Make Laundry Earth-Friendly Again
Ah, laundry. Can’t live with it and, quite literally, can’t live without it. It’s too bad this essential practice can’t always be more fun. But luckily, it can be more earth-friendly.
Laundry uses a ton of resources and energy which can definitely impact the well-being of our environment and communities.
First, the facts.
An average family in the United States will do about 300 loads of laundry a year. That’s almost one load a day!
Laundry cycles account for approximately 8.3% of all US residential carbon emissions.
75% of laundry’s total carbon impact comes from machine drying your clothes. (source)
A single wash of laundry can release up to 700,000 tiny synthetic fibers into freshwater systems — microplastics are a big deal and have a huge impact on the natural environment!
Scented liquid laundry detergent and dryer sheets contain hazardous chemicals and emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), two of which are classified as carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency.
So, what is there to do? Well, here are three simple ways you can sustainably and affordably improve your laundry practices.
Tip #1: Opt for high-concentrate laundry strips.
Ultra-concentrated laundry strips are pre-measured, paraben-free, phosphate-free, carry no bleaches or dyes, dissolve easily in cold water, and are easily biodegradable, unlike many of the popular detergent pods you find at the store. Additionally, these cut down on our overall production of microplastics and consumption of those large, plastic detergent jugs — of which, an estimated 700,000 are dumped into landfills in North America each year.
I personally started using laundry strips three months ago and will never go back to other detergent options. Tru Earth offers a great, affordable option across the country. If you’re in Madison, Green Life Trading Co. offers great package-free laundry strips in addition to other high-quality plastic-free options.
Tip #2: Wash in cold water.
Okay, here’s a startling statistic: 90% of the energy electric washers use goes towards heating water. Read that again.
Washing in cold water alone can decrease your environmental impact by 10%. YES — TEN PERCENT. These days, most detergents will work in cold water but be sure to check the label before committing to something (see tip #1 for a GREAT option ;) Washing in cold water can also cut down on how much the materials in your clothes breakdown, which can decrease the number of microplastics (eh hem, see link above) going into our freshwater system and increase the life span of your favorite pieces! Win - win - win.
Tip #3: Ditch the dryer.
If you have major appliances in your home, it’s almost guaranteed that your dryer uses more energy than all of them. In fact, it’s 6% of the average household’s energy use. Air drying your clothes can help reduce your climate impact by a whopping 67%. In other terms, 447lbs of CO2 could be prevented each week by an average consumer if they hang dry all of their laundry. Convinced yet?
Sometimes, it can feel daunting to find a place to line dry items. If you can’t find a place to hang up a clothing line outdoors, you can easily hang items up on hangers on your shower curtain rail, draped over the tops of non-fabric chairs and furniture, or on a collapsible drying rack that you can move anywhere in your home.
Bonus tip: If you do use a dryer, swap those dryer sheets for wool dryer balls.
Not only do they last longer and create less waste but also, they help get your clothes dryer quicker. According to Energy.gov:
Wool or rubber dryer balls will help separate your clothes and get more air to them, cutting drying time. They can also reduce static so you don't need dryer sheets...The wool balls are said to absorb some moisture, further cutting drying time. We use these at my house and have seen a noticeable difference in the time it takes our clothes to dry.
Taking the first step.
These steps won’t solve all of our laundry-related sustainability issues but they will help a little. Making large changes in sustainability and towards climate change won’t rest on just one person doing everything perfectly but rather on many of us doing something imperfectly.
What other tips do you have? Comment your best eco-friendly laundry tips below!
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