Each of us puts a washing machine full of clothes at least once a week. And while we realize how important clean clothes are in our daily lives, we want to wash in an environmentally friendly way.
Every time you turn on the washing machine, it consumes electricity, water, and causes detergents and microplastics to enter the waterways. How do you change your habits to avoid polluting the environment? Here’s a hint!
Sometimes it happens that we throw into the washing machine an item that we have worn only once and is still in good condition. Instead of washing it, it only needs a gentle refreshment. Clothes that do not fit tightly to the body and are not dirty, we can successfully wear more than once.
Washing a washing machine that is not fully full is a waste of water and electricity. Wait until you have collected a full load and only then run the machine. You may find that instead of doing laundry every other day, it’s enough to do it once a week.
If you need to wash one or a few items quickly, but your washing machine is not completely full, choose hand washing. This way you will use less water and energy. Remember to use gentle detergents that will not irritate the skin of your hands.
Heating water in the washing machine is the process that consumes the most energy of all laundry. So try to wash at the lowest possible temperature. Often the low temperature makes clothes retain their original color longer and the fibers don’t deteriorate as quickly.
An eco-friendly laundry detergent is one that does not contain phosphates, chlorine, artificial colors and fragrances, and petrochemicals. A good composition will not only benefit the environment, but also your health and that of other household members.
More detergent used per wash does not mean that the laundry will be cleaner. On the contrary: it will be more difficult to rinse it out of the fabrics. Therefore, add the optimal amount of laundry detergent, preferably the amount recommended by the manufacturer on the package.
All laundry “additives” are just unnecessary, and on top of that, unenvironmental gadgets. And although manufacturers are outdoing themselves in inventing more and more new wipes that are supposed to transform our laundry, in fact they are saturated with unnecessary and harmful chemicals, and on top of that they are not recyclable.
A mechanical dryer devours huge amounts of electricity. So if you have the option, forgo it in favor of traditional air drying. We also advise against drying laundry on radiators, as this blocks the spread of heat.
Once worn, clothes don’t always need to be washed. If you just want to neutralize unpleasant odors from your clothes, spray them with a solution of water and tea tree oil. You can also soak your clothes in 2 liters of water with the juice of a whole lemon. After such a 30-minute bath, simply rinse the clothes in clean water and let them dry.
Clothes made of synthetic materials, such as polyester, form microplastic particles when washed. This in turn gets into the waterways, leading to pollution of the seas and oceans.
main photo: unsplash.com/PlanetCare
