Efficient and Effective Machine Washing

1. The first thing you can do to minimize the expense of laundry is to only ever run a washing machine with a full load. Too often the temptation is to wash a couple of favorite items because they are needed quickly. This is simply flushing money down the drain!
2. The second useful thing to remember is that soft water (in former rain water was prized for the purpose) washes clothes most effectively, and enables you to use a minimal amount of soap or detergent. The addition of a tablespoon of borax to the powder drawer should allow you to reduce the amount of expensive detergent per wash by at least half. In hard water areas, add two spoonfuls.
3. Cottons and linens which are principally used close to the skin or hair (this also including bedlinen and towels) which inevitably pick up a certain amount of the grease which naturally exudes from the body, this mingled with a certain amount of ground-in dirt. When washing such items, it is possible to keep both the detergent dosage and the temperature of the wash to a minimum by programming a prewash, and adding a cupful of sodium carbonate in the prewash section of the powder drawer. The soda should easily rinse the grease quite out before the machine proceeds to the main stage of the wash. Avoid using soda on colored items, however, since it will slowly bleach out the color over time.
4. Spots of dirt, grass and mud smears, fruit juice splashes, grimy cuffs and collars are best prepared for the laundry by moistening and rubbing with Soap. Once the soap is well into the grain of the fabric, the garment may be left in the basket for as long as is needed before of perfect cleanliness in the usual way.

(From the book How to Take Care of your Clothes, C. Leavey)