In this day and age, many people are concerned about the environment. It is not surprising that households are making the effort to reduce their carbon footprint. If you’re someone who wants to make a difference, you can start in your laundry room. A lot of society does not realize how doing much laundry affects the environment. But every load can hurt the environment.

Making a few changes to your home’s laundry room and how you do laundry can make a huge difference. Use the following tips to help you make your laundry room eco-friendly.

Only Launder Full Loads

Everyone needs clean clothes, household linens, and towels. But there is no reason to run your washer and dryer for a small load of laundry. All that does is waste water and energy. It is in your best interest to be proactive and plan out when you will do laundry.

Waiting until you have a full load of laundry, whether whites or colored items, is always a good idea. The same can be said about washing bedding or towels. When you want an eco-friendly laundry room, don’t waste resources just laundering a few things.

Pay Attention to Your Laundry Detergent

The majority of laundry detergent found in grocery stores and big-box stores has numerous problems. Clothes may come out clean when using these detergents, but they contain a lot of chemicals. The chemicals from the detergent become grey water that flows out of a house after a load of laundry is done.

Committing to using an eco-friendly laundry detergent can go a long way. Finding the right eco-friendly laundry detergent can take some time and effort. There are detergents that are advertised as being green, but they actually are not.

Eco-friendly laundry detergent has come a long way. Many of these detergents clean clothes just as well as traditional detergents. However, they do not contain artificial fragrances and chemicals.

Avoid Washing Clothes Too Often

 Too many believe in the misconception that clothes have to be washed after one wearing. Many items of clothing, especially denim items, don’t have to be laundered after each wear. Washing clothes more often than needed is not good for the environment.

Frequent washing is also not good for a person’s wardrobe. Over-washing can result in clothing wearing out much earlier than necessary. If clothes are not stained or soiled, they typically do not have to be laundered after every wear.

Upgrade Your Washer and Dryer

 If your current washer and dryer are in good condition, you don’t need to replace it. But if you have an older set that won’t last much longer, carefully choosing new appliances is a good idea. When you need to buy a new washer or dryer, spend a little bit more to get the most energy-efficient model.

An energy-efficient washer will use less water for each washing cycle. Likewise, a highly energy-efficient dryer will consume less electricity or gas. In the long run, energy-efficient appliances save a lot of money. You can also have the peace of mind of knowing that you’re helping the environment.

Consider Hanging Your Clothes Out to Dry

 Most households have a dryer, but that doesn’t mean that you have to use it. During the warm summer months and during good weather, you can hang your clothes out to dry. Most materials do well drying outside, and you can avoid having your dryer run for an extended period of time.

Clothes dried on a clothesline typically do very well. A clothesline may not technically be in your laundry room. However, setting up a clothesline in your yard or on your patio is very affordable. When the sun is shining, your laundry will dry in a timely manner without using any type of energy.

Use a Green Wash and Fold Service

 So many people lead very busy lives and may not even have time to do their own laundry. If you’re in this position, a green wash and fold service can be a great option. You can drop off your laundry or even have it picked up and delivered.

With an eco-friendly wash and fold service, you don’t have to worry about how green you are at home. The company that you use will launder all of your clothes and household items in a way that does the least damage to the environment.

After using an eco-friendly wash and fold service, you will receive your clean laundry. It will be ready to be placed in your dresser or closet. You can rest assured that everything was cleaned and dried in the most green way possible.

Don’t Forget About Dry Cleaning

 Dry cleaning is something that is out of the realm of a laundry room. But you can still make eco-friendly choices about how dry-clean only pieces are cleaned. Traditional dry cleaning is well known for having issues due to the types of chemicals that are used.

If you have clothing that needs to be dry cleaned, search for an eco-friendly dry cleaner in your area. There are many dry cleaners that are turning toward green methods to carefully launder delicate materials that can’t be put in a standard washing machine.

Eco-friendly dry cleaning does cost a little more, but it is well worth the expense. You will know that your dry-cleaning only items are gently laundered in a way that doesn’t involve dangerous chemicals. If you’re serious about being green, you will appreciate eco-friendly dry cleaners.

Final Thoughts

 Creating an eco-friendly laundry room is not simple or easy. But it is well worth the effort. The little things that you do at home can make a big difference over time. The sooner that you choose to make laundry eco-friendly, the better. You may not see results right away, but you are helping to make a difference.

Sources:

 https://archive.curbed.com/2020/4/21/21187410/green-laundry-detergent-products-tips-sustainable

 https://www.treehugger.com/how-to-go-green-laundry-4858690