already covered in previous posts: general water saving tips, saving water in the kitchen, and saving water in the bathroom … today, i discuss:

how to do laundry … (and save water) …

general washing tips …

* i think the most important tip i can give straight away is that clothes can be worn more than once … even more than 2x or 3x … if clothing is stained or odouriferous, then it is understandably ready for a washing … however, the majority of people avoid re-wearing clothing due to purely aesthetic reasons … if your clothes aren’t dirty, fight the urge to throw them into the laundry pile … cutting back on the number of times you do laundry and the size of your loads is the best way to cut back on water use … also, the more you wash your clothes, the faster they wear …

* if you stain a piece of clothing, spot-clean the offending blemish, and re-wear the article of clothing if it is otherwise still clean …

* use cool or cold water as often as possible to clean your clothes … this will save energy as well as your clothing … elastics and colours wilt and fade in hot water … the longer you keep your clothes, the more money you’ll save from having to replace them …

* if your clothes are really dirty, soak them in detergent and warm water overnight before washing instead of running a “double cycle” in your machine …

* use biodegradable laundry detergent …

* mix a small amount of baking soda and/or borax to the laundry water so you use less detergent …

* don’t be averse to using a wash board … these inexpensive, portable contraptions are effective and efficient for washing a small number of items …

an old school washboard & wash basin

the washing machine …

* only run your washing machine when you have a full load …

* set the water level to the lowest possible level for each load …

* avoid using additional chemicals, such as clothes softeners, to your loads … adding vinegar to laundry water is a surprisingly effective (and more environmentally friendly) softening agent … simply add 4 litres (or 1 gallon) + 20 drops of lavender essential oil (& shake well) to a large laundry load …

* allow your washing machine to drain into the laundry sink … then collect the soapy wash water in a bucket and re-use to clean surfaces (e.g., tiles, floors, etc.), soak other articles of laundry, and/or throw down the toilet to keep the plumbing clean and clear … collect the suds-free rinse water to water your house and garden plants, or to wash your pets …

* if you’re considering replacing your washing machine, first make sure your current one is irreparable … appliances are toxic litter and it’s important to minimize the number of new appliances that are manufactured and sold …

* if you’re shopping for a new washing machine, look for the most affordable energy-and water-efficient model, plus one that has load-size adjustments … front-loading machines are reputably more (up to 40%) energy- and water-efficient than older models … remember to consider more than just the ticket price when you weigh out the costs … an energy- and water-efficient model will save you money on energy and water bills (up to 25% or more each year!) … factor in short-term investment for the purchase of the appliance as well as long-term savings for the operation of the appliance …

* believe it or not, you can actually skip the washing cycle if you soak not-so-dirty clothes in soapy water for several hours … then, use only the rinse and spin features of the washing machine to pre-dry your wares … you will save an incredible amount of water and electricity …

an antique washing machine ... appreciate your automatic clothes washer if you are fortunate enough to have access to one ... this technology has come a long way ... keep in mind that billions of people have never even seen an automatic washing machine, let alone used or owned one ...

the dryer …

* hang up your clothes on an outdoor or indoor clothes line or rack whenever possible …

* run your dryer only if you have a full load (but don’t overload it; you will waste more electricity this way) …

* use the lowest possible heat setting … this will also save your clothes (especially delicate fabrics, elastics, iron-on prints, colours, clothing shape + size, and sequins, etc.) …

* i’ll blog more about dryers later …

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next blog entry (friday july 3rd) will be about how to minimize water consumption outdoors …