Why the Way You Wash Your Clothes Matters
Today we’re touching on something that often gets overlooked: how our clothes continue to have an environmental impact even after we’ve bought them. Billions of garments and textiles are being washed every day in households and businesses around the world.
Of course, this isn’t news—clothes need to be washed. But have you ever really thought about the impact your laundry routine has, and how you could make it less damaging? Honestly, I never gave it much thought myself beyond pressing the “ECO” button on the machine. But after learning more, I realized there are simple changes that make a big difference. That’s why I want to share what I’ve found—because if we all take small steps, the impact adds up, and our clothes will last longer too.
Water & Energy Use
Washing clothes uses a lot of water, and when you use hot water, it also consumes large amounts of energy—leading to higher CO₂ emissions. High water use contributes to water scarcity, especially in areas with limited resources.
Here’s what you can do to save water and energy:
Wash only full loads to make every wash count.
Choose eco-cycles designed to reduce water use.
Wash with cold water whenever possible (bonus: it’s cheaper!).
Wash less often—ask yourself, does this really need a wash yet? A quick smell or spot-check can save you loads of unnecessary laundry.
Air-dry your clothes instead of using a dryer—it saves energy and helps your garments keep their shape.
Placing your washer closer to your water heater can reduce heat loss and save energy.
Detergents & Chemicals
Traditional laundry detergents often contain phosphates, surfactants, and synthetic fragrances. These chemicals contribute to water pollution by depleting oxygen in waters, making it harder for aquatic life to survive. They also leave behind micro-pollutants and plastic waste that can persist in the environment for years. Not to mention—they’re not great for our health either.
But there are better options today:
Look for eco-friendly detergents with plant-based ingredients, biodegradable formulas, and no harmful phosphates.
Laundry sheets are a newer, plastic-free option that’s more sustainable.
Your local natural or sustainable shop will usually stock good alternatives.
I’ve also gone a step further and started making my own detergent at home. To my surprise, it’s been simple, affordable, and effective. Plus, it saves plastic since I don’t have to buy bottles. I used a recipe by Mary Woita (five easy ingredients you just mix together), and I was amazed at how well it works.
Microplastics
Every time we wash our clothes, hundreds of thousands of microfibers—tiny plastic particles—are released into wastewater. Because they’re so small, treatment plants can’t filter them out, and they eventually flow into rivers and oceans. Once there, they harm ecosystems and enter the food chain (yes, that means they can end up in our food and drinking water—which is pretty crazy!!).
All fabrics shed fibers when washed, but the harmful ones are from synthetic clothing. These fibers don’t break down and can persist in the environment for decades, causing long-term damage. Natural fibers such as cotton also shed, but they usually biodegrade. However, if the clothing is dyed or chemically treated, even natural fibers can have a significant environmental impact.
Some things that we can do:
Luckily, there are tools that help stop fibers from reaching the water system—like filters, washing bags, and laundry balls. A few worth checking out are: PlanetCare, Guppyfriend, and Cora Ball.
I also learned that some fabrics shed more than others. For example, fleece (with its loose structure) sheds a lot more than tighter weaves, so it’s worth avoiding frequent washes for those items unless absolutely necessary.
Even the mix of clothing in a load matters. Washing jeans (rough fabric) together with fleece (soft fabric) increases friction, which causes the fleece to shed more fibers. I found this super interesting—and it definitely made me think twice about how I sort my laundry.
Conclusion
Overall, I just want to highlight how important it is to take care of the clothes you own. Taking good care of them increases their lifespan.
Some of the best things you can do are:
Extend the time between washes to prolong a garment’s life.
Use gentle cycles and air dry, since machine drying is very hard on clothing.
Spot clean when possible instead of washing the whole garment.
Use colder water (less fiber breakage).
Wash full loads (clothes rub less against the drum).
Avoid harsh detergents—gentler ones are better for fibers.
Use washing bags to reduce friction and protect smaller items.
I really hope you learned something new or at least got some insight into your washing routine and maybe noticed some things you’d like to adjust. This is something we all can improve on, which is great!
Thank you for learning with me and don’t hesitate to share this with your friends.
With love,
Petra
Sources:
European Environment Agency. (2022, February 10). Microplastics from textiles: towards a circular economy for textiles in Europe.
Carney Almroth, B.M., Åström, L., Roslund, S. et al. (2018). Quantifying shedding of synthetic fibers from textiles.
Götz, T., & Tholen, L. (2016, September 19). Washing machines – What can be saved worldwide. Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.
planetcare.org
