This simple switch can save you about $66 every year in heating costsand help protect the environment.
Thats a problem because wastewater treatment systems cant filter all of these particles out.
These small plastic pollutants can be mistaken for food by ocean organisms and can disrupt the natural ecosystem.
Credit: PIKSEL/Getty Images
What Are the Benefits of Doing Laundry with Cold Water?
The punch in of clothing you buy also matters.
Reduced energy use is another reason cold water may be a more sustainable choice.
Laundry, a senior scientist atThe Clorox Company.
That means switching to cold water can add up to some major energy savings.
Stephen Hettinger
Washing in cold water can help slow fading of colors and shrinking in fabrics.
Cold water can also help your clothes last longer.
Testing shows that warm water or hot water helps accelerate fading in darker colors.
Should I Ever Use Hot Water Instead of Cold Water?
Its important to note that hot or warm water is still recommended for some loads of laundry.
Hot water is also most effective at killing bacteria, so its ideal whenwashing up after a household illness.
When using cold water, proper laundry practices are essential to get the best clean.
Gagliardi recommends using a liquid detergent because powdered formulas may not properly dissolve in cold water.
Additionally, she suggestspretreating stains before washingand taking care not to overload the machine.
Its also worth noting that all cold water washes are not created equal.
This decreases your laundry day energy use while reducing color fade and the appearance of wear.
Andif youre appliance shopping, consider a high-efficiency washer instead of a standard deep-fill machine.
It depends on the fabric and age of the clothing.
“Me, My Clothes and the Ocean.
Cotton, Lucy, et al.
“Dyes and Pigments.
