How to Make Your Laundry More Eco-Friendly

The average household does almost 300 loads of laundry each year, consuming about 6,000 gallons of water. Considering each load of synthetic fibers produces 750,000 microplastics - tiny pieces of plastic that wash into the ocean - that’s a very UN-eco conscious laundry system.

Let’s face it - no one ever taught us how to do laundry, let alone make it eco friendly. But it’s never too late to learn, and there has never been a more important time to learn than now.

Textiles and laundry contribute to 35% of the world’s pollution. With climate change looming in our near future, it’s important we all do our part to lessen the impact on the environment.

And this is why at OrangeBag, we are one of the few toxin-free, sustainable laundry delivery services in Los Angeles. Because as a business, lessening our environmental footprint makes a bigger dent on the planet - and that’s important to us. Our washers use 30% less energy, and we use toxin-free detergent, both important factors in helping the environment.

But what can you do if you do your laundry at home? It turns out a lot. Here are 6 tips to make your laundry more eco-friendly.

1. WEAR CLOTHING MORE THAN ONCE

Wearing your clothes more than once before putting them in the laundry basket makes a big difference. The United Nations Environment Program discovered that you can consume up to five times less energy by wearing your jeans at least three times, washing them in cold water, and skipping the dryer or the iron.

Of course, not everything can be worn more than once. We recommend using our handy wash guide to see how to be eco friendly while still being clean.

2. USE A TOXIN-FREE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Conventional detergents can contain ingredients that aren't good for you, your clothes, or the environment. Toxic chemicals like phosphates and formaldehyde appear in conventional detergents, stain removers, and dryer sheets, and contain synthetic chemicals linked to endocrine disruption, developmental toxicity, and other health concerns.

Look for eco-friendly, biodegradable and phosphate-free detergents made from plant- and vegetable-based ingredients (instead of petroleum-based), which means they're healthier for the planet, from production to rinse cycle.

3.MAXIMIZE YOUR WASHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY

If you have a top-loading washing machine, chances are it uses twice as much water per load than a front-loading machine. Front-loading washing machines that have the Energy Star logo typically use between 18 and 25 gallons per load, compared to 40 gallons for older machines.

But if a new washing machine isn’t in your budget, there are still things you can do to make your washer energy efficient. First, wash using cold water. It turns out 90 percent of energy used for washing clothes goes to heating the water, costing you $100 or more every year.

Next, be sure to wash only full loads of laundry, which ensures that your machine is operating at peak efficiency.

4. USE A CLOTHESLINE OR WOOL DRYER BALLS TO MAXIMIZE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Clothes dryers are second only to refrigerators in household energy use, so cutting back on drying will reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Line drying is the best environmental option - but let’s face it - who wants to or has time to hang their clothes on a line and wait for them to dry?

The next best option is using wool dryer balls! Wool dryer balls take the place of chemical-laden, polluting dryer sheets, help to reduce static clean, and keep your clothes separated, and help dry clothes faster!

5. CHOOSE NATURAL FIBERS

Synthetic fibers like polyester fleece, acrylic, and nylon, contain thousands of microscopic pieces of plastic - and when they are washed - that plastic washes into the ocean, never to biodegrade. It poisons marine life, contributes to climate change, and poisons our food supply. You can help the plastic pollution problem by choosing organic cotton, wool, linen or other natural fibers for your clothing and bedding.

6 USE AN ECO FRIENDLY DRY CLEANERS

Most dry cleaners use a chemical called perc (short for perchloroethylene) that research has linked to cancer and other health problems. It’s damaging to our health, the health of the workers, and the health of the environment.

At OrangeBag, we use a liquid silicone, a safe, natural product derived from natural sand. Not only is it safe for the environment, it’s better for your clothes! It has no smell, unlike conventional dry cleaners. It is chemically inert; which means that it does not interact with fabric fibers at all. Therefore whites won’t yellow, colors won’t fade, fabrics stay soft, and you never see shrinkage.

ECO FRIENDLY LAUNDRY

It doesn’t take a lot to make your laundry routine more eco friendly, energy efficient, and cost efficient!

But if you don’t want to make the changes, you can just leave it to the professionals - and we’ll clean and deliver your clothes and ensure it is in a toxin-free, eco-friendly way. Just schedule a pickup and tell mother earth, “You’re welcome.”