Tips and tricks for an eco-friendly laundry room

Did you know that washing clothes consumes between 30% and 38% of an average household’s energy budget? In addition to budgetary considerations, the eco-responsibility of the appliances and products used in your laundry room is becoming an increasingly important topic, especially if you’re trying to reduce your environmental footprint. How can I wash my clothes more responsibly? We can show you a host of tips to optimize your washing, together with some small actions you can take on a daily basis that will make a big difference!

Reduce at source with fewer loads

Do you need an item of clothing for tomorrow but your laundry basket is not yet full? Take advantage of this opportunity to wash sheets, tablecloths and towels! Doing a wash load that’s almost empty wastes both water and energy. Start the washer for full loads only, as it uses the same amount of electricity and water regardless of the load.
Washing three fewer loads per month can extend the life of your washing machine by approximately a year. Challenge your family to work together!
Get into the habit of wearing your clothes more than once. You can keep clothes fresh by hanging them in the evening to air out. You can even use textile deodorizers to give them a fresh scent.
Condensing loads on the same day reduces the energy required to reheat the dryer between loads. If your appliances stay warm all day long, they consume less, cost less and last longer.
If you need new laundry appliances, consider machines with a larger load capacity to reduce the number of loads you do.

Consume less water when doing your laundry

A traditional washer needs around 150 litres per load to do its job, while a front-end washer uses only 70 to 90 litres. If you have a choice, it’s a good idea to consider this type of machine for your next purchase!
Check that your next washer and dryer are Energy Star qualified. These appliances are more efficient in terms of energy and water consumption.
850 million litres of drinking water would be conserved every year if each and every one of us in Quebec did one less load than usual. This may seem like a lot of water, but the effort required to achieve this goal is relatively small. Let’s challenge ourselves!

Reduce electricity and energy consumption in the laundromat

Use cold water whenever possible, or reduced-temperature cycles. After all, there’s no proof that heat always washes clothes better.
Save 15% in energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary pre-washing, which has little impact on wash quality.
Before putting clothes in the dryer, wring them out if they are very wet to reduce machine drying time. Even if they are well wrung out, take a few seconds to separate your garments from one another. This aeration will facilitate drying.
Once your dryer has been activated, don’t open the door to interrupt the cycle, as more energy will be required to restart.
Clean your dryer’s filter with every load to help remove humid air. Regular maintenance of the air vents in your home or building is also recommended, especially as this reduces the risk of fire and blockage.
Avoid peak hours, especially in winter. If you can, do your laundry between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and at night between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., to relieve the overloaded electrical grid. You can also use the delayed start or Wi-Fi functions on newer models to start your preloaded batch at these times.
Use the clothesline or tumble dryer to hang your clothes; this will also help them last longer.
We all have a tendency to let laundry sit in the dryer a little too long! Fold or hang your laundry right away so that you won’t have to iron it later or go back to the dryer–a less environmentally-friendly gesture!

Use the right laundry products for your ecological conscience

Wash your washer at regular intervals to prevent scaling, dirt and mildew. Not only will it perform better but it will also do a better job washing your more expensive clothes. A number of 100% organic products are available for this purpose!
Each type of machine requires a different type of detergent. Make sure you buy the right products to optimize your laundry efficiency.
A number of eco-responsible options are now available in major grocery stores. Make sure your next purchase is as environmentally friendly as it is useful. Better still, reuse your containers by refilling them in the bulk aisles.
Have you considered washing nuts instead of commercial fabric softeners, or drying balls instead of antistatic sheets? These innovative accessories help you reduce your environmental footprint without sacrificing the quality of your satisfaction.

Our final tip for an eco-friendly laundry room is to always dispose of end-of-life appliances through smart recycling. Find out how.

With these tips for more eco-friendly laundry, you’ll be able to wash your loads with peace of mind–and potentially save a few hundred dollars each year. Start small by implementing a few changes and then add a few more over the next several months until they feel natural!

Happy laundry!