Clothes are an important part of our everyday lives. We rely on them to keep us warm and to protect us from the elements. But when it comes to taking care of our clothes, many of us are unsure of how to do it in a sustainable way.

When we are changing our everyday habits to become more sustainble, it is important to think about the weekly chores/ activities because when we change these, we are making a huge impact. Here are some simple ways that you can take care of your clothes sustainably:

1. Wash clothes on 15min express using the cold cycle.

The first way that you can care for your clothes sustainably is by washing them on a 15-minute express cycle using cold water. This will help to prolong the life of your clothes and save energy in the process. I know it sounds simple. However, the average person does 117 washes a year so even if you wash every second wash on express, you will be saving hundreds, possibly thousands of litres each year.

Tip: Choosing a 6kg load capacity washing machine with a 6-star rating that uses 30L per load instead of a 3-star machine using 80L per load will save this family 18kL and $54 each year.

2.  Hang clothes up on a clothesline to dry them up

The clothes Dryer is a beast of electricity sucker. Hanging your clothes up to dry is a great way to care for them sustainably. Not only does it save energy, but it also protects your clothes from the wear and tear of a dryer. If you don't have access to a clothesline, you can also try drying your clothes on a rack or in a sunny spot on your balcony. Furthermore, the dryer will ruin your clothes by shrinking them.

 

3. Make your own natural detergent

Another way to care for your clothes sustainably is by making your own natural detergent. There are many recipes online that you can follow, and this will help you to avoid using harsh chemicals on your clothes. You can use Soapberries as a natural laundry detergent.

Soap options

Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (Good) – Made with clean ingredients, this soap is widely available and works well for many. Depending on the type of water you have it **may** cause buildup over time, but then again, it may not. I use it on occasion when I don’t have my best option on hand, and it’s worked well for me. 

Kirk’s Castile Soap (Better) – This bar is made from coconut oil, which has got serious cleaning power when made into soap. It does have a little extra moisturizing oomph because it’s intended for skin, but it’s worked beautifully for me as a laundry bar. 

Pure Coconut Oil Soap (Best) – This three-ingredient homemade soap is my favorite because it doesn’t contain lots of added oil for moisturizing purposes. It’s easy to make and has excellent cleaning power. 

Pure Tallow Soap Flakes (Best) – This is my top store-bought option. I don’t know how they source their tallow, but the ingredients are good overall. 

Ingredients:

6 cups of washing powder.

3 bars of 4.5 – 5 ounce soap, finely grated

• Grate the soap on a coarse grater.
• Next, add the grated soap, washing soda and essential oil to your food processor.
• Blend the ingredients until they form a powder. You may want to place a dish towel over the top of your food processor to prevent any powder from floating into the air. Also, wait for the powder to settle before opening the container or it will float onto your kitchen counter.
• Pour the mixture into a clean, airtight container.

4. You can put your clothes in the freezer to remove smells as an alternative to washing

If you have clothes that are starting to smell but don't necessarily need to be washed, you can put them in the freezer for a few hours. This will help to remove any bad smells, and there would be no need to wash them again.

5. Mend holes make them last longer
If you have clothes with holes or tears, don't throw them away. You can mend them and make them last longer. There are many tutorials online that can show you how to do this easily.

6. At the end of the clothing life - check fibres are natural, and if they are, you can cut buttons or zips off into pieces and compost them.

By doing this, you are helping the environment and the plants that you are growing to thrive. It's easy, doesn't take up too much time, and your plants will be much happier.

 

 

We hope that this blog post has given you some simple ways that you can care for your clothes sustainably. Remember, sustainable living is

By following these simple tips, you can easily start caring for your clothes in a sustainable way!