Over the course of their life cycle our clothing and linens will undergo numerous washes, and each of these washes has an environmental impact. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much effort to reduce that negative impact. This is what we at TUC call responsible laundry. We created this article to offer you a few different alternatives that you can gradually incorporate into your routine, to make a big impact in your laundry room.
So what does responsible laundry entail?
1/ Solid products
Solid products are at the top of our list for the easiest changes you can adopt to switch to responsible laundry, and we are very proud to be able to offer you our laundry tabs. Because the tabs are solid, we can offer them without plastic packaging. The product being concentrated, it is more compact and less heavy, which has a positive impact on all the delivery steps from our warehouse to your door. Finally, you will waste less product by always having the exact quantity you need! Nothing gets left behind.
For removing tough stains and hand washing delicate items, Marseille soap has long been a favourite. Used for over 100 years, it’s super effective as a pre-wash product to treat small, everyday stains. Simply scrub the moistened stain with soap and soak the garment in cold water before adding it to a regular load.
And if your clothes need a touch of magic, our Natural Laundry Whitener + Brightener keeps whites white and colors bright, and effectively removes even the most stubborn stains and grease spots. Environmentally friendly and chlorine free, you can use it with every load or pre-soak your clothes for 24 hours to get amazing results!
2/ Cold water washing
All our soaps are formulated to be 100% effective in cold water. Cold water means less energy demand. A benefit for your wallet too! You are also less likely to shrink your clothes or fade colours when you use cold temperatures and this allows you to extend their life cycle.
3/ Air drying
Whenever possible, it is always best to air dry (indoors or outdoors). Choose wooden accessories (clothes hangers and pegs) which are more durable than plastic ones. You don't have to get rid of the ones you're using now, but keep that in mind when it comes time to replace them. With spring just around the corner, this is a beautiful way to bring some freshness into your home with fresh smelling sheets!
4/ Dryer balls
It’s true that there are items that are not designed to be air dried and sometimes air drying just isn’t an option. Consider adding dryer balls (between 3 and 6 depending on the size of your load) and lowering the temperature of your dryer. Drying time will be reduced by up to 25% (once again, great savings!) and your clothes will be naturally softer, less wrinkled and there will be almost no static when they’re done.
5/ Cleaning vinegar to the rescue
Cleaning vinegar is an underused part of the laundry routine, yet it has many uses! First and foremost, vinegar is an excellent deodorizer. Despite its own strong odour, there is no better way to remove sweat and mildew (think of wet towels left in the laundry basket all week). It is also very effective in preserving dark colours and bleaching light-coloured clothes. Your clothes will also be softened and your washer will benefit from cleaning with every load!
Just pour half a cup of cleaning vinegar directly into your load and add a little vinegar to the fabric softener compartment of the machine.
6/ Brush and air out your clothes between washes
Take a moment to decide if machine washing is the answer: sometimes all our clothes need is a little brushing and some air in between washes. Our lint brush to remove the pet hair can go a long way. You can use it on your clothes, linens and upholstery. A good brushing can also make woollens look new again. It never hurts to give your garments a quick turn on the line to air them out between washes.
