Sustainable Laundry (Tips for an Eco-Friendly Wash)

How many of us can honestly say we enjoy tackling what sometimes seems like a never-ending pile of laundry? Certainly not me!

Still, washing and drying our clothes is an essential part of everyday life, eating up a fair amount of our free time (and budget!). But did you know it’s also responsible for a big chunk of our climate concerns, too?

In fact, each year, washing machines use 19 billion cubic meters of water and emit around 62 million tons of CO2-eq greenhouse gases! Throw in the risk of chemical pollution from industrial-strength detergents, and it becomes clear that doing our laundry can actually be rather harmful to our planet.

But what can we do to make things better? Well, there’s a bunch of simple sustainable laundry tricks you can try right now to make your laundry greener. The best part? These aren’t expensive changes to make – and many are even free.

That means you don’t need to choose between protecting the planet or protecting your hard-earned savings!

So, let’s dive into some simple tips for greening up your laundry routine without compromising on cleanliness or convenience!

1. Use Cold Water Instead of Hot for Washing

Our first tip might just be the simplest one, too! Stop using hot wash cycles and switch to cold water washes.

Believe it or not, as much as 90% of the energy your washing machine uses goes solely toward heating the water. In fact, if you do 100 loads a year, using cold water could reduce your CO2 emissions by 500 pounds!

But this tip goes way beyond energy efficiency. Cold water is less damaging to clothes, reduces color fading, and even saves you a ton of money on your electricity bills.

And don’t worry about tackling those tough stains – good quality detergents will work every bit as well in cold washes.

2. Opt for Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents and Stain Removers

It might smell pretty, but many common laundry detergents contain a nasty cocktail of chemicals that can harm you and the environment. We’re talking about things that irritate skin and organs (like 2-butoxyethanol and bleach), carcinogens (like formaldehyde and dioxane), and substances that accumulate in waterways and harm aquatic life (like phosphates and coal tar dyes).

Thankfully, there is another option!

Nowadays, there are plenty of eco-friendly laundry detergents out there that are biodegradable and free of unpleasant phosphates and synthetic fragrances.

Or why not try making your own detergent and stain remover? A simple mix of baking soda, vinegar, and the essential oil of your choice can be tough on stains, soften your fabric, and leave it smelling fantastic, too!

3. Air-Dry Your Laundry Whenever Possible

Tumble dryers sure are convenient. When you’re low on time after a busy day, there’s no quicker way to get your clothes dried and ready to go. That said, they aren’t the most environmentally friendly appliance.

In fact, the average tumble dryer load produces 1.8 kilograms (nearly 4 pounds). Use yours twice a week, and that’s over 200 pounds of extra carbon emissions each year.

So, what’s the alternative? Well, in truth, there might not always be one. If you’re limited for space in your home and the weather is wet, you might not have much choice.

But if you can spare the space, indoor drying racks are a great way to air dry your clothes. And remember to make the most of fairer weather by using a clothesline!

4. Wash Full Loads to Save Water and Energy

Whether you fill your washing machine or leave it half full, it will still use the same amount of energy and water.

So, if you can hold off on washing your clothes until you can run a full load, you can massively cut down on your energy consumption.

That said, you should also check your washing machine’s settings. Some modern models feature a half-load mode, which automatically reduces the energy and water consumption it uses.

That way, you can wash fewer clothes without worrying about wasting resources.

5. Maintain Your Washing Machine to Improve Its Efficiency

If you drive a car, you already know your vehicle needs regular servicing to keep it performing at its best. And it’s precisely the same story with your washing machine.

Well, not exactly the same – after all, you can‘t hop on your washing machine for a relaxing Sunday morning drive along the coast. But regular TLC is just as important to keep it in tip-top shape.

Remember to clean your machine’s filters regularly, check for leaks, and run an empty cycle once a month with washing machine cleaner (or white vinegar) to remove limescale and detergent build-up and get rid of any lingering bacteria.

With these simple steps, you can keep your washing machine as energy-efficient as possible and ensure your clothes stay clean and fresh.

Sustainable Laundry Made Simple

As we become more eco-conscious, things like vehicle emissions and manufacturing processes often grab the headlines.

And yet, there’s so many parts of everyday life that we can make a real difference in with just a few small adjustments.

So, from eco-friendly detergents to air drying your clothes, remember to try out some of our top sustainable laundry tips the next time you tackle a load of laundry. Because when it comes to saving the planet, every small step really can make a difference!