Laundry Goes Green

Did you know that approximately 75% of the life of our clothing decreases with washing and drying? This is according to reports put out by Procter & Gamble and Marks and Spencer. Because it requires so much energy to heat the washing water and run the dry cycle there is a huge potential to reduce your own personal energy and water usage and therefore make a smaller environmental footprint on our earth.

By greening up our laundry habits we can not only benefit the environment but also save some of our hard earned cash. According to Energy Star the average household will do almost 400 loads of laundry each year and use over 13,000 gallons of water. By switching to an Energy Star qualified top loading machine an individual family can save as much as 7000 gallons of water each year. If the approximate lifetime of washer is 11 years, that's enough water to fill up three backyard swimming pools!

Using an Energy Star qualified washing machine can also save approximately $500 in operating costs. Many of these new high efficient washers will easily pay for themselves over the course of their lives.

But before even thinking about putting your laundry into the wash, be sure that it's dirty. Some of the simplest ways to cut back on the laundry is just to do less of it. Wearing your clothes more than once, (except for unmentionables and socks) is the first step towards greening your laundry habits. You can consume up to five times less energy by wearing your jeans three times, washing them in cold water and skipping the dryer.

When evaluating your washing habits take a close look at the detergents you are using to clean your clothes. Many of these conventional detergents have ingredients that are not good for the environment, your body or even your clothes. Phosphates in the conventional laundry soaps will cause over growth of algae that negatively affect the ecosystems. Look for labels that indicate a product is readily biodegradable and phosphate free. Better yet it should be made from plants and vegetable-based ingredients, instead of petroleum-based ingredients, which means it's healthier for the planet and gentler on the skin.

Use cold water to wash your clothes. 90% of the energy used for washing clothes goes into heating the water. This can cost an individual family $100 or more every year in added energy cost. More and more of the over-the-counter detergents are specialized for cold water washing. Also, run your washing machine with full loads that helps your machine operate at its peak efficiency.

Try to choose a detergent that is concentrated. This means that it's in a reduced size packaging and leaves a smaller carbon footprint on the planet. They also deliver more bang for the buck. But making your own laundry detergent is probably the greenest way to go. Using just a few ingredients from the grocery store and adding your own the essential oils for a fresh fragrance you'll know exactly what's on your clothing.

Liquid detergent can be made by mixing 1 quart of boiling water, 2 cups of grated bar soap, 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of washing soda. Add the grated soap to the boiling water and stir until the soap is melted. Pour this mixture into a large clean covered pail and add the borax and washing soda. Stir it well and add 2 gallons of water. Mix this well. Once it’s cooled you can add 5-7 drops of essential oil per gallon of water. Use ¼ cup of detergent for each load of laundry, stirring each time you use it – it should gel.

Powdered detergent can be made with 2 cups of grated soap, 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup of borax. Mix these ingredients together and cover in an airtight container. Use two tablespoons per full load.

If you're able to cut the dryer out of the equation, even only part time, you'll save even more money and energy. The dryer is number two on the list of household energy drains, coming in right after the refrigerator. According to the US Department of Energy the average household spends more than $70 per year running their dryer.

And, of the upward of 88 million dryers in the United States, each spews out more than a ton of carbon dioxide each year. While some homeowners associations oppose the use of drying clothes outside there are several organizations which may help you to negotiate your rights to line dry your clothes in your neighborhood. Right to Dry and LineDryIt are two organizations that have solid resources to help you get started negotiating. Your clothes last longer when you line dry because there's less wear and tear and then when you use the dryer.

Cleaning the filter frequently on the dryer will also help to increase the efficiency and shorten the drying time of your clothes. Get in the habit of cleaning the filter every time you empty the dryer. If your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it. This will automatically reduce the amount of time your clothes are in the dryer and shut the machine off when it senses the clothes are done.

Ditch those dryer sheets which are full of cancer-causing chemicals and neurotoxins. Not only do they break down organic fibers in your clothing and shorten the life of your fabrics but they also will be absorbed into your skin and body as you wear the clothes. If you want the scented smell of clean clothing then toss in a sachet of dried organic lavender for a sweet scent.

Avoid chlorine bleach in your laundry. In fact, avoid having chlorine bleach in your home altogether. Chlorine bleach is highly caustic and will cause skin irritation and redness. It's fatal if swallowed and according to the Environmental Protection Agency 26,000 children were exposed to or poisoned by household bleach in 2002. When chlorine is combined with other chemicals or cleaners it forms a toxic gas. This gas can form lung damaging chloramine gas, cause permanent damage to our airways and has been linked to breast cancer in women.

When chlorine bleach is released to the waterways through our wastewater, it contaminates the drinking water with organochlorines which are suspected carcinogens as well as reproductive, neurological and immune system toxins both to ourselves and to the wildlife. These toxins have also been known to cause developmental disorders in children and once introduced into the environment, can take years for them to break down to less damaging forms.

By following these few tips you should be able to significantly reduce your energy costs, your footprints upon the environments, and improve the health of your family. Your clothes will last longer, your skin will be less irritated and you'll spend less for energy and water.