9 Sustainable Habits for Laundry Days
If you're reading this post, I'm guessing you're someone who likes to take care of yourself. Which also means you like to take care of your things too! This goes for anything from your home to the clothes you wear every day. So it's only natural that you would want to keep your clothes looking brand new and fresh.
But how exactly do we go about doing this? Well, it turns out there are quite a few ways to make sure our clothes stay in tip-top shape—and I'm going to share them with you today!
Care Instructions Label
Alright you bought a new shirt, wore on that first date and now it’s time to wash it. But before you throw it in the washer, be sure to read and follow the garment label care instructions carefully. This goes for clothing and items made of fabric ( ie: tote bag).
Just think, when you buy new clothes, they come with all of the tags still attached. After a few months of use/washes, however, those tags begin to fall off and get lost in the laundry, then making it difficult to know how to wash your clothes properly.
Laundry Mesh Bag
A simple way to keep your clothes looking brand new is by using a laundry mesh bag. Especially on your dedicates. It can prevents rips and snags from happening during the washing process.
Inside Out
Washing your clothes inside out can prevent snags and rips from occurring during the washing process. Items with buttons, embossed designs or sequins will love this method. And when it comes to denim , this is a great way to prevent fading and bleeds.
Air Drying
Air drying your clothes can help preserve their color longer than putting them in the dryer will do. Letting them air dry will help them smell wonderful! You can also save energy by not running your dryer as much.
Cold Water
Wash your colors in cold water. Save the hot water washes for your gym attire, bed sheets, and your gardening clothes. The high temperatures can damage fabric dyes or cause them to fade faster than normal.
Vinegar
Use vinegar to help remove stains from white clothing or other light-colored clothing. It can help remove stains from dark fabrics like denim or silk by breaking down oils on the surface of the fabric. Vinegar is an all-natural solution that leaves no residue on fabrics or colors.
Bonus: Add white vinegar to your wash cycle as an alternative to fabric softener or dryer sheets (use about 2 cups per load). The vinegar acts as a natural fabric softener, which will make your clothes softer and less wrinkled than standard laundry detergents alone would do.
Dryer Sheets + Alternative
Only use dryer sheets that are made from recycled materials or natural products like lavender or citrus oils. Dryer sheets with harsh chemicals can stain clothes and release harmful fumes into the air when they're heated up by your dryer.