Below are some ways you can make your laundry healthier and more energy efficient.
- When you have several loads to wash, do them back-to-back so you can use the residual heat in the dryer.
- Run the washing machine only when you have a full load.
- Wash with cold water to save 80 to 90 percent of the energy costs of washing.
- To prevent static cling, add one cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle, using your washing machine’s dispenser. Static cling, by the way, is caused by using synthetic fabrics, so you could also switch to cotton. Remove the laundry before it’s overdried. The vinegar also kills bacteria and prevents the buildup of detergent residue.
- Clean out the dryer’s lint trap after every load to improve circulation and reduce energy use.
- Air dry whenever possible using indoor racks or an outdoor line. This conserves energy—and your clothes. They will not wear out or fade as quickly. (You’ll also save about seven hundred pounds of carbon dioxide over six months of warm weather.1)
- Remove clothing from the dryer before the cycle ends and line dry to finish. This conserves energy and increases the life span of the clothing.
- Avoid using dryer sheets to soften fabrics. They often contain harsh chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin
- Try a commercial green fabric softener like Natural Choices Home Safe Products’ Safe ’n Soft, Ecover’s Natural Fabric Softener, or Sun & Earth’s Ultra Fabric Softener.
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