Another way to save energy is to wash your clothes, linens, etc. in cold water, instead of warm or hot. Generally speaking, cold water will get your laundry just as clean as warm or hot water will. Plus, cold water is less wearing on the clothes, keeping them looking like new longer. (Anything with stains should be pre-treated and/or soaked in advance.)
Have any green tips you’ve recently learned? Please email them to me and I may include your tip with a link to your site or blog in a future post. :)
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halloweenlover says:
I bought a large drying rack with several poles to hang clothes on, and I stopped drying most of our clothes, especially Gabe’s. It saves energy, and the best part of all is that it never sets stains (you know those pesky stains that you miss when you pull them out of the wash) and the clothes don’t shrink! His pajamas look brand new by the time I put them away in the attic. Plus, I feel all virtuous that I’m saving the environment ; )
January 5th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
chelle says:
We always wash in cold. And I try to hang dry what I can, being in an apartment with four people makes line drying haha a little hard. Our cloth diapers get hung to dry though.
January 6th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Beth Kanter says:
Thanks for this tip! Also, heard you will be blogging for BlogHer.com – and I do too – wanted to welcome you.
And, I’ve been involving my kids in making videos about green tips
Here’s one:
http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2007/12/harrys-green-ge.html
January 6th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Rebecca says:
The only thing I wash in non-cold water is the cloth diapers,cloth pads,etc but otherwise,yup…cold is the only way to go! :)
January 6th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Robyn says:
What a wonderful tip! You have set my mind at ease because I generally wash EVERYTHING in cold water, but then worry that it’s not getting clean enough. I’ve been enjoying your blog for the last few weeks and think you will be a great addition to Blogher!
January 7th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Nicole says:
This just reminded me to start the washer! Thank you :)
January 7th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Justine says:
We are fortunate enough to have a very large basement where we can line dry year round after we have washed in cold. We then put the clothes in the dryer (on no heat setting)to soften up a bit. Works like magic and our electric bill is really low. Plus, i have lot’s of hot water leftover to fill my birthing pool with so i can relax before this baby comes (details on my impending water birth at JulianArts.com)
And just like nicole, this post reminded me that i need to run a load!
February 28th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Charissa says:
Great Tip! I’v always washed my clothes in cold water, I have found using hot water brought on to many probems, like lack of available hot water, and shrinking of clothes.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:17 pm