5 ways to reduce your impact on laundry day

You can reduce the environmental impact of doing laundry by adopting good habits. We hope you'll incorporate some—or all—of the points below into your laundry routine. If you already do them all, we salute you! 🫡

Easy ways to reduce your impact on laundry day:

1. Wash with cold water (most of the time)

Did you know that 90% of the energy used to do laundry comes from heating up the water? For regular loads with no stains, use cold water with detergent to save energy. We promise this will give you an effective clean!

Reserve warm (or hot) water washes for items that need a deeper clean like towels and bedding. Wait until you have a full load before running the washer.

2. Wash less often

Clothes don't need to be washed after each wear. If possible, get one or two more wears in before tossing items in the hamper. Let your eyes and nose guide you!

If there are no visible stains or noticeable smells, you can re-wear your clothes. You can also use a steamer to freshen up clothing in between washes.

3. Air dry when possible

Do you live somewhere with four seasons? Line drying doesn't end when the cool temps begin! Line drying can be done outdoors and indoors.

Our team loves this clothesline, which can be mounted on the walls indoors with screws or Command™ strips. It's made from recycled fishing ropes and nets (as are the matching clothespins).

You can also use a collapsible drying rack to lay out quick drying fabrics.

4. Avoid single-use products like dryer sheets

Reusable wool dryer balls are a great alternative to single-use dryer sheets. A high quality set will last you hundreds of dry cycles, not to mention, they won't be laced with synthetic fragrances the way dryer sheets are, which is better for your health.

5. Upgrade to ENERGY STAR equipment

Old school washers and dryers are built like beasts, so no need to upgrade if it isn't time yet. But once you're in the market for new equipment, consider buying ENERGY STAR certified.

The washers consume about 33% less water, the dryers don't over dry and you'll see less wear and tear on your clothes. Plus, the reduced energy usage will cut down on your energy bills. That's a win-win for your wallet and the Earth!

**
Words by Mutia Adisoma
Photos by Francesca Rao
Gif by Gerald Riedler