Washing laundry in an environmentally responsible way
Washing laundry in an environmentally friendly way is not simple. With every load, chemicals and plastic fragments enter the environment and impose a burden. This article explains how you can wash your laundry in an ecologically sensible way while still being satisfied with the result.
More and more people are intent on leaving as small an ecological footprint as possible. Many therefore choose regional food to counteract food waste. Others leave the car at home to reduce CO₂ emissions.
A practical way to protect the environment is to wash laundry correctly. Reaching for an organic detergent or running a wash at 40 instead of 60 degrees, for example, are often steps in the right direction. In this article we provide tips and tricks for environmentally conscious laundry practices.
Washing laundry harms the environment
Did you know that washing laundry is harmful to the environment? Every wash cycle wastes valuable resources such as water and electricity — especially when you wash too frequently, at too high a temperature, or too often.
Conventional detergents are also a major problem for our ecological surroundings. Chemicals and plastic compounds are released, reach wastewater treatment plants and from there enter rivers, seas and soils. Because these substances are hardly biodegradable, they accumulate in water and earth. As a result, plant and animal life suffer.
Humans are also at risk. Microplastic, invisible to the naked eye, poses a serious problem in this context. It is suspected of having harmful effects on human health. We ingest it, for example, when we eat fish contaminated with these substances.
How to wash your laundry in an environmentally friendly way — tips and tricks
Each year in Germany, almost 8 kilograms of detergent per person are consumed. Fabric softeners and hygiene additives, which are considered critical for the environment, are also often used when washing laundry. It is therefore worth considering how you can make your laundry practices more environmentally friendly.
Liquid detergents — not a good idea
Studies have shown that conventional liquid detergents contain a lot of plastic. In addition, the packaging of liquid detergents generates extra plastic waste. Prefer powder detergent instead. Although it also contains plastic compounds, its concentration is lower than in liquid detergents. Powder detergent is also usually offered in cardboard packaging.
Sustainable detergent — an ecologically sensible alternative
As you already know, critical substances that dissolve out of detergent during the wash cycle place a burden on the environment. Using detergents with substances of natural origin is the solution here.
The manufacturers of the brands Sonett, AlmaWin and Sodasan have committed to respecting the environment. Their products are characterised by soaps made from high-quality vegetable oils, natural extracts of the soapnut or mineral soda.
Or you can make your own detergent. That way you know exactly what’s in it and avoid any plastic waste. Mix washing soda, bar soap, citric acid, water and a little essential oil. You can also make a DIY detergent from horse chestnuts. Simply crush them and soak them in water overnight. This releases wash-active saponins from the chestnuts, which act like soap and reliably remove dirt, fat and germs.
Das A und O des Wäschewaschens – die richtige Dosierung
We often use disproportionally large amounts of detergent because we believe it will make the laundry deeply clean. But that is a misconception: more does not help in this case.
Dose your detergent sparingly—regardless of whether it is a conventional or a natural product. Consult the detergent’s package insert. The guidance for lightly soiled laundry is usually sufficient to get your laundry clean.
Weich- und Hygienespüler – lieber nicht!
Fact: we like soft, fluffy laundry. And sanitizing rinses are a useful aid in the fight against disease-causing germs. However, both products further worsen the environmental footprint. Fabric softeners are problematic because of dyes, fragrances or preservatives, and sanitizing rinses eliminate beneficial aquatic organisms.
If you do not want to give up your fabric softener, choose, for example, the laundry rinse from Sonett. Or simply pour a little white household vinegar into the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine. Vinegar effectively dissolves limescale residues in the laundry and makes it soft and cosy.
Did you know you can largely do without sanitizing rinses? A 60 °C wash program is already sufficient to remove most germs.
Household vinegar is effective against them as well.
XXL-Waschmittel-Packungen versus Kompaktpulver
Large detergent cartons score well on price-performance. However, they often contain unnecessary fillers and harmful salts that have no cleaning effect and are environmentally damaging. Compact powder is the better solution in this case.
40 instead of 60 degrees, wash less often and run full loads — energy-saving and environmentally friendly
Did you know that reducing the water temperature by 20 degrees corresponds to an energy saving of 35% to 40%? Therefore, do not wash your laundry too hot.
For colored laundry, temperatures of 20 or 30 degrees are often sufficient to get them clean. Even whites can be washed at 40 instead of 60 degrees — according to the finding of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).
To save even more energy: only wash your laundry when it is really necessary. Thorough airing is usually sufficient. For example, you do not need to wash a pair of trousers after a single wear unless they are heavily soiled.
And with a fully loaded machine you can use electricity, water and detergent more efficiently. That benefits not only your wallet but also the environment.
Eco wash program – sensible?
Eco programs are considered money-eaters — at least that is the common belief. But that impression is misleading. An appliance in economy mode does run longer, but the water is heated less intensely. Therefore the wash cycle in Eco mode also uses less water and electricity. This saves energy costs and reduces environmental impact. And don’t worry: the longer wash time cleans the laundry just as effectively as the standard mode!
Energy efficiency class of your washing machine – an important indicator for sustainability
An energy-efficient washing machine washes more sustainably. Therefore, check for energy efficiency class A (formerly A+++) on your washing machine.
Detergent modular system – a smart approach to doing laundry
Conventional detergents contain stain removers, bleaching agents and water softeners. But that is often more than necessary. If your water is soft, a water softener would be unnecessary. The same applies to stain removers and bleaching agents if you never get stains on your laundry and do not notice a grey film on it. In that case it is better to avoid those agents, which impose an additional burden on the environment. But this is impossible with a conventional detergent.
This is where the so‑called detergent modular system comes into play.
How does it work? A detergent modular system is built from individual components that are offered separately. The products of the brands Sonett and Sodasan follow exactly this scheme. Component 1 is a detergent, component 2 is a water softener, and component 3 comprises a stain remover and a bleaching agent. This way you assemble your own detergent that precisely matches your needs and at the same time treat the environment with care.