How to Wash Your Clothes More Sustainably

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How you wash clothes affects how long they last and how much energy and water you use. Small changes cost nothing. This guide pulls together practical advice from organisations that publish it, and says where the figures come from.

Why washing matters

A Hubbub article, supported by the knitwear brand WoolOvers, says washing accounts for about 15% of home water use, that modern machines use around 50 litres per load, and that how clothes are cared for accounts for about 25% of their environmental impact. The article does not cite an external study for those figures, so treat them as indicative.

Practical steps

Wash less often, and only full loads

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) advises washing clothes only when they need it, especially synthetics. Items worn for a few hours, or a fleece worn for a few days, can often be aired instead. Hubbub suggests filling the drum about three-quarters full, which uses water and energy better than two half loads without overfilling so clothes clean properly.

Wash at 30°C

Both MCS and Hubbub recommend 30°C. Cooler washes use less energy for heating and are gentler on fabrics. MCS says higher temperatures can damage clothes and increase shedding of fibres. Heavily soiled items, bedding or towels may still need a hotter wash, so follow the care label.

Use liquid detergent and gentler cycles

MCS notes that powders are more abrasive and loosen more fibres than liquids. Hubbub recommends gentler cycles. Shorter cycles and avoiding overloading also reduce friction between garments.

Air dry where you can

Hubbub says tumble dryers and heat wear clothes out faster and increase microfibre shedding. MCS says constant tumbling weakens fibres, which then shed more in later washes. Neither gives exact savings. Drying on a rack or line also saves the dryer’s energy use.

Look after zips, colours and delicates

Hubbub suggests zipping zips, separating colours, whites and delicates, and washing jeans and printed items inside out, using netted bags where useful. Following the care-label symbols helps garments keep their colour and shape.

Cut microfibre shedding

Synthetic fabrics shed tiny plastic fibres when washed. MCS reports that polyester fleece is among the worst shedders, with nylon and polyester also high. It also notes that fibres are lost in production and wear, so these steps reduce rather than eliminate release. To reduce shedding:

Wash less often and at 30°C, as above.
Choose natural fibres where they suit what you need; my sock comparison and organic cotton guide show how I weigh fibres.
Use a laundry bag or an in-machine filter. MCS says a Guppy Bag reduces microfibre release to wastewater by around 54% and that in-machine filters are 78% effective. These figures come from MCS, which campaigns for machine filters, so I have not independently verified them. MCS also suggests researching in-drum products before you buy.
MCS reports that fabric softener can cut shedding by more than 35%. I could not verify that figure or weigh it against the environmental downsides of softeners, so I have not recommended it.

A simple routine

Air a garment first. If it is not dirty, do not wash it.
Sort by colour and fibre, and zip up before loading.
Fill the drum about three-quarters full.
Wash at 30°C with liquid detergent on a gentler cycle.
Dry on a rack or line when you can.

For repairs when something does wear out, see basic clothes repair; and for choosing pieces that last, see the complete sustainable wardrobe guide.

What I could not verify

The Hubbub water and impact percentages, which have no cited study.
The MCS filter and softener effectiveness figures.
How much energy a 30°C wash saves in your own machine, which depends on the model.

Sources

This article is general information, not professional advice. I have not tested any products. Figures are quoted from the sources above and may have changed.