Fortunately, our laundry routines are some of the easiest lifestyle factors to change when adopting a sustainable mindset.
While many people swear by high efficiency machines, hiring a plumber to install a microfiber filter, or simply hand-washing everything, there are numerous smaller changes that can be made to reduce your environmental impact without the hassle.
1. Check the ingredients.
Not only are common laundry products harsh on the skin and known to trigger allergic reactions, they eventually end up in our water system and pollute rivers, lakes, groundwater, and the ocean.
The best way to protect yourself and the planet against this is to know what chemical ingredients to avoid and thoroughly research the companies you are buying from.
Pro tip: transparency is always the greenest flag.
Here are some common ingredients to steer clear from:
- Sodium laureth sulfate
- Phosphates
- Optical brighteners
- Chlorine bleach
- 1,4-Dioxane
- Dichlorobenzene
- Perfumes and artificial fragrances
2. Use baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap as a stain remover.
While there are some natural stain removers in compostable packaging making their way onto the market, there is another easy and affordable alternative that can be made from ingredients you probably already have at home.
Start by pouring 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Bonus points if you reuse a bottle that was once a cleaning or cosmetic product!
Add 3-5 drops of dish soap and shake the bottle to combine. Spritz the stain then sprinkle baking soda on top.
When the mixture has dried, brush away the baking soda and wash the garment as normal.
3. Air dry your clothes.
Air drying your clothes is perhaps the most impactful change you can make to reduce the impact of your laundry routine.
As convenient as they are, dryers require a lot of energy!
If this isn’t possible for you, try to reduce the use of your dryer by washing full, infrequent loads. You can also partially air dry after a 10-15 minute spin, or use the dyer exclusively for heavyweight items like sheets and jackets.
As well, replace your single-use dryer sheets with reusable wool dryer balls to minimize waste.
4. Stick to compostable and recyclable packaging.
Thankfully, compostable packaging is gaining popularity among detergent manufacturers.
If compostable packaging is not an option for you, make sure to brush up on the regulations at your local recycling facility and buy plastic bottles that have a compatible number printed on the bottom.
Zero-waste bulk stores are also gaining traction in many cities. Research your local area to find out if anyone has a nontoxic, ultra concentrated laundry detergent on tap and save a tomato sauce jar to store it in.
5. Re-wear clothing that is not dirty or smelly.
Of course, wash your underwear and socks after a single use.
However, your pajamas can usually be worn for multiple nights before going into the hamper. As well, you can probably wear your daily clothes if you work indoors and don’t do a whole lot of sweating or dirty jobs.