Have you ever wondered how to be more eco-friendly when it comes to washing your clothes? If so, you came to the right place! Even if you find yourself wearing the same outfit almost every day during COVID-19 (like me), somehow the laundry bins are still overflowing. Not to worry! Here’s how to knock that laundry out in the most sustainable way possible.

Eco-friendly Alternatives For Detergent

Your best bet is definitely powder detergent. Why, you may ask? Here’s the simple answer: Powder detergent contains more surfactants. Surfactants are little compounds that help the detergent to break down evenly throughout the clothes and they break down easily in the environment. But if you really want to go green with your laundry in a way that may be even more effective than powder detergent, look into biodegradable detergent. Biodegradable detergent creates less water pollution because it degrades within days of its use. An easy way to find biodegradable detergent is to look for plant-based detergent rather than petroleum-based.

You also can use white vinegar, as this has been a proven replacement for laundry detergent. Just add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser. The white vinegar will act as a fabric softener and will even keep your washing machine smelling fresh and clean. The best part is you will not smell any vinegar after! Most conventional fabric softeners and dryer sheets are not only toxic, but they also coat fibers making clothes and towels even harder to clean because they build up with fabric softener. With that being said, white vinegar is a great option for a replacement.

EXTRA TIP

Be sure to wash your clothes in cold water every time. Your washing machine uses 90% of its energy just to heat up the water. Not only will you be helping the environment by washing your clothes in cold water, but you will also be saving money on water heating costs as well!

 Alternatives To Dryer Sheets

Ever heard of wool dryer balls? Me neither, until I started researching alternatives for dryer sheets. Wool dryer balls are designed to take the place of dryer sheets and fabric softener. Fabric softeners coat fibers making clothes and towels harder to clean because they build up with the fabric softener. If you love your fabric softener and dryer sheets and love that scent that’s associated with clean laundry, you might find it challenging to make the switch to something natural if it’s unscented. Not to worry however: wool dryer balls are available with several different scents. They also reduce drying time, soften clothes for up to 1000 loads of laundry, there is no waste involved, and wool dryer balls are eco-friendly. They should not contain any dyes or perfumes. Wool is biodegradable and naturally antimicrobial, which prevents the dryer balls from beginning to smell over the course of several uses.

A List Of Scents You Can Add To Your Wool Dryer Balls

• citrus essential oils like lemon, orange, mandarin, bergamot, and grapefruit are amazing at cleaning dirt and grime, deodorizing, and adding a fresh and clean scent.

• tea tree essential oil is great for immune support as well as fighting against mold & mildew.  

• eucalyptus essential oil is a great option as eucalyptus tends to be very relaxing.

• lavender essential oil also has a very relaxing scent.

• peppermint or spearmint essential oils are stimulating with a cool, crisp aroma.  

• lemongrass essential oil has a soothing, comforting scent.

• rosemary essential oil helps disinfect and boost immunity.

• basil essential oil has an electrifying scent that pairs well with lemon.

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How To Save Energy While Drying Your Clothes

I know you have either seen a picture of a clothesline at some point in your life, or even have used one yourself. Clotheslines are a really good option for air drying your clothes, so that you can save energy by not using your dryer. If that doesn’t pique your interest, consider drying your clothes inside with an indoor clothes drying rack. You can also use a towel rack or shower curtain. Try not to hang your clothes on surfaces that may warp or rust when wet (this includes wood or metal). Most surfaces in your bathroom are waterproof so that may be a good place to start drying your clothes indoors. Outdoors you can hang a clothesline up on your porch or in your backyard or patio. I have a clothesline on my patio and it’s super easy to use and very efficient as well. I highly recommend giving it a go as it’s also a great way to help prevent your clothes from wrinkling while drying. Plus, air drying your clothes extends the lifetime of the clothing by reducing wear and tear in the dryer!    

Sustainable Storage Swaps For Laundry Room Organization

Detergent Storage 

 Take your laundry room to the next level with decorative storage for your soap! Just like the decorative soap dispensers we use in the bathroom and kitchen, your laundry detergent deserves the same love. The removable lid and scoop idea is perfect for powder detergent users. People who prefer liquid detergent might opt for the dispenser design. This laundry room upgrade offers the chance for you to start buying products less frequently and more in bulk.

Hanger Storage

It makes sense to store extra hangers in your laundry room. Especially when you live in a house with multiple people, everyone’s clothing requires different care. This convenient hanger storage organizer is the perfect addition to your laundry room! It looks sleek standing alone in a corner, or it is compact enough to stick in a closet out of sight.

Laundry Organizer

This might be the best organization tool you need in your laundry room! This incredible laundry organizer is divided into 4 sections, which I would assign as: Colors/darks, whites, towels/linens, and dry cleaning. You could even go as far as labeling each section so that nothing gets mixed up. This is a practical and efficient way to ensure laundry day gets done quick and easy.

What do you think of our laundry hacks? Will you be incorporating them into our routine? Let us know in the comments!

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