Eco-Friendly Washing – Save Water and Electricity
Short answer: Eco-friendly washing comes down to three things: wash cooler, wash full loads, and skip the tumble dryer. Simply going from 60 to 30 degrees saves a large share of the electricity per wash, and air drying costs nothing at all. As a bonus, your clothes last longer, which is the most environmentally friendly thing of all.
Temperature is the big dial
Most of the electricity in a wash goes into heating the water. So if you wash at 30 degrees instead of 60, you save a significant amount of energy, and modern detergents are made for exactly those low temperatures. Bamboo clothing already does best at 30-40 degrees, as described in the complete washing guide for bamboo clothing.
Fill the machine, and skip the dryer
A half-full machine uses almost as much water and electricity as a full one. So gather your laundry into full, but not stuffed, loads. And leave the tumble dryer alone: it is one of the most power-hungry machines in the home, and air drying is far better for your bamboo clothing at the same time.
The biggest win: clothes that last
Every time a garment lasts an extra year, the production of a new one is saved, and that counts for more than any single wash. Gentle washing extends the lifespan, and quality bamboo clothing is built for it. Read more about the environmental profile of the material in the honest guide to bamboo and the environment, about the overall economics in bamboo and economics, and find hard-wearing basics under bamboo clothing for men and bamboo clothing for women.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most eco-friendly wash temperature?
30 degrees for everyday clothes. It cleans well with modern detergents and uses far less electricity than hotter programmes.
How much does the tumble dryer matter for electricity use?
A lot. The dryer is among the most energy-hungry machines in the home, so air drying is one of the easiest savings there is.
Is bamboo clothing an eco-friendly choice?
Bamboo is a fast-growing raw material, but making viscose requires chemistry, so the picture is nuanced. The biggest environmental gain lies in clothes that are worn for a long time and washed gently.
