Doing the laundry – a required task each and every week – is one of the most energy intensive things you do in your home.

Typical electric clothes washers and dryers generate 2.27 kilograms of CO2 per washer/dryer cycle.

By developing energy efficient laundry skills, you’ll not only save money but also reduce your global warming greenhouse gas emissions.

A typical Canadian household does 6.3 loads of laundry a week, using 810 litres of water. This converts to more than 327 loads of laundry and 42,000 litres of water a year.

There are lots of ways to get clean clothes, save money and energy as well as make the planet happy.

It all begins with your washer. Front loading washers use about 40 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than top loaders. Front-loading washers clean better and are gentler on your clothes.

If you’re in the market for a new washer, be sure to buy an Energy Star labelled washer. It will use 35 to 50 percent less water and up to two-thirds less energy than conventional washers. The average family can save up to $100 each year in costs by switching to an Energy Star labelled clothes washer compared to a 1994 model.

Next comes the water – keep it cold. Between 85 and 90 percent of the energy used to wash your clothes is used to heat the water. Use cold water and you’re a big winner to the tune of another $100 annually and 130 kilograms of prevented greenhouse gas emissions.

Converting to cold water washing for one year will save an amount of energy equivalent to approximately 190 litres of automobile gasoline. This is equal to driving 1,610 kilometres in an average car.

If all the households in Canada switched to cold in their washing machines, about 1.5 billion kilograms of CO2 emissions would be saved. If all British Columbians switched to cold water washing for a year, BC Hydro says we would save enough electricity to power BC Place for over seven years.

Most of the laundry products in mainstream stores contain artificial dyes, clingy perfumes and petroleum-based chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic or hormone disruptors. Look instead for non-toxic, cruelty- and chemical-free products.

Ecover and Seventh Generation are international companies that make a variety of ecological laundry cleaners. Quebec’s Biovert and Toronto-made Nature Clean are good Canadian choices for your clothes washing needs.

High-efficiency washers also reduce the energy required for drying clothes. After completing the rinse cycle, these washers spin the clothes faster than conventional machines, lowering the moisture content of the clothes.

This makes it possible to eliminate the need for a dryer altogether. In winter, just use a sturdy drying rack in your house and in summer hang your clothes outside.

If you must have a dryer, be aware that up to one-third of your household’s energy usage could be used tossing your clothes around in hot air. A new Energy Star model will save you about 300 kilowatts a year in energy over 1984 models.

After you’ve switched the dial on your washer from hot to cold water, these additional suggestions will save you more money on your laundry energy and CO2 bill:

• Don’t wash clothes until they’re actually dirty. Hang them up after each wearing to let them air naturally.
• Only wash a full load of clothes.
• Don’t set the dryer for maximum time and leave it running. Set the timer for a shorter cycle and check midway. When towels are partially dry, remove them and let them hang to dry.
• An electric iron uses a lot of energy. Take clothes out of the dryer promptly and fold or hang them to prevent wrinkling and avoid ironing.

By following these simple laundry tips you won’t be in hot water and hung out to dry when you get your electricity bill. Best of all, your dollar savings are good for the planet.

Who would have thought that how you do your laundry could be so rewarding?