fashion

The Green Guide to Style: Laundry
By Sally Glover. Posted on 7:00:00 am - Thursday, March 06, 2008.

Now that most of us have begun the process of repopulating our closets with planet-friendly clothing, it’s important to consider another aspect of eco-fashion: garment care. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies have shown that over 75% of the energy consumed for clothing doesn’t come from its manufacturing, but rather what happens to it after it goes home with you. While we think we’re cleaning and brightening our wardrobes, the artificial dyes, synthetic perfumes and fabric softeners usually involved in the process take a toll on our bodies, our clothes and our environment.

Most mainstream laundry products are full of artificial dyes, synthetic perfumes and harmful petroleum-based chemicals. Why expose yourself to irritants and possible allergens if you can avoid them? Look for eco-friendly, biodegradable brands that contain no chlorine, phosphates or artificial fragrances or dyes (available in most health food stores, online and at supermarkets such as Whole Foods). Try Ecover, local brand Nature Clean, Seventh Generation, Ontario’s own Simple Clean or Quebec-made Biovert.

Buy in bulk to save packaging and look for brands that have concentrated formulas that can be diluted.

Bleach alternatives in liquid and powder form are widely available. For nasty stains, reach for Ecover’s plant-based stain-removing gel, Nature Clean’s non-toxic, non-petroleum stain remover, or Simply Clean’s biodegradable, solvent-free formula. And let fabric softeners become a thing of laundry past – they contain volatile organic compounds like limonene and aren’t recyclable.

To maximize water and energy consumption, use the cold setting on your washing machine and always launder a full load. Try using solar energy to dry every other wash, or air dry sheets and towels that you may not need immediately. Dryers are the most energy-hungry appliances in most households, and you’ll find that your clothes smell better and last longer if you let nature do the work.

Got dry-clean only items? Most dry cleaners use the toxic chemical tetrachloroethene, a groundwater contaminant, skin irritant, nervous system depressant and possible carcinogen. Try hand-washing your duds in cold water with natural soap (test a patch first). If dry cleaning is a must, check out GreenEarth Cleaning to find a green dry cleaner in your area.

Laundering clothes the natural way rather than using petrochemical detergents will not only extend the life of your clothes, it can extend the life of the planet. Now there’s a fresh idea.

Tags: cleaning, dry-cleaning, eco-friendly cleaners, green guide to style, laundry care

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On Friday the 25th of September, 2009 at 8:03 pm, Louise Bichler said: