Magazine

Sustainability starts in daily life: it’s the small daily habits that, if done with the right care, allow to lead a more respectful lifestyle of the resources that surround us.

Do full loads

Avoid washing fewer garments at once: it is preferable to gather the right amount of dirty clothing for full loads in order to reduce the number of washes. 

Use eco-friendly washing programs

The majority of washing machines are equipped with eco-friendly washing programs, defined by longer cycles and less water waste. In any case, even without an eco-friendly program, it is important to avoid washing at overly high temperatures: washing at 30° and 40° will allow to save up to 70% energy without having to compromise to a less efficient wash. Be aware of pre-wash and fast washing programs: these are the modes that waste the most water.

Choose better quality detergents

For eco-friendly laundry the best detergents are the biodegradable ones which do not contain phosphates and other polluting agents. Fabric softeners should be avoided: the ingredients of which they are made of are toxic and poorly biodegradable. Be also cautious of the quantity of detergent: more detergent does not equal cleaner laundry, sticking to the quantity recommended on the labels will be plenty and more

Be aware of micro plastic

With washing, the synthetic fibers of which many garments are made of are dispersed in water as micro plastic. To tackle the problem, there are some commercially available special bags that can retain the plastic micro fibers found in fabric and reduce the amount that is dispersed in water.  

Use cloth dryers!

Tumble dryers are becoming more and more common but if your goal is a full eco-friendly approach, the best choice is to assign the drying to the good old cloth dryer. Besides avoiding an useless waste of energy, properly hanging garments and letting them air dry allows a thoroughly dry and crease free result.

Hanging clothes is often an underestimated task that we do not put much thought into, risking ruining our garments. However, some simple rules and caution for perfect crease free drying to keep in mind do exist. Hanging clothes with care allows to fully or partially avoid the iron! Here are some tips on how to hang garments in the best way possible.

Tips to Hang Garments Correctly

It is recommended to open and shake out clothing thoroughly as soon as it is taken out of the washing machine and before hanging it. Starting from larger garments to have the most space available, placing the laundry correctly and hanging the garments avoiding creases will ensure even overall drying and will allow us to avoid the iron.

Be aware of colored items: avoid piling them so that they do not shrink or get ruined. Do not expose them to direct sunlight especially on particularly hot days or in the central hours as the rays tend to cause colour fading. In these cases, hanging clothing upside down can help.

Rules for peg use. To avoid unattractive peg marks during drying some simple advice can be followed: skirts and trousers should be hung from the waist, shirts from the base of the collar and t-shirts along the sleeves or armpit area. Pegs can be avoided indoors or in a contained environment.

Other suggestions based on the garment type

Sheets. If a high clothes line to  hang sheets is not available, a cloth dryer can be used. Fold the sheets in four keeping one edge longer that the other and make sure they are hung on the lines in an alternated pattern in order to ensure greater air circulation and ease drying.

Delicate and easily misshapen knitwear and blouses: this type of clothing loses its shape quite easily. It is recommended to dry on a hanger.

Tights: to avoid peg marks, tights need to be hung by the tip being the most concealed area.

Bras: bras need to be hung by the hook side.

One last tip: garments that need ironing should not be allowed to fully dry. It is far easier to iron them while still slightly damp.

Not all garments are suitable for the washing machine: it is always a good idea to look at the label and check which is the most appropriate washing method suggested by the manufacturer but there are still cases where it is necessary to opt for different solutions. Let’s have a look at the garments that should not be added to the washing machine and at the best way to wash them..

Silk. Although every washing machine includes cycles for very delicate clothing, it is preferable to hand wash or to take your silk items to the dry cleaner’s.

Pillows. Pillow cases can be included in the load but it is not the same for the actual pillows. Washing machine cycles, which can be powerful, may damage the padding, the not very resistant seams and sometimes delicate materials. The best option in this case is dry cleaning. 

Metal objects. It is important to be aware of any metallic object that can damage the washing machine or end up in the filter: check trouser pockets for coins, hairpins or other small items that can disperse during the washing and make sure to put buttoned clothing or clothing with metal detailing in bags or cotton cases in order to protect the washing machine.

Microfiber. Microfiber is a type of fabric with a powerful absorbing capability that can be damaged by washing machine cycles. For this reason, manufacturers normally suggest to hand wash microfiber with lukewarm water and a little soap.

Lace garments. As for silk clothing, lace tablecloths, doilies and underwear should always be hand washed in lukewarm water and soap due to the very delicate nature of their fabric.

Trainers. Very often we are inclined to add fabric trainers to the washing machine but we do not usually get good results. The stains that appear on the laces and some specific areas of the shoe are normally difficult to get off and in some cases we risk damaging the fabric if particularly delicate.  The best way to take care of trainers is to wash them with a brush and some Marseille soap and then let them air dry outdoors. 

Last but not least, it is always a good idea to let garments naturally dry on the cloth dryer to save energy as well as extend the life of clothing. We just need to wait a little longer.