Unfortunately, I can’t make laundry fun. But I’m very pleased to introduce Rachel of Our Frugal Experiment, a blog dedicated to helping you take baby frugal steps. She’s got some awesome advice on being greener (money-savvy and environmentally friendly) in the laundry room!  -Fi

I don’t have a laundry room. It’s a laundry closet. I discovered that even in a small space I could make changes.

1. Clean out lint trap. It keeps your dryer efficient and can prevent a possible house fire. Dryer sheets can leave an invisible layer of residue across the mesh in your lint trap. This can cause your dryer to run less efficiently and have a shorter life. Just use a toothbrush and some soap and it should clean it right up.

2. Don’t use dryer sheets or make your own. I never use dryer sheets. But if you use them a simple way to make one is soak a washcloth in fabric softener. Lay it flat and let it dry completely before you add it to your load. You can use it anywhere between 8-12 times!

3. Make Your Own Fabric Softener. This is simple.

1. Start running water into your washer
2. Put in 1/2 – 1 cup of baking soda
3. Add clothes and detergent
4. Pour about 1/4 cup white vinegar into a Downy ball & put it on top of the laundry

4. Hang your clothes to dry. This is a great energy saver. We don’t have much of a yard, so my husband and father-in-law hung a clothes line right over the washer and dryer. Now I try to hang everything, except for towels. If you have an inside line for a larger family, you may just hang some clothes, but you will be able to do this year-round.

5. Make Your Own Detergent. A friend of mine gave me a recipe for detergent and a few samples. It worked great, it’s cheap, lasts for a long time, and has no harmful chemicals. Here are the details:

• 12 cups Borax
• 8 cups baking soda
• 8 cups grated ivory soap (about 9 bars)
• 8 cups super washing soda

1. Mix together ingredients very well and crush all clumps
2. Only use 1/8 cup (about 2 Tbs) per load (will not suds-up or bubble)

Tips:
Freeze soap before grating to make it a little easier & faster
Use 1/4 c. white vinegar as a fabric softener in the rinse cycle

These are things that I have found to be effective. Do you have any other ideas to add to my list? I would love to hear about it!

Boston is home to the original House of Blues, but the chain’s flagship club moved to an upgraded venue in February 2009.  The bigger-and-badder House of Blues stretches 50,000 square feet and features VIP boxes!

If you’re gearing up to see a show at Boston’s premier venue, save money by booking a Boston hotel near House of Blues.  Party as hard as you like – your hotel’s just blocks away!

Get the guaranteed lowest rate online by making your reservations through Orbitz.  And take an additional 10% off the cost of your stay with Orbitz coupons.

Howard Johnson Inn Fenway Park Boston

• Cable TV, internet, coffeemaker & hair dryer in all rooms
• Outdoor pool
• Parking available on-site
• 5-minute walk from the House of Blues

Hilton Boston Back Bay

• Luxury accommodations with marble bathrooms, spa-style amenities, coffeemaker & on-demand movies
• 24-hour indoor pool
• Room service available
• About 1 mile to the House of Blues

The Midtown Hotel Boston

• Affordable rooms with AC, hair dryer, coffeemaker & cable TV
• Outdoor pool
• On-site parking
• Only 1.5 miles from the House of Blues

Tell Me What’s Going On

Tracy Chapman at Boston House of Blues (July 31st)

She came up singing at coffee houses in Cambridge, and now Tracy Chapman’s returning to the Boston area!  See her soulful stage presence and listen for classics like “Fast Car” and “Give Me One Reason.”

Missing some of Tracy’s albums?  Not a problem – check out her entire discography on Amazon.com.  Shop for all of her CDs, from her critically acclaimed debut all the way to her latest studio album.  Get FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders $25 and over with Amazon.com coupons!

Confession time! I’m a former mall rat – my best friend and I would comb every store for trendy clothes at least twice a week. I swear we even knew when they moved shelves a few feet over! But that was then. This is now. Online shopping is the way of the future…and you can get some of the best discounts! Plus you’ll never have to wait in line for a cashier.

Try this on for size – free Urban Outfitters coupons. Take a whopping 10% off your order until June 30! Oh, lookie, it fits your wallet like a dream!

Start building your cute summer wardrobe with these key pieces, ladies:

• Nom de Plume YaYa Sweetheart Dress - This versatile solid dress in your choice of purple or yellow looks fantastic alone or under a blazer
• Silence & Noise Bodysuit Tee - For an elongating effect that highlights those feminine curves, pair this with high-waisted skirts
• Kimchi Blue Ruffle Ballet - Make ballet flats do a pirouette with sweet ruffle detailing for a look that’s anything but ordinary

The men out there should look into these:

• Volcom Bob Barker Shorts - The style is right & the price is right for these plaid Bermuda shorts
• Paint Splatter Plimsoll - Bring out your inner abstract artist with these unique canvas shoes that have flicks of paint
• Levi’s 510 Rigid Super Skinny Jean - Get the edgy, hipster look with an industrial, dark color

Wake up your wardrobe this season. Shop at Urban Outfitters – your source for trendsetting fashion!