Doing laundry probably isn’t your favorite chore (visit our careers page if it is), but it does present one of the easiest opportunities to shrink your personal environmental footprint. With just a few simple swaps, informed washing habits, and some planet-friendly tricks, you can save energy, use fewer harsh chemicals, and keep your favorite clothes looking fresh longer. These eco-conscious laundry hacks are easy to adopt and surprisingly effective, and when you want the deepest clean with the smallest impact, Dependable Cleaners offers decades of green dry cleaning expertise.   

Wash with Cold Water Whenever Possible

Washing with cold water is one of the most impactful eco-conscious laundry choices you can make (plus it’s actually better for your clothes!). Heating water uses the majority of the energy in a wash cycle, so going cold slashes your footprint instantly. Modern detergents are formulated to dissolve and clean efficiently in cool temperatures anyway, giving you the same clean without the environmental cost.

Cold water also:

• Helps maintain color vibrancy
• Prevents shrinkage
• Reduces wear on sensitive fibers

It’s a simple change that pays dividends on every load. 

Use Eco-Friendly Detergents

Conventional detergents can contain dyes, phosphates, and synthetic fragrances that linger on fabrics and enter our waterways. Choosing a biodegradable, plant-based detergent reduces chemical exposure for your family and the environment.

Eco-friendly detergents also:

• Rinse out more cleanly, preventing residue buildup
• Are often packaged in recyclable or low-waste containers
• Work just as effectively on everyday grime

If someone in your home has sensitive skin, the gentle, fragrance-free formulas are an added bonus.

Skip the Fabric Softener

Fabric softeners might make clothes feel silky at first, but they coat clothing with a residue that can trap odors, weaken moisture-wicking materials, and contribute to environmental pollution. For many households, skipping them entirely is a major win.

Try these natural, greener alternatives:

• A little white vinegar in the rinse cycle can soften clothing without buildup. Try adding ½ cup to your washer’s fabric softener compartment. 
• Wool dryer balls can reduce dryer time and static, and don’t contain chemicals found in traditional dryer sheets. 
• Baking soda boasts brightening, deodorizing, and softening properties. Add a ½ cup directly to your machine for regular-sized loads. 

These options are effective, inexpensive, and safe for a variety of delicate fabrics.

Air-Dry Whenever You Can

Air drying is one of the most sustainable laundry practices you can adopt, and one of the best for your clothes! Even modern home dryers consume a huge amount of energy, and high heat can shrink clothing, fade colors, and damage elastic fibers.

Air drying also helps:

• Prevent micro-tears in fiber structure
• Maintain fabric shape
• Reduce static cling naturally

Hang shirts on a drying rack, lay sweaters flat to prevent stretching, and position heavier items near airflow to speed up drying time. Make sure not to hang vibrantly colored or specialty fabrics in direct sunlight to prevent fading.

Run Full Loads, but Don’t Overstuff

Washing full loads saves water and energy, and while it might be tempting to stuff as much clothing in the washer as you can, filling the machine too full prevents articles from being properly cleaned.

If your clothes come out soapy or crumpled, that’s a sign of overcrowding.

A properly filled washer should be about ⅔ to ¾ full, giving everything enough room to get thoroughly rinsed.

Wash Less Frequently

Most clothes simply don’t need to be washed after every wear. Overwashing breaks down fibers faster, wastes water, and slashes the lifespan of your wardrobe. The official guidance from Levi’s, for example, is to only wash their denim after every 10 wears.

To keep your clothes fresh in the meantime, try: 

• Steaming between wears to remove odors
• Spot-treating spills or small stains
• Hanging garments in fresh air to refresh

Denim, sweaters, outerwear, specialty items, and dress pants all benefit from fewer trips through the machine. 

Upgrade to a High-Efficiency Washer (If You Can)

High-efficiency (HE) washers use up to 50% less water and require less detergent, making them one of the most environmentally friendly investments you can make at home. Their design also protects fabrics with gentler agitation, meaning your clothes look newer longer.

Let Dependable Cleaners Help You Go Even Greener

When it comes to truly sustainable garment care, Dependable Cleaners leads the way. We’ve been pioneers in eco-friendly dry cleaning since the 1970s, working hard to innovate better ways to keep clothes and the planet clean. 

Our green dry cleaning practices include:

• DF2000, a gentle, odorless, biodegradable solvent
• Perc-free dry cleaning, eliminating exposure to toxic chemicals
• Green processes that help fabrics last longer
• Recycling programs for hangers, bags, and packaging
• Energy-efficient equipment to reduce waste at every step

For delicate fabrics, wool, silk, professional attire, and anything labeled dry clean only, we offer a safer, smarter, more Dependable clean.

Find a location near you, or call 303-777-2673 to get started.