Being a fashion lover is not just about knowing the latest trends and having a wardrobe worthy of Carrie Bradshaw, taking care of your clothes is also important (even more so). Washing clothes like a professional can extend the useful life of our pieces without too much effort, so we can enjoy our favs through seasons and seasons.
Washing gym clothes separately and not putting towels and sheets together in the dryer are good tips for doing laundry, but there are many more. Allyson Chiu, climate solutions expert for The Washington Post, offers us more ideas that we do not hesitate to apply in our day to day. Because yes, my friend, doing the laundry correctly does not have the sole purpose of making a garment look like new for longer, It is also related to taking care of the health of the planet.
Know the impact
Before delving into the advice, it is key to stop and be aware of our actions in order to modify them. Roland Geyer, an expert in life-cycle assessment and a professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, explains that the impact of the laundry can be the same as the production of the garment. Therefore, it is of little use to invest in a piece of sustainable origin and wash it practically daily. The damage to our environment is practically the same.
Energy Star, a program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, puts numbers on the matter. “A standard washing machine uses about 20 gallons of water for each load (approximately 75 liters) and electric dryers can use between 1,800 and 5,000 watts, or 1.8 to 5 kilowatt hours of electricity per cycle.” These data may be difficult for you to understand, but the important thing is to know that they are outrageous.
Experts point out that “choosing more efficient washers and dryers” is essential, so before buying an appliance, we should spend some effort discovering its environmental impact (also to save money on water and electricity).
What to wash and when to do it
In addition to visible stains and bad odor, Chiu says whether or not to wash depends on “how the garments are worn and the type of material.” Elena Karpova, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, reminds us that many of us wear a T-shirt for a few hours and already leave it in the laundry basket, a big mistake. Before deciding whether or not we should put the garment in the washing machine, we should ask ourselves two questions: Is it clean? Does it need to be washed? On many occasions, we would realize that it really does not need washing.
What material the clothes are made of defines, to a large extent, how often they need to be washed. “As usual, natural fibers such as wool or cotton need less washing than synthetic materialslike polyester. While polyester works well for sportswear due to its moisture-wicking properties, the material is “oleophilic,” which attracts oil from the skin that can contribute to body odor. To make matters worse, research has shown that sweat-smelling compounds can cling to polyester fibers and not wash out completely, leading to a buildup of odors over time,” Chiu explains.
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Therefore, natural fibers accept less frequent washing, while those of synthetic origin could be put in the washing machine after each use.
At what temperatures to wash clothes
In addition to regularity, temperature is another key to the issue. According to Energy Star, “90% of the energy it takes to complete a washing machine” comes from heating the water. Loading four out of five with cold water can help reduce up to 391 kilograms of CO₂ emissions per year. Imagine if we all did it.
Cosette Joyner Martinez, an associate professor in the department of design, housing, and merchandising at Oklahoma State University, makes it abundantly clear: “Hot water settings are only really necessary for sanitizing.” Write it down in your mind: washing with hot water is necessary in very few cases.
Dry cleaning at the dry cleaners, a “bomb” for our environment
It takes less and less to go to the dry cleaners to dry clean some clothes, but this practice continues. “In addition to the energy needed to run the dry cleaners, traditional operations often use polluting chemicals that can harm human health and the environment,” we read in the Washington Post article.
To this, we add that dry cleaners often use bromopropane, “a powerful dry cleaning solvent and air pollutant that has been linked to cancer and neurological damage,” says the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
air dry clothes
Finally, we talk about the drying process. Sumner recommends that, if possible, we put clothes in the sun so they can be exposed to UV rays. “Steam is another way to remove wrinkles and help freshen clothes,” he notes.
Joe Vukovich, staff attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, gives us the simplest advice in the universe: “If you air dry [la ropa], the greatest amount of energy is saved.” Something obvious, but that usually falls into oblivion.
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If for any reason, you have no choice but to use the dryer, remember to regularly clean the lint filter, dryer duct and humidity sensors to maintain efficiency at the proper level.
As a finishing touch, keep these three points in mind: washing cold, not doing it too much and avoiding the dryer can lengthen the useful life of your clothes much more than you think.
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Photos | Angela Bailey, Priscilla Du Preez, Chermiti Mohamed