Guide: 8 Steps to save energy on garment care
Take this steps to save energy on garment care. You’ll learn some fun facts on the way.
#1 - Let it breathe.
We are so used to wearing clothes once or twice and then they’re going straight to the washing machine. Try airing instead. If it’s available to you. This could vary depending on your geo-location and the climate. Also, it can depend on your living space, and if it allows such practice. If possible, hang them or leave them on the terrace. Or, if you have a room that’s airy, just let the fresh air go trough the fibers and bring the garments crisp scent.
#2 - Keep it low.
When it comes to the laundry washing temperature. It’s best to wash on low temperature. Not only to save energy. Try to think about it. The fabrics that your clothes are designed with are made of fibers. It’s just like our hair. When it’s wet it’s more sensitive and easier to be damaged. Especially natural fibers such as silk. In addition the difference between 30 & 40 degrees, it now that impactful. Meaning, your clothes will be washed perfectly even with lower temperature. So, just try to keep it low.
Did you know?
By doing one cold load per week for a year, you could save the carbon equivalent of driving 123 kilometers.
#3 - Make it quick.
Try to use a quick cycle for washing. A quick cycle and a low temperature uses about half the energy of washing warm.
#4 - Wash full loads.
This might be tricky, but with good planing and some patience you can manage it. Wait for more garments to be “dirty” before machine washing. If you have something that you want to wear sooner that you expected or in case something is stained consider hand-washing. Take a look at our How to remove stains guide. Be careful not to overload the machine as well. Leave some space so that the clothes can move around. This way they'll be washed properly. It’s all about balance.
Did you know?
The average household does almost 400 load of laundry per year. That’s more than one load per day.
#5 - Give some scent.
Most often we spray perfume on our clothes. However, you can try using fabric scented fresheners, linen water sprays or clothing mists. The organic ones are usually a mix of water and essential oils. You could prepare them by yourself as well. Anyhow, they are used in between laundries. We recommend the natural linen water from Gröna Gredelina. Use it to freshen up garments after weathering and steaming or to spray on your garments before ironing.
They are available in few delicate and subtle scent scents:
Green lavender - Lavande ViridisSun
Warm washed cotton - Cottone PulitoSoft
Woody tones - Cashmere Legnoso
#6 - Steam you clothes.
Steaming between laundering could be good for few reasons. First it will polish all the wrinkles from wearing. Secondly it will reduce odor, bacteria and dust. There are few more reasons why and you can check our blog about it here.
#7 - Air dry.
This is quite simple and one of the best ways to reduce electrical energy from garment care. It’s a nice physical activity. Whether you do it in or outside. It’s always good to be sun warmed. Sun bleaches and disinfects. But on the other hand, you should some sensitive fabrics like silk away from direct sunlight.
Did you know?
Air drying saves an average of 369 KWN Of energy per year - the same as powering your lap top 8 hours/day for 750 days.
#8 - Go green
If you need to take a garment to the dry cleaners ask around for a eco-friendly option. Some dry cleaning methods these days are greener than others. Search for dry cleaners nearby that use the carbon dioxide cleaning method for example.
