As environmental awareness continues to increase, many people are looking for practical ways to reduce their ecological footprint, starting at home. Laundry contributes significantly to water and energy waste. At iShine dry cleaners, we’re committed to helping Londoners adopt more responsible habits with these eco-friendly laundry tips.
Whether you visit a laundrette in London or do your laundry at home, these sustainable practices will help protect the planet.
Tip#01 – Wash Less Frequently
The easiest eco-friendly laundry tips for laundering clothes are to add time between washes. Most clothing items, such as jeans, jackets, and jumpers, can be worn multiple times before needing to be washed. This not only saves water and energy but also conserves the fabric’s integrity, which helps the garment retain its appearance over time.
Tip#02 – Using Cold Water
Another tip would be to wash using cold water. Cold water is gentler on fabrics, and modern cleansing agents are just as proficient. My iShine dry cleaning advisors advise on the use of cold washes to save energy and reduce the amount of damage to the fabric.
Tip#03 – Eco-friendly Detergents
The type of detergent soap used plays an essential role in sustainable laundry practices. Opt for eco-friendly or biodegradable soaps based on plants that do not contain phosphates, dyes, or scented synthetic liquids. These products have no environmental impact, as certified with the EPA Safer Choice label, and any products with similar credentials.
Tip#04 – Air Dry
For the garments’ long life, save energy by skipping the dryer and air drying garments. Such appliances consume a huge amount of energy and can be rough on clothing. Air drying or hanging laundry on a line/rack greatly reduces this impact while prolonging the life of these clothes.
Tip#05 – Load Full
If you have a busy schedule, running a washing machine with only a couple of clothes is absolutely not economical. Wait until you have a full load. This will reduce the water and energy the machine needs per item and raise the overall productivity of your laundry.
Learn more: Why Dry Cleaning Is Better for Your Delicate Clothes?
Tip#06 – Front-Loading Machines
Opting for a front-loading washing machine is by far the most water and energy-efficient. Clothes also tend to be cleaner with a front loader because the rinse cycle is far superior to the wash cycle in top loaders.
Tip#07 – Try Wool Dryer Balls
When using a clothes dryer, softeners and dryer sheets can be replaced by wool dryer balls. These reduce drying times, soften clothes, and reduce static cling without the use of harsh chemicals. It’s a simple switch that offers great benefits for the environment.
Tip #08 – Use Natural Materials
Fabrics such as wool, cotton, and linen outperform blended and synthetic textiles regarding one’s skin and the ecosystem. Biologic Fibers are even less pure in these terms, since natural fibers that are degradable need less industrial processing. They are also easier to remove without aggressive detergents, and the preferred cleaning method is dry cleaning due to the fragility of these textiles.
Tip #09 – Do not Use Softeners
Certain softeners exhibit harmful components that are caustic to skin and water sources. Softeners that use white vinegar or essential oils fused with water pose a diminished risk to the fabric and are less hazardous chemically.
Tip #10 – Add Microfiber Filter
Every wash of synthetic clothing releases microplastics into the water system. A microfiber filter or laundry ball, such as Cora Ball, can significantly mitigate this organic loss. To achieve our sustainable aims, iShine Dry Cleaners supports the idea of integrating microfiber filtering devices into household and commercial washing machines.
Conclusion
Shifting to an environmentally friendly laundry detergent does not require significant changes. A few minor alterations can significantly impact the surrounding environment. Not only are these eco-friendly laundry tips, but they also benefit your clothes and the earth. Professionals, like iShine dry cleaners, help you move one step further toward a cleaner and greener London.
