You know the cycle of laundry. One day, all of your clothes are neatly folded; the next day, you face a mountain of dirty laundry. Most homemakers do not realize the impact of these piles of dirty laundry on the environment. Some of us only think of this as an annoying chore that we have to do.
As I was about to drop off my dirty pile at the laundry drop off near me, a question struck me: Does laundry seriously impact the environment? That’s when I found out an average family approximately washes 300 loads of laundry annually.
Laundry uses about 16% of a household’s water consumption, and if you use a dryer, it is one of the main culprits for your increased energy consumption. Since laundry uses much water and energy, it is right to say that every load counts.
So, here’s how you can save energy and water consumption.
Effective Green Practices During Laundry
We understand there’s a lot on your plate, especially when you handle the household chores and have a day job. If you are more comfortable with laundry pickup services due to time constraints. Several laundry providers like dobiQueen practice green routines. Still, you make a positive change without adding extra hassle.
But, if you do laundry at home. Here are some of the few tips:
- Wash less often, do it in full loads. You do not have to wash every clothes. Some clothes can be worn again. Washing less often is helpful to energy consumption, and it is also a good thing in maintaining your clothes’ optimum condition. Every wash wears your clothing fiber down. Moreover, wash in full load to use the wash cycle efficiently and clean your clothes effectively.
- Use cold water. The cold setting helps cut down the energy used for each laundry load. Moreover, warm water can shrink or fade the color of clothing. Cold water is more gentle and holds the color better.
- Install high-efficiency equipment. This type of equipment only uses 25% less energy and 33% less water than conventional washers. Moreover, HE equipment has a specific soap that helps decrease the carbon footprint further.
- Use eco-friendly laundry detergent. There’s a wide variety of green laundry detergents at the market. Do not use conventional detergents because they contain harsh chemicals and pollute waterways. One option for eco-friendly laundry detergent is the zero-waste laundry pods. Laundry pods are packed in compostable packaging that does not increase plastic pollution. Moreover, the pods have gentle yet effective ingredients.
- Line dry clothes as possible. It is best to line dry clothes than using a dryer. Let your clothes air dry to maintain their optimum condition. Line drying is gentler than the hot dryer. If you have an outdoor space, it is best to hang clothes outside in warm weather.
These eco-friendly routines do not take much of your time and effort, yet it brings hope to the planet. On your next laundry day, do these tips! Conquer the mountain of laundry while taking care of Mother Earth.
