Being Eco-friendly

There are constantly new innovations in the area of non polluting household cleaners and specialists who sell a range of additional laundry products, such “Eco Balls” which can be used as a replacement for detergent along with “Borax Dryer Balls” which are an eco friendly way to reduce the drying time of your clothes.  
There are several ways to be greener when you do the laundry. If lots of us make these small changes it can make a big difference. Of course, we still want our washing to be clean, fresh and not cost us any more.  
The idea is mainly to reduce the amount of energy we use. Because electricity produces co2 and heating water in your machine uses electricity which produces co2. And co2 is harmful to the ozone layer. The suns rays get in and then the heat can't get out so the planet keeps getting warmer. Then the glaciers and ice caps melt so the sea levels go up.
If we use eco friendly washing detergents, which impact on the waste water and biodegradability, we are taking a balanced approach to minimising the effects of our washing.
Simply switching from 40 degrees to 30 degrees uses around 40% less electricity, so switching from 60 degrees to 40 degrees is good and to 30 degrees is even better. You should get the same results as you would from a hotter wash, as modern detergents are powerful enough to wash as well at a lower temperature.  Although under 60 won't kill dust mites so perhaps keep your bedding on a 60 degree wash.
Although it's tempting to throw things in the washer on a fairly ad hoc basis, you should wait until you have a full load before doing a wash, or if it really can't be avoided doing smaller washes on a half load or economy programme.
Always switch your washer off standby, this goes for all the electrical appliances in your home. While it might not be possible for you to invest in a new machine right now, if you are looking to upgrade you might like to consider an Energy Saving Recommended washing machine
So, what's the difference between these and conventional washing machines? Well, you could cut your energy consumption by up to a third and saving the world from 42 kg of Co2.
Many conventional laundry detergents contain ingredients that can have a polluting effect on the environment. These include chlorine bleaches, petroleum-derived additives and phosphates, and domestic use of products containing these ingredients has as significant impact on the environment as industrial pollution.
Most supermarkets now stock a wide range of environmentally-friendly washing detergent so do look out for them next time you're shopping. 
Tumble dryers use lots of electricity which equals lots of co2 which equals heating up the planet as well.  The Environment Agency estimates that around £88 million is spent on powering tumble dryers in the UK each year.


Obviously it's often unavoidable to dry clothes in the dryer but wherever possible airing washing outdoors should be the preferred choice. If it's raining or just too cold outside, be sure to always spin clothes before putting them into the tumble dryer. Avoid drying clothes on radiators but for indoor drying a drying rack makes an eco-friendly alternative - open a window slightly to allow the damp air to escape and keep the door to the room closed.
For all your laundry, ironing and dry cleaning requirements, contact Iron Maids on 01622 870111, 01233 779009 or via iron-maids.co.uk