Green Laundry

Green laundry, whatever color clothes you wear, has three considerations: water, energy, and cleaning products.

Energy

Machine washers and dryers use quite a bit of electricity. Older dryers, in fact, use more power than most new fridges. When it is time to replace these machines, consider buying ones with an Energy Star rating.
Until then, consider these 3 tips:

• Run dryer loads one after another. That way, you don't let the dryer cool down in between and make it re-heat for the next load.
• Hang laundry to dry, whenever possible. If you don't have a solar clothes dryer (outdoor laundry line), hang clothes in a warm room.
• Set the washing machine for the water level you really need. Filling up with more water than necessary means more energy to fill, rinse, empty and spin.

Water Conservation

Some new washers are remarkably efficient, using much less water than you'd think possible and still getting clothes cleaner. Look for the Energy Star logo, and also rebate information from your local utility or appliance stores.

Adjusting your load size is always important, regardless of the washing machine brand or age.

And don't forget your bathroom sink for delicates. Why run a machine load when you just have a few hand washable items?

Detergents, Brighteners and Softeners

Most laundry products on the shelves today contain chemicals that aren't good for human health, and are really harmful to aquatic life. For most homes in the US, dirty laundry water goes down a pipe to the local water treatment plant. These filter out certain contaminants before sending the treated water to the nearby river, bay, lake or ocean.
They don't remove phosphates, chlorides, phalates, and other chemicals that fish, birds, and the host of tiny, helpful critters in our water systems can't handle.

So when you shop for packaged green cleaners, look for:

• Non-chlorine whiteners
• Bio-degradable ingredients
• Vegetable-based surfactants
• Unscented varieties, or scents from essential oils
• Phosphate-free cleaners

If a product says it includes chlor-anything, phosph-anything, "fragrance," or anything with a long, chemical-sounding name, it probably isn't environmentally safe.

Many products will tout their lack of a bad chemical on the label, which is helpful. But also check the ingredient list.
Finally, some brands specialize in using only ingredients safe for people and wildlife alike. A few green laundry product sellers include Ecover, Seventh Generation, Whole Foods house brand, Natural Choices, Sun & Earth, and Dr. Bronner's. More are coming on the market daily, as demand increases.

But you don't always have to buy a packaged product to take care of your clothes. Here are some time-tested home-made laundry cleaners:

Green Laundry Recipes

Bleach
Add 1/4 cup lemon juice to rinse cycle. Dry in the sun.

Brightener
Add 1 Tbsp white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Starch
Mix 2-3 tsp corn starch with 1 cup warm water, in a clean spray bottle. Shake and spray.

Fabric softener
Up to 1/4 Borax, in wash cycle.
or
1 cup vinegar or 1 cup baking soda, in final rinse.

SAFETY note:
if you are using up your old chlorine bleach, NEVER mix anything with it. Acids and bases combine to give off hazardous fumes, regardless of where they come from.