Air Dry When You Can
St. George gets over 300 days of sunshine per year. Average humidity is around 30%. This is one of the best climates in the country for air drying clothes. A load hung outside in the summer dries in under 2 hours.
Each dryer cycle costs about $0.50 to $0.75 in electricity. Air drying 4 loads per week saves $100 to $150 per year. You do not need a fancy drying rack. A simple clothesline in the backyard or a folding rack on the patio works fine.
Air drying also extends the life of your clothes. Heat from the dryer breaks down fabric fibers and elastic. Your clothes last 2 to 3 times longer when you skip the dryer.
Stop Going to the Laundromat
A laundromat in St. George charges $3 to $5 per wash cycle and $2 to $3 per dry cycle. A family of four doing 8 loads per week spends $40 to $64 per week. That is $160 to $256 per month.
Even a conservative estimate puts monthly laundromat costs at $120 for a family doing 6 loads per week. You can rent a washer and dryer from DryAndWashRent for $60 per month. That is half the cost of the laundromat, and you do laundry at home whenever you want.
There is also the time cost. A laundromat trip takes 1.5 to 2 hours per visit, including driving, waiting, and folding. That is 6 to 8 hours per month. Those hours could go toward work, family, or a side job. At Utah's average wage of $24 per hour, 7 hours of lost time is worth $168. The laundromat is the most expensive way to do laundry when you count your time.
Rent Instead of Buying Used
A used washer and dryer set on Facebook Marketplace costs $200 to $500. That sounds cheap. The problem is reliability. A 10-year-old machine uses 20 to 30% more water and energy than a modern one. It is also more likely to break. A single repair call costs $200 to $400.
Rental machines from DryAndWashRent are modern and efficient. They use less water per load. They use less energy per cycle. When something breaks, you call (435) 767-7225 and the repair is covered. No parts to buy, no repair tech to hunt down.
Skip the Rent-to-Own Trap
Rent-to-own stores in St. George charge $80 to $120 per month for a washer and dryer set. Over the typical 24-month rent-to-own term, you pay $1,920 to $2,880. The same machines sell for $800 to $1,200 retail. You end up paying 2 to 3 times the retail price.
DryAndWashRent is not rent-to-own. It is a flat rental at $60 per month for both machines. No balloon payments. No ownership gimmick. No contracts that lock you in for 2 years. You pay $60 a month, you get a washer and dryer, and maintenance is included. When you no longer need them, you cancel.
Installation is a one-time $39.99 fee. A technician handles the full setup. Compare that to the $80 to $120 per month at a rent-to-own store, and the savings are $240 to $720 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to do laundry in St. George?
The cheapest way is to have machines at home, wash with cold water, run full loads, and air dry when possible. If you do not own machines, renting a washer and dryer for $60 per month from DryAndWashRent is cheaper than any laundromat in town. Laundromats cost $120 to $250 per month for a family of four. Call (435) 767-7225 to set up a rental.
How can I reduce my monthly laundry costs?
Switch to cold water washing to save $60 to $100 per year on energy. Run only full loads to cut water use. Buy store-brand detergent to save 30 to 50%. Air dry clothes using St. George's dry, sunny climate to save $100 to $150 per year. If you use a laundromat, switch to a home rental at $60 per month to cut your spending in half or more.
Is rent-to-own a good deal for a washer and dryer?
No. Rent-to-own stores charge $80 to $120 per month over 24 months. You end up paying $1,920 to $2,880 for machines worth $800 to $1,200. That is 2 to 3 times the retail price. A straight rental from DryAndWashRent costs $60 per month with maintenance included and no long-term contract. You save money every month and avoid the ownership markup.
Ready to rent a washer and dryer in St. George? Fill out our quick form or call (435) 767-7225.