Make sure your washer and dryer are Energy Star rated for maximum energy and water efficiency.

Grab a cord, some clothes pins, and hang that laundry to dry. I actually hang my clothing year round. If it’s too cold outside, you can hang your clothing directly on hangers, and hang them on the shower rod to dry. This also saves time – right from the washer to closet.

In the summer, do your laundry in the early morning or later in the evening. This will cut energy costs because your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep things cool.

Wash full loads only to conserve water and energy.

Wash everything on cold. It’ll work, even if you’re washing diapers. Yup, it will.

Use eco-friendly laundry detergent and skip dryer sheets (mainly these are a waste). If you like fresh laundry out of the dryer, sprinkle a few drops of organic essential oil onto a washcloth, and place it in the dryer.

Skip the fabric softener and add one-half cup of baking soda to your rinse cycle OR choose an eco-friendly fabric softener.

ALWAYS skip traditional bleach.

If you send items out make sure you look for a more earth-friendly dry cleaner.

What else can you think of?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

What’s wrong with traditional dry cleaning?

Traditional dry cleaning uses the solvent perchloroethylene (perc), classified by the EPA as toxic. And 85% of cleaners still use it.

Perc is a chlorinated hydrocarbon that can contaminate soil and groundwater, and it’s been shown to cause cancer in lab rats. Since perc is supposed to be removed from clothes during the cleaning process, workers at dry cleaners where perc is used face greater health risks than customers. However, if clothes smell like solvent, they should be reprocessed. Tricky thing is that you can’t always smell perc. Plus, if perc is polluting the earth, then everyone is affected, not just dry cleaning customers.

Environmentally friendly dry cleaning options:

•Wet cleaning (water solvent)

•Co2 (liquid carbon dioxide solvent, same as used to decaffeinate coffee) Process does not produce any new Co2.

Find cleaners using these methods. Many of these greener cleaners are located in California. If unavailable for you, ask for these methods in your area. Consumers are in control, so exercise your power.

Please check back later today for a post about “green” cleaners to watch out for.

Image via flickr.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family