Your Laundry Detergent Could Be Harming the Planet: It’s Time to Switch Now

The daily habits that we do every single day can have a tremendous impact on the planet. In fact, using too much laundry detergent can actually have a negative impact on the environment. 

You will know that you are using too much laundry detergent if you have ever taken your load of washing out of the dryer only to find your garments stiff and starchy. While you need detergent to help get the stains out and get your clothes clean once again, too much of it can be a bad thing. 

The last thing you want is to have to wear uncomfortable clothes that scratch your skin. This is why you should be mindful of how much laundry detergent you are using. But it gets worse than just that. Too much detergent can also cause a lot of harm to our shared planet. 

In fact, did you know that every single load of laundry that you do, you can end up releasing nearly a million microscopic fibers into our water system? It is this that can lead to very damaging effects on the environment and our planet. 

But hope is not lost. Using eco-friendly alternatives like laundry detergent sheets can help prevent large quantities of microplastic from going out into the environment. At the end of the day, it not only harms wildlife but harms us too. A recent study even found that the average human has a credit card worth of plastic inside of them from the microplastics they have consumed through various food and water. 

If you want to help save the planet and have a real positive impact while doing your daily house chores, check out these eco-friendly laundry alternatives 

1. Use Eco-Friendly Detergent

There is standard laundry detergent. And then there is eco-friendly detergent. The best alternative options are the ones that are equally zero waste too. This means that using eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets will help ensure that there is no unnecessary waste or plastic used while equally making sure your clothes come out of the washing machine cleaned and soft. As you reconsider your laundry choices for the sake of the planet, it’s worth exploring alternatives such as the use of the best eco-friendly laundry detergent, which can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

2. Use Soap Nuts

Have you ever heard of this hack? You can actually use a bag of nuts when washing your clothes—giving you a literal all-natural way to do so. These nuts come from India and Nepal and contain saponins, which is a natural soap. These nuts have not only helped small Himalayan communities earn an income but equally helped their own environment too by preventing erosion of their surrounding hills. Who knew that nuts could be so beneficial for both laundry and the environment? 

3. Do Fewer Loads

While it is tempting to do a load of laundry every day, the frequency of using a washing machine not only wastes energy but equally creates a higher risk of microplastics entering the environment. Instead, try switching it up to where you only do one load of laundry per week. This small change can make a huge impact on our environment—especially if everyone joined in. 

4. Make the Water Cold

When possible, choose to wash your clothes with cold water rather than warm water. Even if your clothes are dirty, you can soak them first and then run a load on cold. You will be amazed at how well the dirt comes out and how clean they still feel. So whenever possible, choosing cold water over warm water is best for the environment. 

5. Take Time to Sort

While this often seems tedious, sorting your laundry really does matter—and not just for the sake of your clothing. In fact, you can sort out your laundry and help the environment too. This is because the weight of your clothes will impact the amount of energy used and the amount of laundry detergent needed. In reality, it will only be a few minutes of your time and have a tremendously positive effect on our planet. 

6. Remove Stains Manually

While we do have the convenience of using a washing machine and laundry detergent to get stains out of your clothes, you can equally remove stains by hand too. All you need to do is use kitchen staples like salt, vinegar, and baking soda. Simply combine the ingredients, let soak, and then start cleaning. Doing the old-fashioned way will help cut down on the number of times you actually need to rely on the washing machine. 

7. Limit Detergent and Maximize Air Dry

Another great way to switch it up and benefit the environment is to cut down on the amount of laundry detergent used, switch to laundry detergent sheets, and then air dry outside. This will not only help reduce the electricity and detergent used but ensure your clothes dry fresh and soft. 

Conclusion

With so many great laundry hacks that save the planet, what will you switch up first?