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I have always washed all my clothes in cold water—mostly because I'm just one person and I never have enough whites for a whole load of hot water. I'd rather throw everything in together and only take up two machines at the Laundromat than separate my lights and darks and spend the entire afternoon. So I'm thrilled to find out that washing all my clothes in cold is one of the easiest ways to go green: it cuts the money and energy used by 85 percent.
It's equally easy for me to switch to a biodegradable detergent—because just like with my home cleaners, I'm not so into the idea of harmful chemicals so close to my skin. I find a non-toxic, hypoallergenic brand made of cleaners derived from plants and stain removers that didn't come from animals. Even better: it's formulated to work in cold water, and super concentrated so I can use half as much.
The first load comes out smelling great and as clean as with any other brand I've used. I even try to cut back on the dryer use by hanging some of my shirts and gym clothes, though I'm limited by our small space. But all things considered, this has been one of the easiest green changes I've made—all the better to stick with it.
More about eco-friendly laundry:
How to Green your Laundry
The Green Laundry Experience
Landry Liquid Soap: How to Get the Last Drop Out
Get Hung Up on Hang Drying
Make Your Own Laundry Soap
TreeHugger Picks: Eco-Laundry
How To: Eco-Laundry
Buy the Book!
Ready, Set, Green: Eight Weeks to Modern Eco-Living
Blythe Copeland is a freelancer writer living on Long Island. Read more about her foray into the green life in her previous columns as she follows the plan set out in the book Ready, Set, Green: Eight Weeks to Modern Eco-Living.
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