How Green Is Your Laundry?

Your mother probably warned you not to leave the house without clean underwear, but are your whites green enough to pass muster with Mother Nature?

These days "clean and green" applies to more than solar power plants -- it's also how we all should do our laundry.

Take our simple quiz and we'll sort you into the right pile.

Comments

[Buffalo Bruce]

I recieved 5 out of 10 points for not separating my cloths to dry - and I do not own a dryer, I use the sun and wind.

That is not right.

Bruce

[S. Cagle]

The answers to Question 2 on how often you wash clothes are puzzling. [I lost 2 points on that one.] The comments following the evaluation are clear and on target. However, I find the last two answers could have the same right or wrong meanings depending on one's life style.

[Lucinda Hart-Gonzalez]

As many have said, laundry and lifestyles do not exist in a vacuum. When you ask about washing jeans vs. dress shirts, my husband and I live on an organic farm. Our jeans are DIRTY, even after one or two wearings. I MUST wash frequently (we're talking goat manure and other muck), in cold water, shaking our straw and other loose matter, scrubbing stain areas, line dry, and patch the quickly worn-out fabric. Endlessly. No options here for that. How many folks do patching??

[Blythe]

Maybe there should be some info about using baking soda, borax, oxygen cleaners, and vinegar to enhance cleaning efficiency without resorting to unnecessary chemicals, additives, perfumes, and dryer sheets (infused with who knows what)?

[Laura Peskin]

You're neglecting that hot water kills germs and odors. Remember a past quiz of yours- that stated that riding airplanes leaves the biggest environmental footprint- surprise !! Not those neglecting to recycle every bottle, but the jet set are more at fault for our environmental problems. I'm afraid of planes, so I guess I won't be committing that transgression. Move the dial to hot baby !!

[Miriam Dumer]

Too many questions did not include the answer that would have been correct for me. Often you ignored obvious and logical options.

[araminta]

i agree w/alice (2/26/8)--lighten up, guys! i found it fun and informative.the responses also added to my "knowledge bank".

[Sue Cross]

Some serious flaws in this quiz--it didn't allow a sorting answer that matched the FACT that I ONLY use cold water; nor did it allow for living in a rain forest where I do resort to dryer usage about 15 minutes per load so they won't mildew; nor for the fact that I pay ZERO for dry cleaning, ETC.

[Anna]

I am surprised how many people got seriously pissed at this simple survey.

On my end I found it amusing, and even a bit informative. It made me think of the subject, and seek more information on it, - if that was the intentend, then the authors achieved what they wanted. It was not perfect, but what is in this life, right? :)

Take it easy, guys!

[Alice]

I don't worry about size of load as my washer automatically adjusts amount of water to size of load. So I think I really earned more points than what I was awarded. Also how does one air dry clothes when you have no yard for a clothes line? Hanging sheets over the bath tub just doesn't cut it.

[margi]

the smugness in survey results and the murky, confusing options may keep some people from participating next time.

[Warren L. High]

I wash about once every three weeks. I have an old suds saver machine and do all four sorted loads with only slight added water each load to refill to load line. I wash whites including socks and underwear and shirts. Next colored shirts. next pants and work clothes. finally the rest. This automatically sorts my drying. I only add a small amount of additional washing fluid over the four loads. I think this should give me some added points.

[susan]

I agree with the person who said if you do a quiz do it right. If people take time out of their lives to take a quiz like this, they hope to learn something. With questions like #7, where there is no possible answer if you DON'T sort your clothes (because you don't need to if you use only cold water), what are you supposed to do? Go with the silly answer about right socks, left socks and Ralph Lauren? Not answer? Guess at what you're SUPPOSED to say even if it's not what you do? Sierra Club is supposed to represent an intelligent approach to environmental issues, so put some thought into these things before you take my time, please.

[filippine]

This is for people who live in small appartments and think they cannot do without a dryer: Use a washing machine with a good spindryer (frontload preferably).
An american clothes dryer has the seize of a small drying rack; so no excuses. Fold sheets and hang or put rack in bathroom or sunny spot in your appartment. Everywhere except in the VS people are doing it that way. Yes, also when they have babies and children
Good luck

[natasha]

The quiz is a good idea in principle, but the questions are poorly designed. Yes, my washing machine isn't as young and energy efficient as it might be, but it works well and I shall keep it as long as it does, using it as infrequently as I can. Are you seriously suggesting I should throw it out? And I only tumble for 20 mins at minimum heat just to get the creases out before I line dry everything and avoid ironing if at all possible. Perhaps combine everyone's comments and see if you can come up with some good tips for an ultragreen laundry style?

[Anne Morganstern]

Thanks for the tips. You need to credit those of us who have never had a dryer. We have a dry basement and a clothes line. Although I prefer the open air, this works just fine in the winter.

[Ed]

These questions and their answer choices are poorly worded for the most part.

[Natalie]

Artificially bad score: 1) I don't sort laundry because it all gets washed cold, 2) I don't even have a dryer--there is no provision for this answer, ETC.

[Carlene T]

You did not mention the question of what you wash and dry your clothes with - what products you use. It is easy to use too much soap - very little is needed despite the soap manufactures' instructions. You can use white vinegar in your rinse water and is cleans out the soap as well as germs. You can use "dryer balls" instead of dryer "sheets" to soften your clothes.

[Rod Miller]

I have bad gas. If I didn't wash my clothes after each wear they would smell like bad cheese. I am waiting for charcoal underwear but I know they would increase my carbon butt print. Someday we will have vegan rodeos too..just as soon as they can figure out how to keep from ripping the tofu head off.

[Gigi]

So my washer is over 5 years old. Your survey said it's time to do away with that appliance. The people using laundromats are told not to "beat yourself up" but we get scolded. That's pretty smug not to say shortsighted. Have you considered the resources that would be necessary to replace all the machines currently older than 5 yrs old? Where will my perfectly functioning machine end up? In some landfill. Maybe I should use the money I put towards my Sierra Club membership towards a new washer.

[Cass]

I live near Mt. Hood Chemical Company in Portland, Oregon. They sell a "laundry powder" soap, called C-20, in a 30 pound box. Looking for a soap source in the Manufacturers' Guide at the library, there was only one other West Coast source, in Oakland, CA.

I give some to my son, who gets a rash from detergents, and the rest lasts me a year.

The label on the box reads "Contains less than 0.5% phosphorus by weight, which is equivalent to 0.1 grams per ounce."
Also "Contains Sodium Metasilicate which may cause eye burns or skin irritation."

[Kim]

I agree with most of the other people commenting on this survey - it was very poor for all the reasons already cited. I think it demonstrates that the level of awareness at the top of the Sierra Club is out-of-touch on global warming, energy conservation, and the level of commitment of its members. Otherwise this flippant article would not have appeared.

The main reason I am writing however is to suggest to everyone a way to help the environment and their pocketbooks at the same time. If you live where there is adequate sunlight (most of the country, although not all)and own your own home, buying a solar hot water heater is a no-brainer at the present time. The federal government is offering a 30% tax credit for their purchase and some states offer even more on top of that. And many people will be receiving an economic stimulus tax rebate very soon, which they can apply to the purchase price. What better use for most people's stimulus tax rebate than to save them money in the long term and help the environment? The solar hot water heater we bought costs about $2,500 now. That may seem like a lot until you start subtracting all the rebates. First, subtract the 30% federal tax rebate (approximately $750), then if you live in a state that also gives a rebate, subtract that. Then apply your federal stimulus tax rebate check to the purchase price and you will find that the little out-of-pocket amount you have to pay will quickly be returned to you in lowered energy bills. Now, that's a win-win proposition!

Other than that, I'd like to comment on a few of the concerns expressed here. First of all, drying clothes on a line is not just for those who have yards. Up until the the not-so-distant past there were no clothes dryers and people in apartments still managed to get their clothes dried by doing it indoors on racks, hangers, etc. With electricity now, it is even possible to hang them under ceiling fans to speed the process, especially if you live in a humid climate. This uses some electricity but far, far less than a clothes dryer. We lived for years in the Florida Keys. A more humid environment is hard to find. We had no air conditioning or clothes dryer and still managed to dry our clothes - and without sun damage to them by keeping them in the shade, either outdoors or in. We now live in the midwest, where it is very humid in the summer and freezing in the winter,etc. and still we dry our laundry without a clothes dryer. For those who are unsure about how to dry bed sheets indoors, let me recommend making a rack to hold a folding umbrella-style clothes line to put them on.

Now for those who think drying clothes outdoors and then ironing them uses as much or even close to as much as drying them in a dryer, that isn't so. I was concerned about that very thing so we bought a gadget that measures the amount of energy an appliance or any other energy-user uses and found out that an iron draws far less than a dryer. Besides, not everything needs to be ironed after being hung on a line.

Last thing, for those who would like to buy a front loading washing machine when it is time to replace their old machine but are put off by the price, check your local appliance repair and sales shop for used front loaders. We did and found a 3-year-old Maytag front loader in perfect condition (traded in for a new computerized model) for $300 as opposed to its original $900 price tag and it's been doing a great job for the last 4 years.

I have to say that, although I was very disappointed in the article itself, I found the comments of readers both encouraging and helpful. There are lots of us who take all this seriously and are willing to do something about it.

[jade]

Vinegar is the one for fabric softening--just put it in the fabric softener dispenser. Make sure all the soap or detergent is rinsed out, give your clothes a little shake and they will dry smooth on a line or hangers in the basement. I've used this for years--iron is a 4-letter word!!

[Craig Below]

Our household started using an all natural product about a year ago after a friend E-Mailed us about it. This is not an endorsment for this product but I thought more people should hear about it. It's called Maggies Soap Nuts. It's the shell of a nut grown on trees in India. It's hypoalergenic, all natural,and has been used for hundreds of years as a natural cleaning product for laundry and has many other uses. As a person who can't stand wearing perfumed laundry soap or fabric softener on my skin all day this stuff has been great.

[Flo Sass]

The answers to many of these questions were not the answers I would have given. My husband works in construction in Florida, his clothes get very dirty and he goes through many shirts in a day due to the heat. Work clothes need to be laundered after one wear, but not all the rest of the clothes we wear. I have a great dryer, it stops and buzzes at me if it has any lint in the filter so you have to clean it after each use.

[Yasmeen Ariff-Sayed]

Your questions are slightly flawed. I didn't answer three of the questions as the answers didn't apply to me:

I don't use the dry cleaners
As I air dry clothes cleaning the lint or sorting clothes doesn't really apply

and I was given 0 points.

Do revise this quiz. Americans I feel don't really walk the talk.

[Marta]

The most obvious issue is that, regardless of what detergents and cleaners claim - it is impossible to be chemical free. If it were, it wouldn't exist. The so-called "green cleaners" cannot be produced without the use of non-plant based chemicals; this is truly false advertising.

[David & Judy Daniels]

I believe that we have a "true green laundry" because we use "LaundryPure". It only uses cold water, no hot water, no bleach, no laundry detergent, no fabric softener, or anything else. My clothes come out cleaner, brighter, softer, smelling fresh and sanitized. It kills germs, bacteria, mold, mildew, and the water will not hurt the environment. There are no pollutants to destroy the environment. This machine, "Laundry Pure" hooks up to any existing automatic washer. It saves money and saves the environment, so that later generations may enjoy the same things that we have enjoyed. Please call 541-679-4662 if someone wants to verify this by talking with me.

[Larry]

How do you change or clean the filters on a cloths line? Questions 9 and 10 supposes everyone uses a dryer. Well, I do use mine, for a nice place to stack clothes until they are put away.

[David & Judy Daniels]

I believe that we have a "true green laundry" because we use "LaundryPure". It only uses cold water, no hot water, no bleach, no laundry detergent, no fabric softener, or anything else. My clothes come out cleaner, brighter, softer, smelling fresh and sanitized. It kills germs, bacteria, mold, mildew, and the water will not hurt the environment. There are no pollutants to destroy the environment. This machine, "Laundry Pure" hooks up to any existing automatic washer. It saves money and saves the environment, so that later generations may enjoy the same things that we have enjoyed. Please call 541-679-4662 if someone wants to verify this by talking with me.

[Larry]

How do you change or clean the filters on a cloths line? Questions 9 and 10 supposes everyone uses a dryer. Well, I do use mine, for a nice place to stack clothes until they are put away.

[Bruce]

Simple-minded, Sunday Supplement type of survey. I especially take umbrage at the "energy Star" washer question. Ours is about 20 years old, a top quality brand that we purchased primarily for longevity, and we've never had to call the "lonesome repairman". Why would it be environmentally friendly to scrap a fully functional machine and replace it with a newly manufactured one just to save a few watts of electricity, when the energy and material footprint of manufacturing, shipping, marketing and selling the new machine would take many years to amortize with the small energy savings? For the same reasons, I'm still driving my 1997 Olds, which is still performing admirably at 110000 miles on the odometer, and still reliably getting 22 MPG around town, and 30 MPG on the highway. I'm looking forward to getting at least another 5-10 years out of both of my "energy hogs", and by so doing, minimizing my carbon footprint as well as keeping my wallet a little fatter.

[Catharine Krupp]

How you talk about Green laundry when you assume that we're going to use the dryer? I hang out my clothes (inside if it is rainy)
What's wrong with sun-power?

[Lesley]

I thought this quiz was going to be enlightening. The questions were right on, but the answer selections were way off. On more than half of the questions, I found there was not an answer that came close to addressing my laundry habits, and some of the answer selections all seemed to be the same. This was very disappointing. Next time the Sierra Club attempts to impart knowledge on its members/subscribers by offering a quiz such as this, I hope a little more thought and research goes into it. This is the type of thing that really takes away from the esteem and credibility of this organization on these types of issues.

[Keeta]

This quiz was a joke. Example:I rarely use the dryer so I only clean it every week or 2 after I use it! I was penalized for only cleaning it every two weeks when that's as often as I use it. Also my washer is over 5 years old because I can't afford $1000 for the front loader I want. And I also was penalized for dry cleaning when I do NOT dry clean anything. Thanks for the fun tho. Keeta

[Ellie]

I agree with most of the comments and suspect that the designers of the survey have never actually done their own laundry let alone laundry for a family or for people who need to wear uniforms or do manual labor. The comments were at a much higer level than the questions, never mind the scoring (which was really idiotic)

[Kim]

I got 61 out of 100 points. I do much better than that. On half the questions, I had to choose an answer that didn't fit. I do use a laundromat even though I own my place and there is only one in town. I have to drive 14 miles each way to get to the next one. I don't sort my clothes, I stuff EVERYTHING into a 4 load washer every two weeks. I line dry unless the weather is going to be totally uncooperative and then I only dry part of my clothes and hang the rest up. Sometimes I hand wash some of my clothes outside in a bucket in warm weather. I do like silk and wash it before sewing it. Dry cleaner? Maybe for a wool coat. This survey might get a few people to think but I already knew about energy saving. I save as much energy as possible. I use cloth towels and dishrags. I use papertowels for cleaning up after my cats when needed.

[Diane Harrison]

I thought the survey really lacked any indepth look at washing. I scored lower because there were not enough valid responses. I don't dry clean, everything is washed in cold water, I don't sort colors - why, nothing really bleeds in cold water, I don't sort for the dryer because I've already sorted by weight for the wash, I admit to not having an energy efficient washer but that is on our list for this year, can't hang out clothes - too humid.

[dana]

You fail to mention front loading washers which used less water but also the same amount of water whether it is a large or small load.

[Catherine Teegarden]

The most toxic thing that people do with laundry is use those scented "dryer strips" in dryer. They make the entire neighborhood smell like disgusting perfume, they cause sudden infant death syndrome, and if that's not enough, they poison themselves when they wear the clothes and everybody around them. If someone comes into my house with that stuff on their clothes, I have to ask them to leave right away. My throat closes up. If I'm out in my yard and a neighbor is venting that dryer strip poison, I have to go indoors and shut all windows.

[Mike Vance]

Gee, if you live in South Texas like I do and you're not washing your polo shirt after every wearing, I sure hope I'm not sitting at the next table in July.

[Karen Vasil-Busch]

Why did not have a question about solar domestic hot water? Have you forgotten?

[Kristina LaCelle-Peterson]

I enjoyed the quiz except for the fact that for many of the questions there was no option that fit my laundry practices. Therefore my score was skewed.
More fair options next time. Thanks.

[Ray]

Now I'm really impressed. The comments that I made are credited to someone else and my name is on another comment which I agree with but I didn't make. Ray.

[Autumn]

vinegar=fabric softener, hydrogen peroxide=bleach alternative, and vegetable based vs. petroleum based soap are cheap and easy 'green' ideas too

[Sarah]

Thanks for trying and... Among so many other things about this survey that did not work for overall environmental betterment, the presence of any mention of what type of soap/detergent/cleaning agents being used is enormously and unfortunately neglected.

[tye]

I was disgusted with your survey - where would you like for me to hang a weeks worth laundry when I rent and have no yard or clothesline? I am forced to wash my work clothes after each time they are worn and wash with hot water in order to destroy bacteria from the dental office that I clean teeth in. I am very environmentally conscious and found this survey to be insulting and onesided (not based on reality)

[Dominik]

Wow, I realize this quiz was supposed to be fun, but like others I was quite disappointed by its limited choices and "answers." I learned far more from others' comments here (which I suppose means the quiz in one way achieved a purpose).

It's just a shame such a narrow, simplistic piece received top billing on this issue of the e-letter. While its failings stirred conversation here, that is not the best way to gain or nudge along converts to the cause.

[Ray]

I thought that this survey was stupid. To think that we should all rush out and buy the latest Bush administration certified green appliance is almost as silly as the Bush administration giving an EPA/DOE seal of approval for appliances. The correct answers almost never appear among the choices and the next question either contradicts the previous or your own explanation contradicts your choice of answer. For example: question 4. Do you use cold instead of hot water to wash your clothes? Your Answer: Always 10 out of 10 points. Then in your explanation you say: “When you do use the hot setting...” Then on ? # 7, you want me to sort my clothes into three temperature settings: “Your washer comes with three temperature settings -- hot, warm, and cold -- so sort accordingly.” If “always” is the correct answer on number 4, then there is no using hot water or sorting for temperature.

I don’t know what “street cred” is (my spell check underlined “cred”); but you accuse me of washing my clothes too often in another generalization. I live in the humid southern US and I’m a mail carrier. I walk 14 miles a day and at the end of the coldest days of the year I can smell myself. Do you want me to deliver your mail at the Sierra Club office? After wearing the same clothes for how many days? No, you would be getting a PU box. :)

I own one article of clothing that requires dry cleaning and it was a gift from a wealthy relatives. Green persons avoid dry cleaning as you seem to be saying in question 8. However, you just got through granting us $25.00 per month for our dry cleaning bill back in question 6. The correct answer would have been zero dollars a month except when a wealthy relative gives you a $1500.00 personally tailored suit that you only wear to weddings and funerals and dry clean maybe once a year.

I could go through every question and invalidate each of them, but you readers have already done that. In fact, after being insulted by these questions and correct answers, I was overjoyed to read your responses here. You the members are the reason the Sierra Club is great. Together we will make the changes that reduce our footprint on planet Earth. Each in our own way depending on where we live and what we can afford. For example one of you mentioned solar heating of your hot water, I was told by an energy expert not to install solar panels on my roof, but instead to use an on demand hot water heater. If you live in the Southwestern US the situation might be just the opposite.