What Is The Most Environmentally Friendly Way To Wash Clothes? Clothes should be washed to keep them clean as well as to keep them in good condition. However, we sometimes tend to forget that washing clothes could indirectly damage the environment depending on what chemical we use.
Hence, it is crucial to weigh in our options and find alternatives that could produce the least amount of pollution. This way, we not only keep our clothes clean but our environment as well.
If you do not know where to start towards your eco-friendly journey, we got you covered. In this article, we’ve listed down tips and tricks to help you maintain an environmentally friendly way of washing clothes. Hopefully, these tips could raise your awareness of environmental problems, even if just a bit.
1 Do not wash your clothes too often
Although not all of us do it, some folks often wash otherwise clean clothing that was only worn once. If your clothes do not smell too bad and are not visibly dirty, there is no reason to wash them. Yes, you might find that the idea makes sense, but washing clothes too often could wear it out faster. Not only that, but you’ll also be wasting a lot of clean water that could have been used for other purposes.
After using your clothes, try to assess if they could still be worn again, especially if they’re just house clothes. You can also keep your energy consumption to a minimum when you wash clothes on full loads. Set a laundry day every week and try to maintain that schedule as much as you can.
2 Use energy-efficient washing machines
The current trend in the design of appliances nowadays is leaning towards making them as energy-efficient as possible. Hence, if you are using a considerably old washing machine, you’re doing more harm than good. Although older washing machines could still work correctly, they end up using too much water and energy.
Newer models could do the same work as older ones but use almost seven times less water at maximum. There’s nothing left to be said on the side of energy consumption, as older models are incomparable to the new ones. Although more recent models can cost a fortune, your overall savings can pay for those expenses in the long run.
Just a disclaimer, this is only applicable if you have an ancient washing machine model. If your machine is just a few years old, you probably have nothing to worry about. Still, you should do your own calculations and research first before deciding to replace your current machine.
3 Do not use harmful chemicals
Saving water and energy might sound good, but you really have to be aware of the harmful chemicals. These toxic chemicals are often in common detergents and stain removers that you can find in markets. They are significantly more dangerous to pregnant women as prolonged exposure could cause birth defects or developmental problems in children.
Furthermore, these chemicals will find their way towards bodies of water such as rivers and oceans. Once they reach that point, countless marine life and other wildlife would be negatively affected, resulting in their population decline. Eventually, these chemicals might even wipe out an entire species of animals.
On a positive note, you can avoid being a direct cause of this by using non-toxic and environmentally friendly detergents. Nowadays, you can find organic laundry detergents almost anywhere online or in some of your local stores. They will most certainly cost more than regular detergents, though it’s a small sacrifice if it’s for the environment.
4 Use the sun to dry your clothes
Dryers are a convenient way to quickly dry your clothes, especially if you want to use them right away. However, a clear trade-off could be seen in your electricity bill. Hence, if you are not in a hurry to use the clothes you just washed, avoid using your dryer.
If you live in a sunny place, use the sun as a natural dryer. Find an open space or someplace that gets a lot of sunlight and install a clothesline. It does not have to be extravagant since you will just be hanging your clothes there.
Final words
The most environmentally friendly way to wash clothes can differ from one person to the next. However, if you’re trying your best to reduce your impact on the environment, then you’re walking in the right direction. As the saying goes, change yourself if changing the world proves to be very difficult.