Doing the laundry probably isn’t your favorite household chore, but there are many eco-friendly ways to go about it so you can minimize the hassle while saving on costs and reducing the impact your laundry loads have on the environment.
Image by Public Domain Photos on Flickr
Go natural
Laundry products made from natural ingredients tend to be free from chlorine bleach, synthetic fragrances, and optical brighteners, which may be harmful to the environment. Natural detergents are usually plant-based, contain biodegradable surfactants, and are especially formulated to work better in cold water.
Control the temperature
Speaking of the benefits of using cold water, did you know that around 90 percent of the energy spent on doing your laundry involves just heating up the water in your machine? For a more environmentally friendly solution, turn that dial down to “cold.”
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Load up
Reducing the number of times you load up the washing machine will save tons of water, energy, and money. If you find yourself spending more time in the basement washing more than eight loads of laundry per week, skipping on just one minimizes the hassle and can help you reduce your laundry costs by over 10 percent.
Upgrade your washer and dryer
This suggestion is not a valid excuse to go out and replace
your appliances if they’re running just fine! But if you’re truly looking to buy a new machine soon, opting for energy-efficient models can save both water and energy while lowering your utility bills.
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While we’re on the subject of upgrading your washing machine and dryer, Speed Queen® appliances do more than just help you keep your clothes clean. They’re specially designed to be more durable and efficient, so you can save more energy and shrink your utility costs. Even better, we here at Schewels are offering great deals on Speed Queen washers and dryers; each purchase gives you the chance to win a 7D/6N trip to Melbourne, Australia! For more details about the contest, click here.
Got other eco-friendly suggestions for laundry day? Share them in the comments below; we’d love to hear from you!