Untitled Document
Laundry Room
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Auto Dry Cycle: Over
drying wears out your clothes and wastes energy. Stop your dryer when
the laundry is dry by setting the timer or using the auto dry cycle.
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Cold Water Laundry: About
90% of energy consumed by washing machine goes to heating water.
Switching from hot or warm water to cold water washing saves that energy
Wash your clothes in cold or warm water and rinse them in cold water.
Use a cold water detergent.
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Dryer Lint Screen: Empty your clothes dryer lint screen between every load to improve energy efficiency.
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Gas Clothes Dryers: Gas dryers cost more than electrical dryers, but you will still save in the long run because of less energy consumption.
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Loaded Clothes Dryer:Fill
your clothes dryer to limit the use of energy, but don't overload it.
Your clothes will dry faster when they have room to tumble.
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Moisture Sensor Dryer: Buy
a dryer with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off when the
clothes are dry. This help limit the amount of energy used.
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Non-Electrical Hours:Run
your major appliances such as washer, dryer, dishwasher and pool/spa
motors during non-peak electrical hours, generally after 8 p.m.
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Wash in Bulk: One way to save energy is to wash and dry clothes only when you have a full load.
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Water Level:The
more water you put into the washer, the more power it demands. Set the
water level on your washer to match the size of the load to save energy
and water.
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Wash in Cold Water:
Be sure to buy Eco friendly soaps that clean well in cold water.
You'll be saving energy while doing the environment a favor.
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Energy Efficient Washer and Dryer:
If you’re in the market for a new washer or dryer, buying an energy
efficient model can save both water and energy, and lower your bills.
Look for the Energy Star logo or seek out energy-efficient, low-water
rated units.
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Natural Detergents: Natural products tend to be free of chlorine bleach, synthetic
fragrance, dyes, and optical brighteners. What's in them? They’re
usually plant (not petroleum) based, contain biodegradable surfactants,
and are often specifically formulated to perform well in cold water. Be
sure to read the fine print when shopping.
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Non-Chlorine Bleach:
Most non-chlorine bleach is hydrogen peroxide. You can buy branded
versions, or just stick to the 3 percent version sold in drug stores.
If every U.S. household replaced just one 64–ounce bottle of chlorine
bleach with non-chlorine bleach, we could prevent 11.6 million pounds of
chlorine from entering our environment.
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Dryer Sheets: Rethink
using dryer sheets that impart fragrances and reduce static. They're
largely questionable for human health and very tough on the environment.
Either skip them entirely or seek out Eco-friendly alternatives.
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Air Dry Clothes: Your
clothes will last much longer if you air dry them on hangers or on a
clothes line. Folding clothes drying racks are great for using indoors
all year long.
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Homemade Laundry Soap:
DIY recipes for home made laundry soap has been around for generations
and get the job done. Search our simple to use formulas on the
Internet and test out to see how well they work for you.
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Sort Your Laundry:
Get the most from your washing machine by presorting your laundry by
types of cloths and colors. Your clothes will look brighter without the
need for bleach.
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Refresh Your Clothes:
Not every item you wear needs to go into the wash especially if only
worn for a few hours. A 50/50 mixture of water and vodka in a spray
bottle will freshen your clothes and help dissipate odors.
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Clothing Stains:
Natural ingredients such as salt, vinegar and baking soda can remove
tough stains. Research natural formulas on the web for the right
mixture of ingredients and how best to apply them to stains of all
types.
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Dryer Time:
Empty your lint trap after each use. Send each load of laundry
through an extra spin cycle to reduce drying time. Cut down on drying
time on by drying clothes for 10 to 15 minutes, then placing on hangers
or drying racks to finish drying wrinkle free.
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Re-Soak Clothes:
If you've got a load of really dirty clothes, try re-soaking them
first with a washing soda or a light bicarbonate based mixture. This
will help lift stains and dirt before you put clothes in for a regular
wash cycle. You can still get great results in cold water.
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