Which Washing Machine Detergents Are The Most Ecological And Sustainable?

Washing clothes in the washing machine seems such a banal and everyday act that we hardly pay attention to it anymore. We always use the same products or we allow ourselves to be convinced by advertising and we try new things every time. However, it is worth paying a little attention to the laundry because many times we use products that are not really necessary, they are very expensive and on top of that they are not ecological and end up polluting the environment.

Sustainable detergents for the washing machine

Next we are going to give you some guidelines so that doing the laundry does not become a problem but is quick and easy and so that you get the best results for your clothes, for your health and for the environment.

1. Wash clothes with ecological detergents

When you buy detergents you have a lot to choose from. But much of the ingredients in supermarket shelf detergents are completely unnecessary petroleum derivatives, and some are even toxic. You can do without them because you don’t need them to wash your clothes. Bet on ecological detergents that have what you need to make clothes white. If possible, buy them in bulk in organic stores, so you avoid even the plastic container.

Ecological detergents are made from renewable raw materials such as vegetable fats and sugars that degrade without problems. They do not contain phosphates, other phosphorus derivatives, optical brighteners, flavors, preservatives or synthetic colorants.

Ignore advertising that includes words like “green” or “organic” on labels. Look for products that show an Ecocert endorsement. You can even make your own homemade detergent.

2. Avoid fabric softeners

Fabric softener makes clothes smell particularly good, makes them much softer, and ideally makes them easier to iron. But even if you like the scent and you love fluffy clothes, fabric softeners are unnecessary. He thinks that perfumes can trigger allergic reactions and can include endocrine disruptors in their composition. In addition, most fabric softeners contain animal fats that act as water repellants and worsen the results of subsequent washes.

If it seems absolutely necessary to use fabric softener, for example for towels, do not follow the principle of “much quantity works better” . Dose strictly according to the instructions, even if you have chosen an eco-friendly fabric softener.

3. No need for specific detergents

You can also eliminate black laundry detergents and disinfectant detergents. Normal detergents are sufficient to wash clothes hygienically, even at low temperatures. Keep in mind that disinfectant ingredients that include antibiotic substances in their composition can promote the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

You should only use higher temperatures if someone at home has an infectious disease or if you want underwear and cotton rags to look really good, as well as textiles that come in contact with pets. Clothes are hygienically clean with a 60 degree wash and heavy duty detergent.

It is common for people who do sports to want to use a disinfectant detergent, but that is not absolutely necessary. The odor can be eliminated by hanging the clothes after wearing them. It can then be washed with a normal detergent if the garment requires it. Particularly stubborn odors dissolve if the garment is soaked in 1 part normal vinegar and 3 parts water before washing.

4. When the water is hard

Hard or very hard water is not good for the machine in the long run and minimizes washing performance. However, modern eco-friendly detergents already contain water softeners so additional softeners are not necessary.

5. Three products are enough to wash clothes

One heavy-duty detergent, one colored detergent and one for fine fabrics like silk and wool – nothing else is needed for a perfect wash result.

• With a heavy-duty detergent, white and pastel colored garments are radiant and hygienically cleaned. Heavy-duty powder detergents clean more effectively and better than their liquid relatives. In addition, the powder presentation is more sustainable because it weighs and takes up less, so its transport in large quantities is cheaper. You should only wash colored clothing with heavy duty detergent in exceptional cases, when it is particularly dirty. On the other hand, you should avoid heavy duty detergents that are advertised as suitable for white and colored clothing at the same time. The whitening agents contained would cause the colors to fade in the long run.
• The colored detergent does not contain bleach, so it protects colored garments and is equally suitable for dark clothes.
• Fine fabric detergents are useful if you want to wash particularly delicate fibers such as silk or wool.

7. Keeping the washing machine clean is easy

In fact, sometimes we add disinfectant detergents because we have had the bad experience of seeing that mold has appeared in the drawer or because the machine is dirty and the clothes do not smell good. To keep the washing machine clean take the following measures:

• After washing , wipe the drawer to dry it and leave it open. Leave the door open too.
• You should also clean the rubber seal on the machine door regularly. Fibers, water and detergent residues accumulate in it.
• If none of this helps and the clothes still smell unpleasant, then you should take a look at the lint filter and clean it.
• Finally, it is advisable to run the machine without clothes at 60 ºC once or twice a month. So no biofilm has a chance.