I'm sure we can all agree that washing our clothes and underwear is a chore. But what if I told you there were ways to do it more sustainably?
With the cost of living on the rise, these tips will help you cut down on the amount of energy and water you use – and help keep your Flissie women’s boxers in great condition for longer. In this blog, I'll share some tips on how to reduce your environmental impact when washing your clothes and underwear. So read on for more info!
Keep it warm, but not hot!
Washing your clothes at 30°c saves energy by using less water and electricity. 30°c will thoroughly clean your underwear and uses less water and electricity compared to 40°c by around 40%; if that was 20°c it would be around 60%. The average cost of household washing is £43 a year, so by making this small switch you could save £17 a year.
Turn it off when you're done!
Once your clothes have been washed and rinsed, make sure to turn the washing machine off at the socket. This simple act can save you around £30 a year on your energy bill. And if you're not using a washing machine, but instead washing your clothes by hand – make sure to turn the tap off when you're not using it. This can save up to 11 litres of water per minute!
Ditch the fabric softener!
Most fabric softeners contain harmful chemicals which can damage your clothes and cause them to break down more quickly. They can also irritate your skin, so it’s best to ditch them altogether. If you’re looking for a natural alternative, try using white vinegar. Ditching fabric softener will help your stylish pieces last for much longer, it's been stated that not using fabric softener will help your clothes last for up to 30 washes more.
Turn it inside out!
Washing your clothes inside out protects the fabric from damage and fading. It’s an easy way to make your clothes last longer. Did you know that all those bits of fluff are actually tiny pieces of fabric that come off your clothes each time you wash them? Washing them inside out will help reduce the amount of fluff that comes off in the wash.
Line dry where possible!
Hang drying your clothes is better for the environment than tumble drying. If you can, hang your clothes outside to dry. The UV rays from the sun can help to kill bacteria and remove any lingering odors. The environmental impact of removing tumble drying is equal to taking your car off the road for six months! Line drying is estimated to reduce an average household's carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds a year. It's estimated that if all households with a dryer opted to air dry one load of washing instead of by machine each week, they would save over a million tonnes of CO2 in a year - that is the equivalent of 88 homes electricity for 1 year, 1,125,910 miles driven, 55,176,176 smartphones charged or 501,859 pounds of coal burned.
Choose a sustainable washing powder or liquid
There are many sustainable washing powders and liquids on the market. Look for ones that are phosphate-free and have a shorter ingredients list. Typically they are made with fewer harmful chemicals and are better for the environment. You can also find recipes online to make your own sustainable washing powder or liquid.
It's incredible the impact small changes in our ways of living can have on our wellbeing and the world around us. You don't need to make drastic changes to be more sustainable all at once, just pick up a few small things and you'll be making an impact - you got this!
Please share this with friends/family and comment if you have any more tips that we missed :)
Flissie x
