Some good things to know from Carbon Conscious Consumer:

•About 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water.

•Push the “cold/cold” button on your washing machine for 80% of the loads you do this month. By doing 4 out of 5 loads in cold water you’ll cut 72 pounds of CO2 emissions this month alone.

•Keep washing 80% of the loads in cold for a year and you’ll save more than $60 in energy costs for the year ($100 a year if you live in regions with high electricity costs).

•Use the correct amount of detergent. Too many bubbles make your machine work harder and use more energy.

•If buying a washer, look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star clothes washers clean clothes using half the energy and half the water compared to standard washers. Energy Star models also spin the clothes better, resulting in less drying time.

If you’re worried about washing a garment in cold when the label calls for warm, don’t be. Cold is the safest temperature for washing clothes. And despite what some manufacturers may lead you to believe, you don’t need a special cold-water detergent. I’ve been washing my clothes on cold with regular (phosphate-free) detergent for years. No special formula is needed.

Do you wash your clothes on cold?

Image via MorgueFile.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family