Natural Laundry Solutions

Laundry does not have to be the bane of our existence and it does not have to deplete the earth with its chemicals and energy use. Try changing the way that you do laundry to reduce your power bill and the number of chemicals used in your home. Your wallet and water system will thank you.

Soap Solutions

Purchase eco-friendly laundry soap if you aren't up to making your own and the price is not inhibitive for you. Or, seek out a recipe for making your own laundry detergent. One simple recipe for a laundry powder calls for 2 cups Borax, 2 cups of Baking Soda and 4 cups of soap flakes. Combine all these ingredients and use 1-2 tablespoons per load. A cup of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda can be added to the mixture for extra cleaning power. Liquid detergent recipes are more complicated to put together, most involve cooking, and require a bucket or something for secure storage. This powder recipes is user friendly.

The Right Time of Day

Does your electric company release information about the best times of day for using electricity? If you do wash after 8 pm on weekdays, when use levels are down, it may save you as much as half price per kilowatt hour. If you need to use warm water on a load, consider leaving it set on warm just until there is enough water to dissolve the soap, and then switch it back over to cold. Use the most efficient settings on your dryer so that your clothes are dry but not cooked. Pull clothes out before the cool down setting and fold or hang them while they are warm. This saves energy by cutting out a few minutes on drying time and eliminates the need to iron many items.

Drying Options

A clothes line will cost you about a hundred dollars to put in, but can save a lot in the long run. Make your own out of supplies from the hardware store or order one online that is ready to install. Before installing, consider your climate. If you live in a rain forest, a line across the inside of your garage might be the best option. Pay attention to the direction the wind blows. If you have a northerly wind, set your clothes line east to west to lose the least number of items off your line. Pay attention to which areas of your yard get the most sun and are accessible to your laundry room. A four minute hike around your house, through a muddy spot and two gates might deter you from using your clothesline.

Items like towels, that seem to get crunchy hanging on a line, can simply be tossed in the dryer for ten minutes after drying on the line. If you are using a dryer and having problems with static, look for the chemical free fabric softeners like dryer balls. They are textured rubber balls that move around in the dryer, lifting and separating the clothes. A set of two costs about ten dollars and will hold up through about a hundred loads of clothes. In comparison with the cost of chemical fabric softener, the cost is slightly higher, yet the results are more desirable.