How to Go Green: Laundry

[by Collin Dunn]

Though it may seem like a pedestrian chore, doing the laundry has a bigger impact on the planet than you might think. Between 75 and 80 percent of our clothing's lifecycle impact comes from washing and drying, according to reports by Proctor (pdf) and Marks & Spencer (pdf), because it takes so much energy to heat the wash water and run the dry cycle. So there's huge potential to reduce your personal energy and water use, and therefore your environmental footprint, by simply greening your laundry habits.

Benefits to the environment notwithstanding, you can also save some greenbacks by following an earth-friendly laundry regimen. The average household does almost 400 loads of laundry each year, consuming about 13,500 gallons of water according to Energy Star. Switching to an Energy Star-qualified top-loading (or "horizontal axis") machine can save as much as 7,000 gallons of water per year. Over the approximately 11-year life of a washer, that's enough water to fill up three backyard swimming pools or provide a lifetime of drinking water for six people! An Energy Star-qualified clothes washer can also save you $550 in operating costs over its lifetime, compared to a one that doesn’t bear the label. Many new efficient washers can easily pay for themselves over the course of their useful lives. (Hint: If you purchased your washer before 1994, it’s time to consider replacing it.)

By cutting the dryer out of the equation—even if it’s only part of the time--you'll save even more money. Your dryer checks in at number two on the list of household energy hogs (right after your fridge), costing the average household more than $70 per year in energy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. So going with clothesline or drying rack can help you save on your utility bills—or eliminate the need for buying and maintaining an extra appliance altogether. (More on this in the Top Tips section that follows.)

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint associated with our wardrobes. Like many of the tips and ideas we highlight on Planet Green, making your laundry more eco-friendly has multiple benefits: It's better for your wallet, your wardrobe, and your planet. Everybody wins when you green your laundry, so read on for more tips!

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