Hot water has been the go to for washing clothes for many decades. When hot water is used during laundry it helps to get rid of stains faster. However, it also consumes exaggerated quantities of energy and increases the release of microfibers (tiny plastic particles from synthetic fibers) into the water, leaving in its wake an insurmountable footprint on the planet.
According to the American Cleaning Institute, just heating up the water takes 90% of the energy by washing machines, aiding the release of millions of pounds of Co2 to the air. Furthermore, research found that the average household in the US and Canada releases 533 million of microfiber into the water system a year, just by doing laundry.
While wastewater treatment catches many of these plastic particles, still millions of these microfibers get away and contribute to 35% of water pollution, according to Ocean Clean Wash, a campaign started by the Plastic Soup Foundation.
If people switch to cold water washing, CO2 emissions could be cut by almost 900 pounds for each household. If all Americans do, it could reduce the emissions to 11 million tons. With all that energy saved, the Empire State could be powered up to 444 years!
Washing your clothes with cold water also expands their lifetime cycle, thus slowing down the rate of clothes ending up in landfills and reducing the shedding of microfibers into the ocean. Instead, hot water can cause garments to shrink, bleed, and fade at faster rates.
By doing laundry with cold water or a lower temperature you are not only prolonging your clothes’ lifespan but also saving money and in return reducing your footprint in the environment.
Switch to Laundry Sheets
These lavender laundry sheets are not only eco-friendly, but also free from harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, bleach, and dyes. This makes them a safe and natural choice for your laundry needs. Plus, with the powerful formula, you only need a half sheet for a medium load or a full sheet for a large load, helping you conserve water with each load.
