In a world that’s growing increasingly aware of climate change, making greener life choices is becoming a priority for everyone. There are lots of ways to make your laundry routine more sustainable, and today we’re delivering everything you need to make 2023 your most planet-friendly year to date.
Keep reading this blog to discover how to make eco-friendly laundry detergent, plus tons of other green laundry tips!
How to Make Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent
This simple recipe strips eco-friendly laundry detergent back to basics, ideal if you’re looking for a product that serves the whole family. And, it’s free from unnecessary or harmful ingredients.
Here’s What You’ll Need:
1 cup of washing soda crystals
½ cup of baking soda
½ cup of powdered citric acid
¼ cup of sea salt or epsom salts
1 bar of castile soap (for scent)
Cheese grater
Jar for storage
How to Make Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent:
If you choose to use castile soap to add to the scent of your laundry detergent, start by grating 1 bar with your cheese grater. This will make sure it is small enough to dissolve into a soapy, scent-infused solution when added to the washer.
Combine the grated soap with 1 cup of soda crystals and ½ a cup of citric acid and baking soda in a bowl. Using a fork or a big serving spoon, mix well.
Add ¼ of a cup of sea salt or epsom salts and add to the mixture. Stir again until mixed.
Once the mixture is complete, use a wide funnel or DIY paper alternative to pour the detergent into a large jar for storage. Make sure to label carefully to avoid any laundry mishaps in future, and keep locked away from small children.
1-2 tablespoons or half a cup should be plenty for an average load of washing, depending on your machine at home. Use an extra tablespoon for larger, top loading machines. If you’d like to add even more scent to your wash, peppermint or lavender essential oils are popular options—just add a few drops and you’re good to go!
Green Laundry Tips to Make Your Home More Sustainable
Wash Clothes Less Often
Every time we wash our clothes, we don’t just use up water. Tons of energy are also expended, so it’s important to consider whether completing laundry as regularly as you do is really necessary.
Washing less often saves both water and energy, but it will also save you time and money too. Instead of putting a load in as soon as something needs to be cleaned, store up your household’s dirty clothes and tackle once a week.
To avoid stains setting in for good, pre-treat with the relevant stain remover and rinse, then add to the laundry pile for later. Check out our best home remedies for DIY stain removal for some great pre-treatment ideas!
Use Natural Drying Methods
When it comes to drying your clothes, using an expensive and energy-hungry machine can take its toll on the environment. The best way to wash and dry with sustainability in mind is to use nature to your advantage.
On sunny or windy days, hang your washing out first thing and allow it time to air-dry instead. This is a particularly useful method for sheets and towels that take up a lot of space indoors.
Struggling to get clothes dry in the colder months? Check out our tips for drying clothes in winter without a dryer.
Opt for Colder Washing Temperatures
Did you know that around 90% of the energy used by the washing machine during laundry goes towards heating the water? That’s just one of the reasons why cold water washing is a great solution to make your laundry more sustainable.
Pop your clothes and delicates into the machine with a cup of your eco-friendly laundry detergent and select a lower temperature than usual. Not only will this save money and reduce your impact on the planet, but it will also be kinder to your fabrics too.
Ditch the Dryer Sheets
If you’re hoping to make your laundry routine greener in 2023, ditching traditional dryer sheets is a great place to start. Not only are they often made using toxic carcinogens, but they’re also rarely reusable or recyclable.
To keep drying times to a minimum, why not use wool drying balls instead? They speed up the time it takes for your clothes to dry, all while reducing static cling in the process.
Want to make your own batch of reusable dryer balls? Check out our guide here.
Service Your Washing Machine Regularly
Washing machines that aren’t well looked after can cause a significant drain on the environment. Blocked filters or inefficient wiring can reduce performance, meaning a lot of the energy used up by the device is wasted. Even cleaning your washing machine can make a monumental difference!
Use Your Local Laundromat
While a trip to your local laundromat may not seem like the best way to make your laundry routine more planet-friendly, it can be when timed correctly. Often, washing machines at the laundromat are a lot more efficient than the ones we use at home, and they have a larger capacity.
Instead of carrying out a few washes a week at home, why not schedule a weekly or monthly drop-off at your local Broomfield laundromat? You’ll be able to get all of your clothes, sheets and towels clean in no time at all.
Remember, the best ways to keep energy wastage to a minimum include:
Use eco-friendly, high-efficiency detergents
Wash in cold temperatures where possible
Avoid fabric softeners that elongate drying time
Can’t get the result you’re looking for when Googling for ‘professional laundry near me’? Pay us a visit at WaveMAX Thornton—our team of friendly laundry assistants can’t wait to tell you about our services!
