Why everyone should do less laundry

Reducing your laundry

With the average person dedicating 2,175 days of their life to household chores, the trials and tribulations of running a modern home can take their toll. According to the same research, laundry is the second most time-consuming task, but what if we said doing less laundry has many more benefits than washing and drying away days of your life?

Here we reveal the benefits of doing less washing and how, with the right fibres, doing less laundry isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Save time

It probably goes without saying that doing less laundry will save a whole lot of time. There are many ways that you can save time and do less laundry every week. Making laundry a part of your every day may seem a little counterproductive but in the grand scheme of things can be a real time saver as No Fuss Natural explains:

“If you spend one entire day each week doing laundry, you may want to give the load (or two) a day method a try. Doing a load of laundry, from start to finish, doesn’t take that much time. Start a load first thing in the morning, then fold and put it away as soon as possible. You’ll be surprised how little time this takes. I timed myself once and was amazed!”

Pre-sorting your laundry, perhaps in a storage basket with built-in compartments for lights and darks, is another option that will reduce the time you spend on laundry from week to week. Being selective about your detergent – i.e. finding a product that actually works and offers a thorough clean the first time – will also decrease the need for rewashes.

Washing in basket

Save money

By limiting your laundry, you can spend less time and money on washing and drying your clothes.

Using the tumble dryer and washing machine on a regular basis uses tons of electricity, with the latter using its fair share of water too. With this, less laundry could mean lower household bills, something many of us need now more than ever as the cost of living continues to climb. You’ll also save money on the costs of detergents and softeners.

When laundry time does arrive, only wash clothes that are soiled. Check that you are using the right amount of detergent too. Many people simply fill to the very top of their cap when adding detergent, but the actual amount you need for the load and your water type may be much less.

More often than not a hot wash isn’t required. Lowering the temperature of your cycle to 30°C will reduce your cycle time and energy costs dramatically.

Save the planet

Using a lot of energy doesn’t just cost you, it costs the planet too. The washing machine and tumble dryer are among the appliances that use the most energy in the average household.

By doing less laundry, you’ll be minimising the environmental impact caused by over-exuberant washing and drying, and significantly reducing your home’s carbon footprint to preserve the planet’s precious resources. You can lower your carbon footprint further by using cold cycles, washing full loads, and air drying your laundry where possible.

If you can’t live without your tumble dryer, using our 100% natural wool Tumble Dryer Balls will cut your drying time and remove the need for liquid fabric softener to save energy, time and money.

Save your fibres

Washing and drying too much can significantly shorten the lifespan of natural materials, which means some of your favourite garments and accessories may not stand the test of time.

Wool is one fibre that should be washed less. Only wash wool when soiled, opting for a spot clean and a quick spritz of our Fabric Spray to keep your wool pieces looking, feeling and smelling fresh. A clothes brush – just like our Vegan Clothes Brush – can also remove dust, dirt, debris and hair to help revive various fabrics without washing.

Image: July Ko, New Africa / Shutterstock.com