8 tips for environmentally friendly washing

Every time we do laundry, we consume energy and water. In addition, various substances in conventional detergents pollute the environment. Even small changes to our usual laundry habits can help us wash more sustainably and save money at the same time.

1. Fill your washing machine

Your washing machine uses the same amount of energy whether it is half empty or full. So please make sure you fill your washing machine drum.

2. Does it really need to be washed?

Every wash cycle costs resources, microplastic fibers are released from synthetic clothing, and the environment is also polluted by the wastewater. That's why we can only wash sustainably if we reduce the number of wash cycles.

Fortunately,

this is easier than you might think and also protects our clothes. Instead of throwing the T-shirt you wore to the office straight into the laundry basket when you get home, you can hang it up and let it air out a little. Then you can definitely wear it again when you go shopping later.

3. Cool washing & Save money

In the past, when washing machines were not as efficient as they are today, clothes were washed at high temperatures. This was necessary to remove stains and bacteria from the laundry. Thanks to technological advances in washing machines, this has changed, and modern detergents are now advanced enough to wash without pre-washing and at lower temperatures. This not only saves energy costs, but is also good for the environment.

A 30°C program is usually sufficient for everyday clothes. Stubborn stains can z.B . be easily pretreated with a vegan Washo stain remover . Although low-temperature programs are good for the environment, you should also do a 60°C+ wash from time to time. This promotes the cleanliness of the washing machine and kills germs.

4. Economy program: longer but environmentally friendly

Washing machines have a lot of buttons. Be honest—how many of them do you use? Most Householdpeople don't use different wash programs or additional functions. But we can save a lot of electricity with the economy program alone.

It seems contradictory that the economy program takes much longer to wash and uses less electricity and water than the standard program. The reason for this is that the water is heated to a lower temperature in the "Eco" program. A test by Stiftung Warentest showed that bacteria are also removed in the economy program.

5. Biodegradable detergents – always!

Conventional detergents still contain unnecessary additives and microplastics. Much of this can hardly be filtered out of the wastewater and thus ends up directly in our ecosystem. As a result, microplastics are polluting the oceans – they have even been found in Antarctica. Other substances such as phosphates and chlorine bleach also pollute our waters and thus our natural environment unnecessarily.

It therefore makes perfect sense to use detergents that are free from harmful ingredients and unnecessary chemical additives. Likez.B . Washo laundry strips. They are not only easier for you, but also better for the environment.

6. Use a laundry bag and reduce microplastics

You can significantly reduce the amount of microplastics in the water by using a laundry bag or washing machine filter. This is because they catch the microplastic particles that are released from clothing during washing, especially from synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon, and prevent them from entering the environment in the first place. Instead of putting your laundry directly into the drum, simply put it in the bag first and then pop it into the washing machine.

7. How important is the dryer to you?

The dryer is the biggest energy guzzler when it comes to washing. So if you want to wash sustainably, you should use the good old clothesline or a drying rack. If you really can't do without a tumble dryer, natural energy savers such asz.B . Washo Natur tumble dryer balls canz.B., at least significantly reduce drying time and thus save valuable resources. Simply put the natural sheep's wool balls in the dryer with your laundry and you'll save energy and money.

8. Curd soap for stubborn stains

Aggressive detergents can also remove stubborn stains, but the environment pays a high price for their use. The gentle alternative is to pre-treat our laundry briefly to remove stubborn stains before washing. This way, our laundry gets clean without having to resort to harsh chemicals. What's more, pre-treatment takes a few minutes at most.

Washo stain remover soapis biodegradable, free from microplastics, and enriched with soap nut extract. This means it can gently remove even the most stubborn stains from your favorite clothes.