Written by Jenny Catton
If you want to do your bit for the planet and create a greener household, a good place to start is with your laundry. Washing and drying creates a large amount of energy but there are a number of ways in which you can make the process more environmentally-friendly.
Here are some ways you can make wash day greener:
Wash at 30
Washing at 30 degrees uses around 40% less electricity than washing at 40 degrees, so it’s an easy change to make with a big effect.
Full Loads Only
Avoid small loads of one or two items and instead wait until you have a full load to make the most of the electricity used.
Choose Energy Efficient Appliances
Next time you replace your washing machine, check the energy efficiency before making a new purchase. Also choose a model that has specific economy settings.
Switch Your Detergent
Many laundry detergents are packed with ingredients such as bleaches and phosphates that can be harmful to the environment. There is however a wide range of environmentally-friendly detergents to choose from, so look out for these instead.
Switch Off the Tumble Dryer
Try to minimise the number of times you use a tumble dryer for drying clothes. On a sunny or windy day, hang laundry outside to dry and in winter make the most of heat from your radiators to dry your washing. If you do use a tumble dryer, you could invest in special dryer balls that cut the amount of time taken to dry clothes.
For more tips on being green at home, visit: www.thedailygreen.com
