Laundry. It’s usually the chore that none of us want to do. But it’s also one of the most necessary chores to avoid not smelling bad regularly. At one point or another, we’ll all need to do a load (or ten) of laundry. How can you make this practical and necessary lifestyle task more eco-friendly? Here are some easy (and some challenging) tips.
Eco-Laundry Tip Number One: Cold Water is Your Friend
Cold water isn’t just your friend because it will keep your colored clothing bright and vibrant, it’s also better for the planet. When you use cold water, that means that you’re not using the energy (and most likely fossil fuels required) to heat the water for warm or hot loads of laundry. If you’re convinced that hot or warm water actually cleans your clothing better, then we’d encourage you to try out a load of cold water wash. You may be surprised!
Eco-Laundry Tip Number Two: Wash When the Load is Full
Instead of doing loads of laundry every week with the washer half-full, do laundry every other week with completely full loads. No, we don’t want you to over-fill your washer to the point where nothing gets clean at all. But we do want you to waste less water and energy, which means not running the washer in order to just wash ten or fifteen items. If you’re doing a half load of laundry every week because you only have seven pairs of underwear and socks, then it may be time to buy some more clothing so that you can go longer between washes. Examples are few and far between, but sometimes owning more can actually help you to waste less.
Eco-Laundry Tip Number Three: Buy Responsibly
Whether it’s your laundry detergent, fabric softener or even your home laundry unit, purchase responsibly.
Laundry Soaps and Softeners: Try to buy eco-friendly, phosphate-free laundry detergents and softeners. If you really want to take it up a step, consider substituting baking soda for your typical laundry detergent. Trust us, you’ll be surprised how amazing the results are, and they’re friendly for the planet.
Hardware: It may cost you more, but not only will it help the planet if you buy ENERGY STAR® rated washing and drying machines, it will also reduce your energy bills. There’s no need to rush out and replace the washer and dryer that you have if they’re working just fine – but when the time comes that you need a new set, consider a more energy efficient solution.
Eco-Laundry Tip Number Four: Avoid the Dryer
We understand that some things, like towels and sheets, just feel better when they come out of the dryer and are softer. We understand that and do it too! But the dryer isn’t always an absolute necessity. When the weather is warm, hang clothing outside for the fresh air and fresh smell. If it’s cold or wet, make friends with an indoor drying rack (or your shower curtain bar!). Many pieces of laundry don’t need to be put in the dryer to dry, and when you avoid an electric dryer you avoid the fossil fuels and energy required to power it!
Do you have other tips on how you can help to keep laundry time eco-friendly? Comment below or tell us about them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram.
Photo: carinasuyin via Flickr
