Bubby and Bean ::: Living Creatively: 5 Tips for "Greening" Your Laundry

Earth Day is this Friday, and as always this time of year, I've been paying extra close attention to ways I can improve my own quest to live as a sustainable lifestyle as possible. One of the ways I notice my family being the most wasteful is in our own home, especially in the laundry room. I've shared tips on how to "green" your laundry in the past, but I realized that I personally needed a refresher, and wanted to share with you as well.

1. Opt for eco-friendly laundry detergent.

Laundry detergents tend to contain harsh chemicals like dyes, phosphates, and chlorine, which can irritate skin. These chemicals also can be harmful to the environment. There are many eco-friendly detergents available these days, and they're not hard to find. Read the labels, and look for unscented detergents without dyes or toxins. There are also laundry strips you can buy that eliminate the waste of plastic bottles.

2. Invest in an eco-friendly washer and dryer.

We purchased a Samsung eco-friendly washer and dryer set a few years ago, and it's really made a difference. Look for ENERGY STAR certified washers, which use about 25% less energy and 45% less water than regular washers, and ENERGY STAR certified dryers, which use about 20% less energy than regular dryers. Our washer and dryer also have eco settings, which is a huge bonus.

3. Ditch dryer sheets.

Convention dryer sheets are full of harsh chemicals. Try reusable dryer balls instead. If you like a scent, you can add a few drops essential oils to the wool dryer balls. They work really well!

4. Wash clothes in cold water.
Most of the energy used by washing machines is to heat water, so when you opt for cold, you're using less. It has also been proven that cold water cleans as well as hot! Bonus: Cold water helps colors stay bold and bright.