How To Green Your Laundry Routine

The average laundry routine uses a lot of energy and chemicals that aren’t great for you or the environment. The good news? Cutting down is easy, and we’re here to offer up super simple switches. Here, everything you need for a more sustainable routine.

The Facts: Some garments have to be washed between wears (hello, underwear and sweaty gym clothes), but items like jeans, sweaters, and blouses can be worn a few times before tossing them in the laundry.
The Fix: In between, keep clothes smelling and feeling fresh with a misting of Fabric Fresh, which has a clean laundry scent and antibacterial properties. When you do do laundry, run a full load—washing machines often use the same amount of energy regardless of load size, so it’s wasteful to run small ones.

The Facts: Lots of formulas are packed with ingredients that are harsh on you and the environment and can potentially cause allergic reactions, disrupt hormones, and contaminate our soil and waterways. Some to steer clear of: Chlorine-bleach, parabens, phosphates, formaldehyde, and dyes.
The Fix: Our formulas use plant-based enzymes to clean, plus other people-and-earth-friendly ingredients. If you don’t know where to start, The Starter Kit has everything you need to build a better (and cleaner) laundry routine.

The Facts: According to EnergyStar, about 90% of the energy a washing machine uses goes toward heating up water. In other words, whenever you crank the temperature to hot, you’re using up a ton of energy.
The Fix: Always opt for cold water. You’ll still get a deep clean and it’ll help preserve your fabrics and prevent fading, too. Our products are optimized to perform in all water temperatures.

The Facts:The average American uses 88 gallons of water a day, says the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Most high-efficiency washing machines use 15 to 30 gallons of water per load while regular models use 29 to 45.
The Fix: Whittle your water usage by handwashing more often instead of using a washing machine. Use your bathtub for large loads and a Wash Tub Basin or your sink for smaller loads.

Lay your items flat to dry or use a drying rack in lieu of the dryer to slash energy, keep your fabrics in good shape, and stop shrinkage.

The Facts: 70% of dry cleaners in the United States use perchloroethylene as their cleaning solvent. Also known as perc, this solvent is a toxic air pollutant and isn’t great for humans, the environment, or your fabrics, either.
The Fix: Stock your laundry room with plant-based, eco-friendly solutions. Our complete collection has formulas for everyday laundry plus “dry clean only” fabrics including wool, cashmere, and silk.