Of course all our cleaning should be Eco friendly. Not just to help the planet but also to help us. Household cleaners account for the vast majority of accidental poisonings and cause long-term damage to us, our families and pets. Since laundry accounts for a huge amount of the average homes carbon footprint it makes sense to start the green cleaning there.
Here are my ten steps towards greener cleaner laundry.
Ditch the fabric softener and add a few drops of vinegar instead. We only need it to cover up the harsh detergent residue. Fewer chemicals, fewer artificial perfumes, fewer pennies!
Turn down the thermostat. Modern detergents do not need hot water to work. If you don't believe me just turn it down by 10° will save energy. If you're happy with the results (you will be) turn it down further.
Utilise the short cycles for loads which are not heavily soiled. We often 'over-clean' laundry which isn't really that dirty to begin with.
Never over-fill the machine. It will strain to spin properly and will be unable to mix the detergent, water and laundry enough to clean properly.
Never under-fill the machine either. If you don't have a full load don't load the washer!
Choose fully biodegradable safe detergents as ordinary products damage water systems and cost huge amounts of energy for the water treatment plants to purify.
Choose natural soaps and soap nuts. Totally all natural cleaning products reduce allergies for your family and are non-polluting to produce or dispose of.
Recycle your grey-water. Run the waste pipe from your washer is not a big job and can keep your garden watered all summer.
No chlorine bleach - EVER. Try oxygen bleaches, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice and sunlight to freshen your whites.
Pre-soak heavily soiled laundry. Soaking laundry overnight can mean the washer will do its work on only a short cycle and lets face it throwing the laundry in a bucket of soapy water overnight isn't that arduous is it?
Of course cleaning can get as green as you want but the simple steps above will ensure your laundry cleaning is Eco friendly by any-one's standards.
