Lifestyle
Five earth-friendly laundry tips
If you want to become more environmentally responsible, these simple changes will help lessen the impact of our everyday habits on the planet.
“Everyone has the potential to change their environmental footprint; it’s about consciously making the decision to do so and taking the time to change certain habits…” says Mario Correia, brand manager for Personal Touch, the South African laundry care brand.
Start by following these five washing tips below.
- Line dry. Forget about using the tumble dryer and hang your clothes on the line instead. This will limit the amount of electricity used and help your clothes to last longer (fabric loses fibres from being knocked around in the tumble dryer). Line drying also means your clothes will benefit from the anti-microbial effects of the sun.
- Wash full loads. To avoid unnecessary energy consumption, make sure you only wash when you have a full load. This step will save you time, water, and electricity. Also remember that not every item needs to go into the laundry basket after one wear – some clothing (like jeans, jerseys, and jackets) can be hung up and worn again.
- Move on from plastic. If possible, opt for laundry products that don’t come in plastic. This hardy material can take up to 1 000 years to decompose and is a major cause of both land and ocean pollution. Personal Touch Washing Powder Sheets are environmentally friendly and contain 64% less plastic than a 2kg bag of washing powder. Their formula is gentle on washing machines, and the packaging is completely recyclable, so it won’t add to your environmental footprint.
- Choose natural fibres. Wearing clothes made from natural fibres can help to stop microscopic pieces of plastic being washed away from synthetic materials. Research has shown that marine life ingests these fibres and absorbs the plastic into their tissue, which affects them and the animals that eat them. Rather choose materials such as organic cotton, wool and bamboo for clothes and bedding.
- Use cold water. By washing your clothes with cold water, you’ll cut down on energy consumption. Up to 90% of energy consumed during a load of laundry goes to the use of hot water!
Taking small steps towards your green journey is the best way to start, adds Correia. “Simple changes can make a big difference when decided upon and stuck to.”
For more information, find Personal Touch on Instagram and Facebook @personaltouchafrica.
