Similar to the kitchen soaps, commercial laundry detergent creates problems for marine ecology. The phosphates, chlorines, perfumes and anti-caking agents all play a role in disrupting the quality of marine water. Buying laundry detergent that is marked as environmentally sensitive is helpful. All detergents will bio-degrade; the larger question to be asked and answered is how long will it take to go back to nature, so choose carefully.
Here are some other ways to change our habits, and utlimately change the amount of resources we use for laundry:
- Set water level accurately to the amount of laundry in the machine
- Run only full loads of wash as much as possible
- If given the option, choose to buy a front loading machine
- Wash dark colors in cold water and white colors in warm – using cold water is less of a drain on the hot water tank and your clothing
- For stains, choose to pre-treat with soaking rather than using harsh chemicals
- Begin to reduce and possibly eliminate bleach and fabric softners
- Hot water, bleach and hot dryers will literally rob you of months and years of your clothing, and the dryer lint represents a loss from clothing