Customers frequently wonder how to best take care of their new clothing. Some universals are healthy for the environment as well as helping to preserve garments. A Proctor & Gamble study found that 75–80% of the energy used during the lifespan of our apparel is used for washing and drying.
Here are some suggestions for reducing the environmental impact of your laundry and extending the lifespan of your clothes!
Do Less Laundry
A garment might not require laundering simply because you've worn it a couple of times. If you have a habit of throwing lightly used garments in the hamper, stop and think about whether they can still be worn.
On otherwise clean clothing, use a lint roller or adhesive tape to get rid of pet hair and fuzz.
So that you don't have to use excessive amounts of detergent and bleaching chemicals on washday, take care of spills and stains right away.
Clothing that should be stored on hangers between wears should be hung up. Fold goods that are prone to losing their shape, such knits and sweaters, then hang them on hooks.
Prepare yourself for a mess. Before doing any cooking, spontaneous gardening, or roughhousing with the kids, take a minute to change out of your nice clothing (or at the very least, don an apron).
Use ice-cold water.
Nearly 90% of the energy used for laundry is used to heat the water.
Use cold-water detergents; they are designed to be used instead of hot water to clean.
Even regular detergents frequently work well in cold water. Additionally, especially for items made of synthetic materials and elastic, your clothing will endure longer.
Greener Whites
Avoid using chlorine bleach if you can; it is extremely hazardous to both you and the environment.
Instead, attempt detergent spot cleaning and employ oxygen bleaching chemicals to brighten and whiten. This flexible all-purpose cleaner is derived from an environmentally safe dried version of hydrogen peroxide. We've successfully used it on a variety of items, including clothes, soiled sinks, and even our deck and grimy, mildewed wood siding.
The environmentally friendly sodium carbonate is also present in certain oxygen bleach preparations. It fortifies your detergent to cope with grease and embedded stains more efficiently when sold separately as washing soda.
Cleaner Cleaning
The results of a little extra effort and care will be garments that look better and last longer.
Clothing should be washed and dried inside-out to prevent colour fading.
Check the care labels, and wash like colours together. It's asking for problems to wash that red top with your whites.
To avoid abrasion and tangling, fasten buttons, close zippers, and secure hooks.
Wash undergarments and delicate knitwear in mesh bags.
Who wants to wash every few days, anyway? Full loads are more efficient than partial ones.
A few minutes of tumble drying using numerous tennis balls or dryer balls designed specifically for this purpose on a cool setting will give clothing a softer texture and cut down on drying time. Additionally helpful is adding a mug of vinegar to the rinse water.
If you don't have access to an outdoor space, consider buying a drying rack. They are useful in rainy conditions as well. Your garments will dry rapidly if they are kept in areas of your home that are well-ventilated and near heating sources.
Whenever you must use a dryer, Make sure the lint filter is free of debris, and if it has one, utilize the moisture sensor for faster drying.
In addition to using less energy, removing damp garments from the dryer can decrease or even do away with the need for ironing because they can be hand-shaped and smoothed. (Taking our hemp/tencel blend out when it's damp can prevent creases from forming from overdrying it!)
When you are faced with wrinkled clothing that would otherwise require ironing, utilizing a heated dryer can make sense. Try spinning them for a few minutes on the highest setting the fabric will allow, then hang them to cool.
Hanging slightly wrinkled clothing in hot bathrooms or lightly wetting them with water can also be beneficial. Remember that wrinkles can be eliminated by heat or dampness.
Steam as opposed to iron
We'll be up forward and honest: we don't ever iron our clothes. Most of the time, we assume that thoroughly shaken, air-dried clothes will work. However, if you're one of those persons who prefers their clothing to be free of any wrinkles, we suggest steaming rather than ironing. Your garments will be far less damaged by steaming because the heat from the machine does not directly contact the fabric. For more delicate fibres, like (ethical) silk, this is especially true. You should only use the traditional iron in an extreme case if steam alone is unable to erase the wrinkles.
Pay attention to the warnings about maintenance
You must first understand the type of material you are working with in order to properly care for your clothing. After all, the care requirements for various textiles vary. So make it a practise to read the labels on your clothing before you wash and buy it. This will not only help you become more conscious of what you eat and encourage you to purchase higher-quality goods, but it will also prevent your clothing from being harmed or shrinking due to incorrect washing and upkeep.