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 »  Home  »  water  »  Earth friendly clothes washing
Earth friendly clothes washing
By Green Living Tips | Published  10/2/2007 | water , home , garden , clothing , cleaning
Washing clothes - lessening laundry environmental impact

The days of the washing board are long gone and while modern appliances have made the chore of clothes washing somewhat easier, they've also encouraged  excesses in terms of the amount of water we use, energy we consume and chemicals we release into the environment.

Here's some tips to put an earth friendly edge on your clothes washing and will also help save you money!

Pre-wash treatments

There's all sorts of pre-wash potions to help shift stains. Aside from the toxic nature of the chemicals, they often come in elaborate packaging. A couple of greener and far cheaper alternatives you may wish to try:

- spraying neat vinegar on deodorant and other stains on garments just prior to washing
- apply a paste of baking soda and water onto stains, then wash
- For pre-soaking, try one tablespoon of Borax per gallon of water and allow to soak for 30 minutes.

Cold water

Given the efficiencies of modern washing machines and detergents, hot water is really not required in most cases. We've been washing in cold water for years and have rarely found the need to re-wash anything. By using cold water, you'll save on energy costs involved with heating (and the associated environnmental impact) and help extend the life of your water heater.

Load size and water levels

Resist washing small amounts of clothing. If you do need to wash a small number of items, consider hand-washing as it only takes a few minutes to do or adjust the water levels in your machine appropriately.

Detergents

Laundry detergents tend to contain complex chemical cocktails made up surfactants, builders, bleaches, colorants, optical brighteners, fragrances and solvent ingredients. Many components are synthesized from crude oil and while the brand may claim biodegradability, breakdown can take some time; creating a buildup in waterways. Toxic substances such as carcinogens and other compounds that are deadly to aquatic life can also be produced during the degrading process or through interaction with other chemicals.

Components such as colorants really aren't necessary - they are often just there to make them pleasing to the eye as you pour them out. Fragrances are of particular concern as companies often aren't required to detail what these are comprised of.

Just about every supermarket these days offers "earth friendly" detergents and usually you'll find they are quite a bit cheaper too due to the no-frills, low active chemical approach - yet they can be just as effective.

The "extra cleaning power" you often see advertised for major brands usually means extra of the base chemicals, plus some other nasties thrown in; and the more is better approach really doesn't apply to the average household washing needs - you're just paying more for what is effectively only a byproduct of marketing. When shopping for detergent, compare chemical percentages - even between the earth friendly brands. Less of X ingredient doesn't necessarily mean a poorer wash, but will likely mean less of a toll on the environment and your wallet.

In Australia, there's an estimated 500 million household wash loads consuming 120,000 tonnes of chemicals per year. While the brand we use at home couldn't be called totally green, the lower/lesser chemical formulation has proven effective and safe for our blackwater recycling system. If everyone used a similar brand; annual laundry detergent chemical consumption would plummet to 4,000 tonnes according to the detergent company's web site. That's an incredible 3000% reduction in chemical waste to achieve the same washing results - and at far less cost to the consumer.

Another ingredient to watch for in washing detergents are phosphates. While a naturally occurring substance, if too much phosphate is present in a body of water, it can spark the growth of algal blooms which can then have a suffocating or toxic effect on other aquatic life forms. Phosphate in laundry detergent really isn't necessary, so avoid it altogether if possible.

If you need a bit of extra punch to your wash in terms of bleaching, consider adding a 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle and hang clothes outside to dry. By the way, a teaspoon of lemon juice thrown into your wash can also help your clothes to smell fresher! Other more environmentally friendly alternatives to brightening are a half cup of baking soda thrown into the wash, or half a cup of borax.

Another big issue with detergents is the elaborate packaging and amount of water in the product, so opt for concentrates in recyclable packaging.

There are also "uber-green" laundry detergents available that are entirely plant based - no synthetic chemicals; but expect to pay quite a bit more for those.

Wash cycles

Sometime we wash our clothes for too long - extra energy is used, there's more wear and tear on the equipment (and clothes) and perhaps even extra water is wasted. Experiment with your wash settings, gradually cutting back on the cycle to find the sweet spot.

Greywater collection

Washing machines vary greatly in their water use - anything from 10 gallons per full load for a very efficient front loader to a massive 50 gallons per full load for an older top loading model. Why not try to collect some of this water and put it on your garden? You can simply attach a hose to your water outlet and then pipe it outdoors as long as the run outdoors isn't on a steep incline. To make the job easier, for under a hundred dollars you can pick up a greywater (meaning water from the shower and laundry) diversion valve kit.

Probably the best bet is to contact your local water authority for more information on greywater recycling options if a hose trailing over your laundry floor or out the window doesn't appeal to you.

You can also go the whole hog and have a full gray water recycling system installed along with an irrigation system. We have the next level - a blackwater recycling system; and we absolutely love it. Note: don't use graywater or blackwater on vegetables and vary where you apply the water so that plants aren't overly inundated with nutrients.

Dryers

Here in Australia, the washing line is still very popular, but it seems in many countries people turn first to the electric dryer. These are incredibly electricity intensive, capable of drawing thousands of watts an hour. Reacquaint yourself with your washing line, or if you don't have one, clothes horses are very cheap to buy. Even if you just air dry a few items from each load, every little bit of energy saved counts.

There's certainly nothing quite like the fresh smell of clothes aired outside - unless your city's air is particularly bad of course. The additional benefit of open air drying is that sunlight can help kill some forms of bacteria.

While clothes washing will always likely be an energy and water intensive exercise, by applying some or all of the tips above, you'll be able to greatly reduce the overall environmental impact of the chore; plus wind up with a few more bucks in your pocket for the effort!

If you have some washing tips to share; please add them below!


 
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Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
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Comments
  • Comment #1 (Posted by Charlotte)

    Maybe this is obvious, but one thing to add is: don't wash clothes unless they really need it! Too many of us have the habit of throwing stuff into the laundry bin at the slightest sight of dirt. But maybe that dirt-stain could be rubbed out with a wet washcloth or removed with a stiff brush?
     
  • Comment #2 (Posted by Michael (Green Living Tips))

    Thanks for contributing that tip Charlotte - sometimes it's the really simple stuff we totally overlook!
     
  • Comment #3 (Posted by April)

    I'd like to share my recipe for laundry detergent!!
    In a bucket add 3 cups Borax, 3 cups Washing Soda and 1 bar of castile soap that has been grated (use a cheese or box grater). Add 5-6 cups of HOT water. Stir to combine & melt soap. I use a stick blender to get it incorporated well. Use 1/2 cup per load, it works wonders and is earth friendly as well as non-toxic for you & your family!!
     
  • Comment #4 (Posted by Michael (Green Living Tips))

    Thanks for sharing your recipe April!
     
  • Comment #5 (Posted by gregory)

    I am using natural soap nuts. They are available every where online and use no chemicals...

    They work!
     
  • Comment #6 (Posted by marcia mikles)

    If you use 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar (depending on load size) in your final rinse in your machine, you will NEVER need any other kind of fabric softener. It removes static cling, softens your clothes, removed all the "left over" detergent, and sanitizes your clothes. My towels are twice as fluffy and absorbent using vinegar compared to commercial fabric softener!
     
  • Comment #7 (Posted by Laura)

    I would like to try this detergent and I have a few questions:
    Once you mix the ingredients, what will the detergent look like? (Liquid, solid, paste??)
    And for how long can you store it??

     
  • Comment #8 (Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)

    Gregory and Marcia - thanks for your contributions! Soap nuts? I have vague recollections of hearing about these; I'll certainly check them out!

    Laura, if you're referring to April's tip; this mix is a thick liquid. It seems to be quite a popular concoction around the web - just the amounts of each ingredient differ from recipe to recipe. I wasn't able to find out how long you can store it for, so hopefully Laura will drop back and let us know, or perhaps someone else will shed some light on this.

    I really must get automatic email update notifications happening on Green Living Tips so people know when a thread has had added input; lots of great extra info is provided by readers! :).
     
  • Comment #9 (Posted by Natasha (London, UK))

    I have recently discovered eco-balls or laundry-balls, plastic cases with little pellets of stuff in that apparently oxidises the water and lifts the dirt out of clothes. They work really well on dirt, and leave the washing smelling like it's been dried outdoors (I live in a 3rd flr flat with no outside space) but not so well on smells. Can anyone tell me what to add to my wash to get rid of smells? Also, these are sold as environmentally friendly products, but haven't been mentioned here, does anyone know if they really are as eco-friendly as the retailers claim?

    Thanks!
     
  • Comment #10 (Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)

    Natasha, that's a really good question. Over the last couple of weeks I've been bombarded by businesses selling these things. I've done a bit of research into them and I'll post an item in the blog section of Green Living Tips specifically on the topic in the next couple of days. I'll be asking people to add their experiences to that post. I hope you'll post your findings in that thread too, it would be greatly appreciated :).

    In regards to the smell issue, try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil in the conditioner drawer of your washing machine.

    By the way everyone, thanks to Gregory's suggestion above about soapnuts, I've just published an article that topic (link is below).
     
  • Comment #11 (Posted by Sue)

    I try to always line dry the laundry, but sometimes the 'crispiness' of the fabric bothers me. I discovered a new trick: if the clothes are put into the dryer for 5 minutes when they are NEARLY dry, they will soften right up as if they've been in the dryer the whole time. While this uses some electricity, it's still less than a whole dryer cycle and might be a good solution if your family complains about crispy towels.
     
  • Comment #12 (Posted by sunflower)

    I Use Maggie's Soap Nuts to wash my laundry.Its 100% biodegradable.a complete natural soap.I also clean every thing else with it,including my body.Look em up!;www.maggiespureland.com.You can also reuse them again and again.
     
  • Comment #13 (Posted by Krystil Carter)

    I wanted to put in a comment in addition to the initial comment by Charlotte about too many of us throwing clothes in the dirty clothes bin when they only have the slightest sign of dirt... I think this is true!

    One way I think we (females in particular) may be able to save on washing clothes is if the garment is made of a more softer/lighter material (i.e. silk or cotton) try and hang it on a coat hanger and allow the garment to 'air' for a couple of hours. I often find this works for my delicate itmes.
     
  • Comment #14 (Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)

    Thanks for adding your thoughts and tips Sue, sunflower and Krystil!
     
  • Comment #15 (Posted by teya)

    I've read recently that you can use vinegar and salt, but wasn't quite sure whether you were supposed to add it to the washing powder/liquid or just use it instead of it. So I decided to give it a try. I mixed 3 tbsp of vinegar and 3 tbsp of salt + 1 teaspoon of eco friendly washing liquid and it worked! No smells (nor scents either… but you can get this by filling your wardrobe up with dried lavender, which I usually do anyway). A friend of mine was wondering about possible negative effects on the washing machine that this mixture might have, though I can't really think of any reason, might even be better for it, does anybody have any info in regard?
     
  • Comment #16 (Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)

    Thanks for your contribution Teya. At a guess, your friend was probably referring to the possibility of the salt corroding the washing machine. I'm thinking that as the wash goes through rinse cycles, this would remove the salt residue - but that opinion isn't based on any solid knowledge of washing machine internals :)
     
  • Comment #17 (Posted by Elise)

    I can't get my housemates to stop buying the cheap laundry detergent which is full of chemicals. Does anyone have reports on how grey water from laundry with nasty detergent in it affects the bacteria and tiny bugs in garden soils?
     
  • Comment #18 (Posted by Jilly Wells)

    My husband and I got rid of our dryer about a year ago (I thought I was going to die without it but NO, I did'nt). Our power bills dropped immediately. We now have more money for other things, and our washing smells wonderful. It has been a great move for us - particularly the money saving!
     
  • Comment #19 (Posted by Chelsea)

    I'm a student at Pomona College in Claremont, California and recently spent a good amount of time looking into the various clothesline and drying rack options since Pomona is going to purchase some for student use and I wanted to make sure we purchased the best available option.

    In my research, I was shocked to find that there is NO good website explaining all the different clotheslines and drying rack options, so I made my own! It's a wiki page on the Tip the Planet sustainable living wiki that ANYONE CAN EDIT. You can check it out here: http://www.tiptheplanet.com/index.php?title=Air_dry_washing

    I'm trying to spread the word so that the site becomes a clearing house for drying rack information, and people have to spend less time scouring the web for the best products. Have a look, share it with your friends, and by all means add your wisdom!

    Take care,
    Chelsea
     
  • Comment #20 (Posted by Trish)

    Here's my laundry soap recipe. I have been using it for several months and it works great. I still use bleach to get whites whiter (and germ free), and a store bought stain remover, but am looking for good alternatives. I have a front load machine and it works great and stays clean. I use vinegar in the rinse. Clothes come out static free, and fresh but no extra smell. I use a spray bottle filled with water and add a few drops of lavender oil and spray in on the wet clothes in the dryer for scent if I want pretty smelling clothes. And then the smell is very light. You could use other scents if you prefer.

    Liquid Laundry Detergent

    3 Pints Water
    1/3 Bar Fels Naptha or Ivory Soap, Grated
    1/2 Cup Washing Soda
    1/2 Cup Borax
    2+ gallon Bucket
    4 Quarts + 1 Pint Boiling/Hot Water
    optional: 15 drops Lavender Essential Oil (or whatever EO you prefer)
    optional: 10 drops Tea Tree Oil

    Mix Fels Naptha (or Ivory) soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Add another 2 quarts boiling hot water and 1 additional quart plus 1 pint hot water and mix well. If using essential oils, add these now. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Shake or stir well before each use, as it will seperate. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load. (or 1/4 cup for front load.)

    I put this in two gallon jugs. (gallon vinegar jugs, rinsed, work great.)I do this before cooling so that it pours easily. This will be a semi-thick liquid, about the consistancy of laundry detergent but a bit more gelatonous. I tried using 2 tablespoons of glycerine in the mix last time to keep it from seperating, but it still does, but maybe not as fast as before. I think it does make the mix smoother and less gelatin-like, and easier to pour. My sister uses her homemade soap in place of the fels naptha or ivory. I do make my own soap but haven't tried it yet. (she has hard water, I have soft, so what works for her doesn't always work for me and vise versa.) I would think a good homemade castile soap would work. I have seen websites though, where it says to use about double the grated soap if using your homemade soap. I can't say for sure.

     
  • Comment #21 (Posted by Trish)

    I wonder if anyone could answer this for me. I would like to use my washing machine waste water on my yard and plants. (Although having an HE washer, it's much less.) My question is could I use it to water my lawn and plants if I use vinegar in the rinse? Vinegar kills weeds and grass when used full strength. Would it do the same diluted in wash water?
     
  • Comment #22 (Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)

    Thanks for that added tips folks, keep 'em coming :).

    Trish, that's a really good question. Since vinegar is a fairly dilute acetic acid as it is, I'm thinking with the additional dilution of washing water, it *shouldn't* harm your plants; but perhaps a spot test would be a good idea first. Thanks for raising that issue; I'd love to hear the results if you do test it out.
     
  • Comment #23 (Posted by Shannon)

    I agree with Charlotte about only washing clothes when necessary. I wash bottoms about once a month, tops every couple wears when I sweat, less than that if I don't. I give them the old college "smell test" to see if they need washing. Towels we don't wash very often either, once every few weeks (think about it-- they dry off your CLEAN body, they can't be that dirty!). I don't understand how people got into the habit of washing their clothes after every wear. Unless you sweat a lot, or actually get them dirty (food, dirt, other forms of muck), I really don't see the point. It's a waste of time, too!
     
  • Comment #24 (Posted by nelson)

    I have a question. Apart from appearance and hygiene, why do people wash clothes at all? People try to get me to wash my dirty clothes after I've been working in the garden but I really don't see the point in using all the water to get rid of the dirt that's going to come back next time I go outside! However if there is some practical reason for keeping them somewhat clean I will certainly abide. I couldn't find any answers through google or anything so I thought I'd ask some real people! thanks
     
  • Comment #25 (Posted by Kalpana)

    I understand that washing with vinegar for last rinse is good, but since vinegar is dilute version of acetic acid, can i use 1spoon of acetic acid instead of vinegar, also if have to vinegar only, than which one black or white vinegar. Please reply
     
  • Comment #26 (Posted by tomer)

    hi
    a BIG issue concerning laundry detergent, especially if you plan to reuse the water in your garden - is the amounts of Sodium (Na) and Potassium (p). you will wabt to avoid both, though P is essentially a building material for plants and will not harm most plants, even in excess (they have a 'defense' mechanism), but Na will prove deucedly lethal to plants and soil health. it is extremely important to chose low sodium and low potassium detergents. fantastic if rather scientific info on this topic can be found at this site - http://www.lanfaxlabs.com.au/index.html
     
  • Comment #27 (Posted by )

    In response to : "However if there is some practical reason for keeping them somewhat clean I will certainly abide."

    I agree, that if you have clothes you always wear for a certain task, washing them between the same task over and over wouldn't benefit anyone much.

    That being said, dirt particles left in the weave of a fabric causes micro wear and tear and eventually a place with these fine particles will become wear and "wear" through. It takes some times, perhaps 2 or 3 years for dirt alone to cause friction/wear.

    The middle/upper class Victorians starched everything (and i mean EVERYTHING) to prevent the dirt from making its way into the weave of the fabric and as such, as soon as the garment was wet, the water and starch carried the dirt particles away. Never having a chance to abrase the fabric, clothing was washed less often and worn MORE often between washings. Typically Monday was wash day and the garments had been worn for the previoius 6 days straight. Clothing brushes were also used to "sweep" the surface dirt off (thanks to the starch this was an easy task comparably to washing day)

    I'm of course not suggesting we live like Victorians, or starch everything, just a bit of insight into how others have done it. there is a good read called "the victorian home" available at your library. You can learn ALOT about how the "old timers" did it. Also, Encyclopedia of Country living has awesome frugal living tips, and Foxfire Series has some neat biographical conversations with "old timers" who describe in detail how they did things "way back when"

    Something I have been considering is all the non-natural fibre clothing I have. Cotton from now on. it will also eliminate the need for all those fancy "detergent" washing soaps/powders/liquids as opposed to plain old soap.

    just my two cents... have fun!
     
  • Comment #28 (Posted by Theresa)

    About the odors, both my mother and I use baking soda in the wash and vinegar in the rinse. It takes away most all nasty smells. We have been doing this for years as my Grandmother is incontinent. I believe it would work great on baby clothes too. The vinegar does have some antibacterial and whitenenig properties also.
     
  • Comment #29 (Posted by Marcia)

    Someone recommended this site - very informative. Would using the homemade washing powder (incl. borax) be safe in Septic Sytems?
     
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