December 2019
Caring for your clothes is a fundamental part of their lifecycle but doing so sustainably requires various considerations. In this manual entry, we will walk you through things you need to know to handle your laundry considerately - and not only for the environment, but also your wallet!
WASHING YOUR CLOTHES: PRE-CONSIDERATIONS
Think about whether the item you are about to wash actually needs a wash. Garments often end up in the machine after one wear, when all they need is to be aired out. This saves resources and prolongs your clothing.
Some garments, like jeans, need washing rarely or even not at all.
If it’s only a few items that need washing, try doing it by hand to save resources.
Wringing can damage some clothes though, making the hand wash option on machines a good alternative.
A garment’s tag shows how best to wash it; following these instructions will prolong its lifespan. Try to stick to these instructions in order to get the most wear out of your favourite clothing pieces, and to avoid any potential damages by handling the clothes incorrectly.
WASHING MACHINES
Energy Pass - Enterprise Euopre Network
When buying a washing machine, there are several things to keep in mind – especially since modern appliances have more environmental designs:
Look for at least an A++ rating, according to the European Energy Pass certification, which guarantees that the appliance is energy-efficient.
An eco 60°C option (or similar programs which many washing machines have nowadays) allows you to save energy when washing at higher temperatures.
Ensure it is a mashine that weights the load to calculate the exact water, time and detergent needed for it.
Washing Instructions - Textile Industry Affairs
For dirtier clothes, it’s worth pre-treating any stains so that they come out clean. Try using natural stain-removers such as baking soda, lemon juice, distilled white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, borax or talcum powder. Adding regular table salt to your wash can also act as a mild abrasive for tougher stains.
Modern machines have reached an efficiency that makes washing with hot water unnecessary – 30°C is usually enough and avoids using more energy.
It can be necessary to wash some clothes at 60°C once a month, to avoid a biofilm of micro-organisms forming, which makes laundry smell bad – opt for the eco programme when doing so.
Since one wash uses about 50 litres of water on average, ensure that it’s a full load. Be careful not to overfill, as this makes the machine inefficient.
CLEANING AGENTS
Laundry agents tend to contain harmful substances that contaminate groundwater, and is worsened by the fact that most of us use them wrongly. Their synthetic fragrances can even cause allergic reactions.
Avoid washing powders made using crude and palm oils, contributing to drilling and deforestation.
However, powders are always better than liquid since less is needed, even for hard water, and less packaging is used.
Ditch the softener. The phosphates in softening agents can lead to over-fertilisation issues.
Look in supermarkets, organic shops or online for detergents free from harmful substances and environmentally certified with the EU Eco Lable, such as Ecover, Smol, Sodasan, Sonett or BioD.
Try soapnuts, the fruit of the Koelreuteria paniculata tree. Put them in a bag and toss them in your washing machine. Soapnuts are called zero-waste laundry detergent because you can compost them when the nuts don’t produce soap anymore.
Websites like Smarticular show you how to make your own environmentally-friendly washing powder and detergent, which can be as easy as mixing soda, soap, oil, water and scent.
Add vinegar to your wash for a simple alternative to detergents and softeners; the smell won’t linger in fabrics.
Soaking whites in a litre of water with 1-2 spoonfuls of soda will brighten them up again.
DRYING & Ironing
Not every item of clothing needs to be ironed. However, if you need to iron, consider the following:
You do not need a tumble dryer, hang up your clothes instead. After fridges, tumble dryers are actually one of the most energy-hungry electric devices in our household.
Iron the clothes while still damp. This way, you don't need to use the steam function, which saves energy, water and time.
Decalcify your iron from time to time to extend its lifespan.
Turn off your iron, when unused for long periods of time.
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