Sustainable washing in 9 steps

When you buy clothes consciously, you do so with the idea of enjoying them for a long time. The right way of washing your clothes will make them last a lot longer. In addition, you do not want the wrong washing habits to have an unnecessary impact on the environment. The care you take of your clothes is a small effort of great value: prevent wear and tear, discoloration, a size too small and enjoy your clothes to the full with the following 9 sustainable washing tips!

 

1. Choose the right detergent

You can't see the wood for the trees in the land of detergents. Choosing the right detergent is important in sustainable washing, but it is unnecessary to use a different detergent for every colour and material. The best way to shop is to use powder detergent for white laundry. Not only does it have a much better bleaching effect than liquid detergent, but powder makes it easier for the soap residue to be rinsed away. Choose a good quality liquid detergent for coloured laundry and use it for your black laundry as well. Thirdly, choose a wool detergent, which can be used for delicate garments. Do you normally prefer washing with pods and pads? Then consider switching to a liquid or powder detergent and read our dosing tips below. After all, plastic pods and pads are no kind to your washing machine, nor to the environment!

 

2. Ideal dosage: not too much, not too little

You have the right detergent, now you need the right amount! Check the detergent packaging for the correct dosage and do not use too much. Too much detergent can damage the fibres of the clothes. The result is that clothes start to stretch. With white laundry, the pitfall is to use too little detergent: this causes the whites to fade. Finding the right balance is therefore important for keeping your clothes looking good. Do you have trouble determining the right amount? Then consider investing in a washing machine that determines the right dosage for each wash load.

 

3. Wash at a lower temperature

What does the label of your clothes say? Look at the materials, not the percentages, and follow the instruction of the weakest fibre. For example, if there is 1% silk in your blouse, throw it in the pile for the hand wash cycle. Cotton is somewhat stronger and can also be washed at a higher temperature according to the label, but bear in mind that the label indicates the maximum temperature. By choosing a lower temperature you save energy, money and your clothes will be happier too. For example, wash your laundry at 30oC and only wash it at a higher temperature when it is really dirty. Does your washing machine have an eco-setting? Choose that one.

 

4. Sorting: colour and material!

In order to avoid unpleasant situations such as pink-coloured white laundry, sort the clothes by colour. But pre-sorting by material is just as important. So check the label before sorting as well! Most materials can be washed together with other materials, but check the most suitable wash cycle for each material and only then sort by colour. Woven Tencel (lyocell), for example, can best be treated as a delicate fabric to preserve colour and quality, and washed with the hand wash programme. In addition, always wash garments made of this material inside out and remove them from the machine immediately after washing to avoid white stripes on the fabric.

 

5. Inside out

Wash your clothes inside out, that way they will last longer!

 

6. Zip up and button up

To prevent the zip from damaging another garment, breaking itself or losing its shape, simply close the zip before it goes into the washing drum!

 

7. Laundry bag

Use a laundry bag for bras and other items with appliques to protect the clothes. Do you wash synthetic items like your bathing suit, mackintosh or sports leggings? Then use the GuppyFriend laundry bag to prevent microplastics from entering the seawater.

 

 

8. Finish what you started

Finish the washing and don't leave it in the drum too long. This can cause your laundry to smell. It is also good for the washing machine if you leave the door of the drum open after washing.

 

9. Take care of your washing machine

Does your washing machine have a strange smell? Then wash it with a boiling wash and a dash of vinegar. It is also a good idea to clean the rubber ring regularly. After all, a clean washing machine is a prerequisite for clean laundry!