Five ways to make your laundry more sustainable

A long, hot shower is less eco-friendly than a quick, cooler one – and the same logic applies to your laundry. Lowering the temperature of your wash makes a big difference to cleaning up your carbon footprint. Consumers in Europe wash their laundry, on average, at 42.6°C .* By just turning your wash temperature down from 40°C to 30°C, you can reduce the carbon emissions of your cycle by up to 35% – which equates to over 3.5million tons of CO2 per year. That’s the equivalent of removing up to 2 million cars from the road each year and proves how every degree lower you choose makes a real difference.

From the polar ice cap to the Pacific, synthetic microfibres spat out by household washing machines are one of the main sources of plastic pollution. Every time you wash your clothes, thousands of tiny microfibres from the fabric are released into rivers, the sea and the ocean, causing marine pollution. The solution? Only toss clothes in the wash when they really need it – and invest in a wash bag to pop your laundry in that captures fibres in the machine. It’s important that you wash in energy efficient cycles and wash complete but not overfilled loads. You can also prevent your microplastic impact by choosing eco-friendly fabrics made from plant-based fibres such as organic cotton and linen over synthetics like fleece, nylon and polyester.

The most carbon-intensive part of dealing with dirty clothes is drying them, due to electricity-guzzling tumble dryers. On average, using a tumble dryer for a year emits more carbon than a tree can absorb in 50 years.* Skipping it can make a real difference to your carbon footprint, and significantly lower your annual energy bill. Whenever possible, use a high spin speed so clothes come out of the washing machine almost dry, and then hang on a washing line or an indoor drying rack. You can take the freshness of your laundry up a level with Lenor Outdoorable fabric conditioner for that incredible outdoor line-dried feel even when you dry your clothes inside.

With at least 40% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from households, reducing the carbon footprint of your home has never been more vital.* Investing in an energy-saving washing machine is a good first step to becoming greener at home. The new wave of eco-friendly smart appliances is equally renowned for getting rid of stubborn stains at low temperatures as reducing energy and water consumption – so you’ll also save cash while keeping clothes in tip-top condition. Whichever labour-saving appliance you employ, aim to use the shortest cycle, a ‘quick wash’ setting, and avoid half loads – only toss those socks in the wash when you have an adequate pile to reduce water and energy wastage.

A sustainable laundry routine isn’t complete without considering the products you buy – and big impact comes in small packages. Concentrated fabric detergent and conditioners have reduced packaging, and a smaller carbon footprint due to more product being shipped using less space and fuel. Plus, they deliver more bang for their buck. Lenor Outdoorable ultra-concentrated formula is 2.5x more concentrated than other Lenor fabric conditioners, giving you 60 washes in a small bottle – and will help extend the life of your laundry by protecting clothes from damage in the wash. Remember to always check products are safe for the environment and use packaging that is fully recyclable to avoid clogging up landfill. Lenor Outdoorable bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic (excluding the cap and sleeve) and, once the perforated sleeve is removed, are fully recyclable. It’s manufactured using 100% renewable energy and, for every wash load, contains 25% less packaging compared to Lenor’s key size.