Change in the Wash
July 27, 2010 by Andrea Bennett
Could you live without your clothes dryer? How about washing your clothes in cold water and drying them on a rack?
Seventh Generation, the maker of nontoxic laundry and household products, is challenging people to do both this summer. Certainly saving the energy is a responsible thing to do: According to the US Department of Energy, about 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes in a conventional top-load washer goes toward heating the water. Project Laundry List, a nonprofit consumer education organization, calculates that switching from hot to cold water can save $70 a year on a household energy bill, and $25 per month on your electricity bill.
But as with many responsible things, it’s up to consumers to weigh the cost savings against the inconvenience of drying everything on a rack, adding in the feel-good value of having done something good for the earth.
With a husband addicted to hard yard labor, an exuberant black Lab retriever, and a 15-month-old baby, I felt I had a decent grip on our laundry needs, and decided to take on the challenge… the day before aforementioned husband surprised me with a six-week-old, non-housetrained, equally exuberant second Lab. I quickly went through a list of convenient rationalizations to ditch the challenge, including the fact that if I were to take it on for one week, that fraction of my household savings would only amount to around $7. But I’d committed. In order to do this the right way, I even had to dismiss the temptation to use my $7 savings on bulk paper towels for cleaning up after the puppy.
The good news is that I survived the challenge, whose benefits—including hopefully reducing long-term wear and tear on our clothes—have convinced me to do things differently from now on. Will I forsake my dryer all the time? Probably not, but I’m making compromises that roughly match up to poll results taken by Seventh Generation. The company found that six in 10 people are wearing their clothes more than once to save money on laundry in this economy, and four in 10 have cut back on what they send to the dry cleaner. And 57 percent are washing clothes in cold water, while three in 10 are line-drying wet items to save money. To sweeten the deal, the company is rewarding people who make a pledge on their site.
If you decide you just want to make a few modifications, the Department of Energy suggests these changes (find more here):
“Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.
Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material, not plastic vents that may collapse and cause blockages.”
I’m developing my own set of tricks. For instance, I’ll air dry the laundry, but in order to avoid ironing, I’ll throw it in the dryer for just a minute or two when it’s almost completely dry to fluff it up. Tell us your thoughts: have you made any modifications to your laundry practices? If so, did you do it to save money, or be good to the earth, or both?
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- about laundry, conservation, energy, money
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8 Comments
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July 27, 2010 by breanna caldwell
i think that i couldnt live without my washer n dryer becuz its a resource to keep clean clothes on my back
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August 9, 2010 by Dorie Rhea
It is rough not have the luxuries as we do today. Clothes still hag in some places, but I live close to the Mill and no lines allowed. WE are in deserparate need of a place to live ASAP. Seems no one as any answers. A spare room or just an extra prayer might help. We have 3 cat and really do not know what to do. I others are of worse but she is the only child and HELP must come soon GOD BLESS. Any words of encouragement would be great!!!!!!!!!! Dorie
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July 30, 2010 by runi
Very strange timing. My dryer died a couple weeks ago and I had to line dry the laundry on a hastily constructed clothesline using the two volley ball net poles in my back yard. It wasn't bad even though I hadn't had to do it for nearly 50 years. Of course it has been hot here and the laundry dried quickly on the line. It wouldn't work here in the winter, and drying blankets and heavy towels on a rack in the basement would be rather difficult. (Yes, I managed to dry the blankets and heavy towels on lines in the basement half a century ago during the winter, but . . .) My new dryer has been intalled and I quickly returned to using it.
Another thing, I'm retired but employed women would find it difficult--especially if they have young children. There is definitely a time factor.
As far as washing in cold water, I wash everything in cold water except underwear and wash cloths since they require hot water and bleach for sanitation purposes.
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August 2, 2010 by Reality
"switching from hot to cold water can save $70 a year on a household energy bill, and $25 per month on your electricity bill. "
I have difficulty taking articles like this serious. Which is it, saving $70 a year on your household energy bill or $300 ($25X12) a year on your electric bill? Is electricity not energy?
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August 2, 2010 by Andrea Bennett
Hi Reality - That's a figure from Project Laundry List.
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September 16, 2010 by All out
My husband and I sold our dryer over two years ago. You do have to plan ahead a bit because it does take a day or two to fully dry some types of clothes in the winter. We solely wash in cold water. If we want to wash or rince a load in hot water, we add hot in while the machine is filling up with water - heated from the stock pot of water on the wood stove! Besides the money you are saving, remember your also conserving energy. I don't forsee us ever buying another dryer again. It's amazing how our parents and grandparents hung clothes without questioning why or how long, and now dryers are concidered a necessity.
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October 30, 2010 by Leila Shepherd
I have washed in cold water for years. I use gentle to the skin and planet products in my laundry. I have no means for outdoor or rack drying. I do not dry any of my blouses I hang them to dry. Use the shortest dryer setting. I have energy efficient appliances.
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April 11, 2011 by barbara gabel
this article was good reading. I have a limited space,clothes rack and no outside clothing line.
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