The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states, “washing and drying your laundry is one of the most energy- and water-intensive chores.” The average American family washes almost 400 loads of laundry per year. With each load using about 40 gallons of water, you can imagine the urgency of switching to an Eco-friendly laundry routine. If you’re wondering how we do this, wonder no more because we’ve got 5 easy ways to help you get there.
Reduce
If you’re looking for a greener planet, then get used to reduce. There’s no such thing as sustainability without using less. The same applies to your laundry routine. It’s simple: wash less. We understand personal items can’t be reused, but lots of our clothing can. Our tip is to clean the stains by hand instead of throwing them in the laundry bin. Washing less is your very first step toward an Eco-friendly laundry routine.
Eco-Friendly Detergents
This is a big deal. Off-the-counter laundry detergents contain chemicals and toxins you don’t want near you or your family. The harmful contents put you and the environment in danger, and often use packaging that can’t be recycled. Sometimes you’re far better making your own homemade, natural and organic products or supporting businesses and brands that do this. One of our favourites is Mrs. Meyer’s Laundry Detergent because it’s extra gentle, certified organic, naturally derived, and cruelty-free.
Hang to Dry
Avoid the dryer by hanging your clothes to dry. This may require a bit of planning in advance, but who cares? By turning your clothes dry, you don’t only help save the planet, but you actually take better care of your clothes and make them last longer.
Wash Full Loads
As we said earlier, every load uses about 40 gallons of water. If you reduce the number of washing you do per week, you save water and money. Wait for all your laundry to pile up, and then wash a load. Make a goal for yourself to decrease your laundry by one bag or 20 percent per week. It’s the small changes that make the significant differences.
Say No to Hot Water
About 90 percent of the energy used from doing your laundry is from heating the water. Sure, some clothes need to use hot water, but there’s just no need a lot of times. So turn the dial to cold.
There you have it: 5 simple and realistic goals to help you towards an Eco-friendly laundry routine. Let us know if you have any other tips for making our home green.
