Cold Water Wash - One Little Thing

Since they were popularised in the 1950s, washing machines have made hand washing a pile of clothes a thing of the past. However, like many other innovations of the last century, there is a considerable cost to the environment associated with them.

Washing machines use up to 19 billion cubic meters of water annually. They also emit an estimated 62 million tonnes of CO2-eq greenhouse gases each year. However, there are simple, effective ways of reducing the impact of your washes, including simply turning down the heat...

Advances in technology mean that most detergents on the market today are just as effective in a cold wash, as they are in a 40°C wash.

Apart from reducing your carbon footprint, there are many other benefits to Cold-Water Washing your clothes:

These include:

• Reduced risk of fading & shrinkage

• Reduced energy costs

• Some delicate fabrics do best in cold water

Despite the benefits, there is still a perception that it’s better to wash clothes at 40 degrees or higher... thankfully this is slowly changing.

So, this week do one little thing to reduce your footprint & try a cold water wash for yourself.