Did you know making the necessary (and admittedly mundane) household task of doing laundry more environmentally friendly is not only good for the environment but your clothes as well?  Find out how to “greenify” your laundry and make your clothes brighter, whiter and last longer.

The Laundry Room: One More Way to Greenify your Home

1. According to EnergyStar.gov, the average American family does approximately 400 loads of laundry each year – that’s a lot of water and energy being used!  So whether you’re looking to upgrade or your old clothes washer has gone kaput, when it’s time to get a new one consider purchasing a washer with the ENERGY STAR label.  Such energy-efficient clothes washers can help cut water costs by more than half and energy costs by a third!
2. Switch to lower temperature settings; you’ll reduce the energy needed to heat the water for a hot cycle and prevent your clothes from fading.  Unless clothes are really soiled, use warm or cold water for wash cycles and cold water for rinse cycles (the temperature of the rinse cycle doesn’t affect the cleaning).
3. It may seem obvious but only run the washer when it’s to capacity.  Many families tend to run loads when the washer isn’t full; washing one large load will use less energy than washing two on lower settings.
4. Use an eco-friendly or organic detergent that is biodegradable, like Seventh Generation Free & Clear or All Small & Mighty Free Clear.   While they’ll clean your clothes without any harsh chemicals or irritating perfumes, keep in mind that you may have to use a more traditional, potent detergent for heavy stains.
5. Clean the dryer filter after each use to keep it maintain air flow and maximize dryer performance.
6. Avoid over-drying clothes (which wastes energy and slowly breaks down fabrics) by using the auto-dry setting if your dryer has one or taking clothes out while they are still slightly damp.
7. Consider hanging your clothes outside to dry during good weather: a free and fresh way to dry your clothes!  In a similar vein, if it’s not truly dirty, does it really need to be washed?  Women in Europe often hang clothing (especially those made of delicate fabrics) outside to air out so there’s no need to wash it.