Get a wash load of savings by going green in the laundry room with these earth-friendly tips and tricks. Not only will you save energy and the earth, you’ll probably save some money too!

1. Go earth-friendly.

Protect your health and the planet by using eco-friendly, plant-based, concentrated detergents that and are non-toxic, safe, and biodegradable. Try Seventh Generation’s Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Detergent. Created with care to lift & remove stubborn stains, dirt, and grease, this unique formula contains plant-derived cleaning agents and enzymes, and works well in both hot and cold water.

2. Wash when full.

Save time, energy and water  by only doing full laundry loads. Also, not every piece of clothing needs to be washed every time you wear it. Jeans for example can go a few wears, while underwear should only be worn once!

3. Go for cold.

If we all used cold water for doing laundry, we could stop a staggering amount of carbon dioxide from polluting our environment. Consider using cold water exclusively. Bonus: it will also lower your heating bill.

4. Choose better bleaches.

Ditch chlorine-filled bleaches in favor of natural, oxygen-based based bleaches, which won’t harm the environment or you (or your clothes). They can often be used as stain treaters and soaking agents, too. Try Nature Clean All Natural Liquid Bleach. Naturally formulated without chlorine, phosphates, enzymes, perfumes – this liquid bleach degrades fully without using up the oxygen supply of surrounding aquatic life.

5. Boost your detergent with baking soda.

Baking soda softens hard water, improving how your detergent functions. Add to it some essential oils — which have natural antibacterial and antifungal   benefits — to particularly smelly loads like your kids’ sports clothes or pet bedding.

6. See spot go (naturally).

Skip conventional commercial spot removers that contain harmful ingredients and try safe and earth-friendly ones instead. You can also try some DIY alternatives, such as applying lime and salt to rust stains. Try Laundry Tarts’ Sweet Spot Stain Remover Bar. Based on the old-fashioned principle of washboard and basin, The Laundry Tarts took Nana’s recipe and brought it to your laundry room! The Sweet Spot Stain Remover Bar works wonders on every day stains and it’s even safe for cloth diapers and delicate fabrics.

7. Soften sans softeners.

Instead of using fabric softener, many of which contain toxic chemicals, add 3/4 of a cup of vinegar to your final rinse cycle. It balances the pH in the detergent to leave your clothes oh-so-soft.

8. Have the guts to use balls.

Unlike even natural dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners, dryer balls last for multiple loads and are therefore extremely eco friendly. They also save time and energy by cutting down on drying time by an average of 25% per load. They also help reduce static and wrinkles. Try Eco Nuts Wool Dryer Balls. PVC free, pure wool dryer balls that soften your laundry naturally without the chemicals of conventional fabric softeners.

9. Hang ‘em out to dry.

Foldable drying racks, often available in stainless steel or wood, or retractable indoor clotheslines can readily fit into any laundry room or bathroom for easy use. Or, if you want the neighbours to know just how eco-friendly you are, use a traditional outdoor clothesline.

10. Get up-to-date

If your washer and dryer are legally allowed to go for a beer, it’s probably time to replace them. Older top-loading models use twice as much water as newer front-loading ones. And since the majority of energy is spent heating water, you don’t want twice as much water to heat with each load.

Well.ca

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