How can I clean my clothes in a sustainable way?

by | Jun 1, 2021 | Clothing tips, Sustainability | 0 comments

Here at Enschede Textile City we are thrilled that there is so much interest in sustainable fabrics. But reducing our impact on the environment does not stop with us. As a consumer you can already contribute a lot at home, for example by the way you keep your clothes neat and clean. Washing clothes has a significant impact on the environment. For example, each wash uses up to 60 litres of water. In this blog we will therefore give you five tips for cleaning your clothes in a sustainable way.

 

The best tips

  • The first, and perhaps most obvious tip, is to wash less often. Washing has quite an impact on the environment. It uses a lot of water and energy, and it also emits a lot of CO2. It also causes your clothes to wear out more quickly, which is a shame. If you find that your clothes don’t smell fresh, hang them outside or steam them in the shower.
  • The second tip is to choose an environmentally friendly detergent. This is because detergent is released into the environment with every wash, which is not very sustainable. Therefore, choose a natural detergent without toxins, for example, the sustainable brand Seepje. They make detergent from certain peels, making it a natural and environmentally friendly product.
  • Tip number three. It is not at all necessary to wash your clothes hot in order to get them clean. If you wash at 30 or even 15 degrees, your laundry can be just as clean as if you were washing at 40 or 60 degrees, for example.
  • After you have washed your clothes, you might sometimes feel inclined to put them in the tumble dryer. It’s convenient, of course, but not very environmentally friendly. It also uses extra energy and emits CO2. So choose to hang your washing up. That way it dries just as well, and your clothes don’t wear out so quickly.
  • The last tip we can give you is to only iron your laundry when you need to. Most garments don’t need ironing and hanging them up to dry often goes a long way too. Finally, if you do like ironing, make sure that you don’t buy wrinkled materials when buying new clothes!