Although it may not be common knowledge, conventional laundry methods can be quite harmful to the environment. First of all, most commercial laundry detergents are petroleum based meaning they don’t break down when released into the water system, and the use of washing machines or dryers require a lot of energy input. Luckily there are some things you can do to lower your ecological footprint during your laundry routine. Here are some tips that can help you save money while incorporating an eco friendly laundry regimen:
- Use eco friendly laundry detergents – You can either purchase biodegradable plant-based detergents, or make your own eco friendly laundry detergents at home.
Minimize your water usage – This can be accomplished by using a more efficient front loading washing machine and only doing laundry when you have a full load to maximize the efficiency. - Lower your energy usage – Washers and dryers are enormous energy wasters. Three ways you can significantly reduce the energy usage are;
- Hand wash your clothing
- Wash your clothing in cold water when using a washing machine
- Hang dry your clothing instead of using a dryer
Homemade Eco Friendly Laundry Detergents
Aside from the vast amount of energy used in conventional laundry methods, most detergents that are available on the market can be harmful to the environment. Follow the directions below to make eco friendly laundry detergents which will be much less harmful to the environment:
Eco friendly liquid laundry detergent
-mix 1 cup of baking soda with ¼ cup of coarse salt
-pour this mixture into 6L of hot water and stir until it dissolves
-add 1 cup of liquid castile soap to the mixture and stir
-use ½ a cup of this detergent for a full laundry load
Powdered laundry detergent
-mix 1 cup of biodegradable soap flakes, ½ a cup of washing soda and ½ a cup of borax
-add 10 drops of essential oils to the mixture for a pleasant aroma
-use 2 tbsp of this detergent for a full laundry load
Eco Friendly Stain Removal Techniques
Most people think that you need detergents with strong chemicals to remove stains from your clothing. The reality is you can make your own stain removal formulas with common household products that will not harm you or the environment. To remove some of the most common stains that you may find on your clothing in an eco friendly manner, follow the instructions below:
(Note: test these solutions on an inconspicuous spot of your clothing first for colorfastness. For best results, treat stains as soon as possible)
Fruit, Wine, Coffee, Tea and Chocolate Stains
-moisten a dry cloth with club soda
-blot the stain with moistened cloth until the stain is removed then wash using an eco friendly laundry detergent
Blood Stains
-pour cold water over the blood stain
-cover the stain with baking soda and rub the area gently with a clean cloth or sponge
-run the stain under cold water again to remove baking soda. If stain persists, repeat this process until it is completely gone
-wash the clothing using an eco friendly laundry detergent
Oil and Grease Stains
-make a paste by mixing 2 parts baking soda to 1 part water
-rub paste on the stain and let dry
-once dry, wash the clothing using an eco friendly laundry detergent
Ink Stains
-soak the stained garment in milk for at least one hour
-make a paste with 2 parts white vinegar and 3 parts cornstarch
-put the paste on the stain and let it dry
-gently brush off the dried paste with a soft brush or sponge and wash with an eco friendly detergent
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