Eco Wash Tips

Did you know?

  • Automatic clothes washers account for about 20% of our total indoor water use.
  • You can cut back water use by at least 50% using Eucalan.
  • The solvents most commonly used by dry cleaners are perchloroethylene and petroleum. Perchloroethylene is a known toxic air pollutant, which can have catastrophic consequences on the environment:
    • Perchloroethylene can contaminate water supplies and soils, making them toxic for the animals and plants that live there.
    • Perchloroethylene also contaminates aquifers, rendering the water that we could use toxic.

Many dryer sheets contain fragrance and other chemicals that can trigger asthma and disrupt hormones. In one study, researchers tested five name brand dryer sheets. The findings showed that the dryer sheets emitted 15 endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and chemicals associated with asthma. Evidence from studies suggests that EDCs can affect developing reproductive and nervous systems, metabolism, and cancer.

So try

  • Making it a full load or adjust the water level to the amount of laundry.
  • Hand washing when you only have a few items… It's easy using Eucalan!
  • Spot cleaning items that are not otherwise dirty.
  • Hanging or laying clothes flat to dry.
  • Using a wool dryer ball to not only dry clothes 15-20% faster, but to avoid the incredibly toxic side effects of dryer sheets (dryer sheets include known carcinogens, hazardous pollutants, and endocrine disruptors).

  • Running your washer and dryer at night.
  • Using warm or cold water rather than hot.
  • Pre-treating stains ASAP and let sit for 10 minutes prior to laundering.
  • Doing back-to-back loads in the dryer to take advantage of the fact that the dryer is already hot.
  • Cleaning dryer vents and lint traps regularly.

  • Adding a few drops of Eucalan instead of a conditioner/softener to the rinse water - this avoids build-up that occurs with other fabric softeners. Free of harsh chemicals, Eucalan is a safer alternative for waterways.
  • Using “wet-cleaners” rather than dry cleaners for specialty items and pressing.