Eco-friendly laundry tips & sustainable practices

13 Eco-friendly laundry tips

Making a few simple changes to your laundry routine can help you care for your family and the environment. Explore the following eco-friendly laundry practices to get started on your sustainability journey.

1. Wash clothes less frequently

Before you toss clothes into the laundry hamper, give them a closer look. If there aren’t any apparent stains, soils or odors, you may be able to save water and energy by giving your items an additional wear before they need to be washed.

Extending the time between washes isn't just a win for the environment; it can be a win for your wardrobe, too. Frequent laundering can lead to fabric shrinkage, faded colors and overall wear and tear. By washing only when necessary, you can help maintain the quality of your garments.

2. Run full loads whenever possible

Waiting to do your laundry until you have a full load can help reduce the amount of energy used throughout your laundry routine. Washing machines typically use about the same amount of energy for each load size; just be sure you don’t overload your machine.

It is important to note that your washer’s water usage can vary depending on the cycle you select. If you’re in a pinch and need to wash a smaller load, be sure to select a cycle that’s appropriate for your load size.

3. Treat your clothes with extra care

Being gentle with your laundry may help preserve fabric quality over time—and in turn, could reduce how often you need to replace items. While results can vary depending on the garment and use, treating your clothes with care is a simple way to support more sustainable habits. Consider the following steps to help your wardrobe last:

• Check care tags before you buy and wash: Always review the garment’s care tag for recommended water temperatures and wash settings. Checking these labels before you even purchase an item can help you understand if it’s prone to shrinking or requires specialized care like "dry clean only."

• Fasten and empty: Fasten buttons, zip zippers and empty pockets before starting a cycle to help reduce unnecessary wear and tear on fabrics.

• Sort by color and fabric: Sort your laundry by whites, colors and darks to help avoid bleeding or excessive friction between different material types. This is also a key step to help keep clothes from fading over time.

• Use protection for delicates: For added protection, consider turning garments inside out—especially when using detergents designed for dark clothes—or using mesh laundry bags for fragile items.

• Don't overfill the machine: When it's time to wash, avoid overloading the drum and choose a Gentle or Delicate cycle for fragile fabrics.

• Keep it cool to prevent shrinking: One of the most effective ways to prevent clothes from shrinking is to wash with cold water. High temperatures and heavy-duty cycles are more likely to damage fibers and change the fit of your clothes.

• Dry with care: Use low heat, Tumble Dry or Air Dry settings to help minimize wear. Avoid overdrying, as long cycles of high heat can cause fabric deterioration over time. To finish, promptly hang or fold clothes after drying to help maintain their shape and help avoid wrinkles.

• Measure your detergent: Avoid using too much detergent, as excess suds can actually lead to fading and residue buildup on your favorite outfits.

4. Use HE detergent

Using high-efficiency (HE) detergents helps get your clothes clean while producing less suds and using less water than traditional laundry detergent when used in an HE washing machine. High-efficiency laundry detergent is specifically formulated for high-efficiency washing machines, allowing you to reach an optimal cleansing in low water levels and a shorter cycle.

HE detergent also yields fewer suds than standard detergent and disperses dirt and dyes quickly, minimizing the likelihood of soils redepositing on your garments. Because this detergent is engineered to perform in water-saving cycles and shorter time frames, it can be a sustainable option that helps you reduce resource consumption while helping maintain a thorough clean.

5. Use the right amount of laundry detergent

Using too much detergent can leave residue on clothes and inside your washer, while too little may not get your laundry clean. Using the right amount of detergent can be a good practice for your clothes, your machine and the world around you. Excess detergent can carry chemicals into waterways, where they may harm aquatic life and disrupt ecosystems.

6. Try laundry detergent sheets

Laundry detergent sheets are pre-measured, dissolvable strips of concentrated detergent that often offer a convenient, low-waste alternative to traditional options. They're often packaged in eco-friendly materials like paper boxes, making them a sustainable choice.

7. Select cooler water temperatures

Your washer uses more energy to heat water to high temperatures during the wash cycle. Selecting warm or cold water temperatures can cut your washer’s energy usage by half, according to energystar.gov. By switching to cold water, households can substantially reduce their annual carbon footprint.

In addition to conserving energy, washing in cooler temperatures helps protect your wardrobe. Many garment care labels specify washing in cool or cold water because some fabrics can fade, shrink or bleed when exposed to high heat. Choosing the right temperature can help prolong the lifespan of some clothes, which might help save you money on replacement costs in the long run.

8. Activate an extra spin cycle

Once the wash cycle ends, you can select a drain and spin cycle that removes excess liquid from your clothes using rapid spin speeds. Getting rid of the extra water can help lower the amount of energy your dryer needs to dry your clothes.

9. Always clean the dryer lint trap

Cleaning your dryer’s lint trap before every drying cycle is not only a safety tip, but it can also help improve the airflow inside your dryer to help ensure heat distributes properly. When a lint trap is full, your dryer needs to work harder to dry your clothes, which consumes more energy.

By cleaning out the lint after each use, your machine may use less energy to dry your clothes. This simple step can help you save money and support a more sustainable routine by helping ensure your dryer operates correctly.

10. Opt for sensor drying

Timed drying cycles may use more energy than needed to dry your clothes. Selecting a Timed Dry cycle will dry your clothes for the specific amount of time that you choose, which can include quickly drying items on a high heat setting. Because this cycle runs for the full duration you set, regardless of how wet the laundry is, it may continue to run after your items are already dry.

Opt for a Sensor Drying cycle instead, which automatically shuts off when your laundry finishes drying. This helps ensure you aren't using more energy than necessary to get the job done. Select Whirlpool^® Dryers have AccuDry^™ Sensor Drying Technology, with Two built-in sensors that measure moisture and temperature levels to help prevent overdrying and automatically stop the cycle when the load is dry.

11. Air dry clothes when possible

Air drying your laundry is a simple way to help reduce energy use. In many cases, the fresh air and sunshine can make your clean laundry smell even more amazing. When outdoor drying isn't practical, you can often hang dry clothes indoors using a drying rack or a dedicated hanging rod to let your garments dry naturally without using appliance energy.

You can also utilize specific dryer settings for air drying, such as a No Heat or Fluff cycle. This setting is best for items containing rubber, plastic or other heat-sensitive fabrics, such as rubber-backed bath mats and rugs. If you need to use your dryer for items like lightweight shirts or athletic wear, consider a Delicates or Less Dry setting. This uses an extra low temperature to help prevent your clothes from shrinking, often offering a gentler alternative to a standard Timed Dry cycle that runs for a set amount of time on medium or high heat.

12. Use UV technology to avoid harsh chemicals

Incorporating UV technology into your laundry routine is an innovative option that can help you achieve a deep clean without relying on high temperatures or harsh chemical additives. This technology works to reduce bacteria in the wash. By utilizing UV light, you can tackle bacteria in the water while keeping fabric care in mind.

Select Whirlpool^® Washing Machines, like the Smart ENERGY STAR^® Front Load Laundry Tower with UV Clean Technology & FreshFlow^™ Vent System, can keep your clothes and washer fresh with the added benefit of UV light technology. This system reduces bacteria in the wash without requiring high temperatures or fading fabrics. Additionally, Intelligent Wash & Dry technology uses sensors in the washer to detect load size and fabric type, automatically adjusting water level, temperature and wash action for ideal fabric care and cleaning performance.

13. Choose a high-efficiency washing machine

High-efficiency washers use less water and energy than older models while still getting clothes clean. They’re designed to work with HE detergent and can help save thousands of gallons of water each year.

Because there is less water in the drum during a cycle, HE washers require a detergent that won’t create excess suds. HE detergent is made to disperse quickly and clean effectively in these low-water conditions. By using a machine designed to maximize cleaning power with minimal resources, you can maintain a more sustainable laundry routine while helping to preserve the life of your garments.

Shop Whirlpool^® HE Washing Machines

Whirlpool^® High-Efficiency Washing Machines are built to help you care for your clothes and your family with features designed for both performance and gentle fabric care. Select models, like this one from Whirlpool brand, include a Deep Water Wash Option which automatically adds more water to your load, so heavily soiled clothes get an optimal clean. Other models feature a Load & Go^™ Dispenser that automatically senses your laundry load size and adds the right amount of detergent.

Sustainable laundry FAQs

Finding the right balance between clean clothes and sustainable practices often raises a few common questions. Explore these frequently asked questions to learn more about choosing sustainable products and optimizing your appliance settings.

What are sustainable laundry products?

If you’re looking for laundry detergent, fabric softener or dryer sheets that are greener, check to see if they’re certified with the Safer Choice label from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Products with this label often contain earth-friendly ingredients to benefit you and the environment.

What is eco-friendly laundry detergent?

Eco-friendly laundry detergent may be certified with the Safer Choice label from the EPA after passing strict criteria based on the detergent’s performance, packaging, pH levels and ingredient list. The Safer Choice label indicates that a product is better for the environment.

Is liquid or powder detergent better for the environment?

There isn’t a black-and-white answer to which form of laundry detergent is better for the environment, whether it’s powder, liquid or pods. To make sure you’re using an environmentally friendly option, you may have to do some research or check the packaging for the Safer Choice label from the EPA.

• Powder Detergent: Often considered a sustainable leader, powder is typically packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes rather than plastic. Because it doesn’t contain added water, it is lighter and more compact, which can reduce its shipping weight and the carbon emissions associated with transportation.

• Liquid Detergent: This format is versatile and dissolves easily in cold water, but it is often sold in heavy-duty plastic jugs. These containers can be difficult to recycle, and because liquid formulas are largely composed of water, they are heavier to ship, which can increase their overall carbon footprint.

• Pods and Concentrates: While pods are highly concentrated and can reduce transport emissions compared to traditional liquids, they are often sold in rigid plastic containers. Alternatively, ultra-concentrated liquids and refillable systems are available to help improve the sustainability profile of the liquid format.

Is it better to do small loads of laundry?

When it comes to washing your clothes, your machine uses around the same amount of energy regardless of load size, so it is recommended to run full loads when you can. However, load size can impact the water usage of your washing machine. In general, larger loads require more water to clean your clothes compared with smaller loads. 

Whirlpool^® HE Top Load Washing Machines use less water during the wash cycle compared with traditional washers.

What is an eco-friendly way to dry clothes?

Although hanging clothes to dry uses the least amount of energy overall, you can help reduce your carbon footprint while still using your dryer. Before you begin drying, give your items an extra spin in the washer to help remove excess water, then dry on low heat to help reduce the energy usage of your machine.

Do front load or top load washers use less water?

When comparing different washer types, front load washers generally use less water than top load models. While older top load machines often use higher water levels to soak laundry throughout the entire cycle, front load designs typically use a shallow pool of water to clean clothes. Choosing between the two often comes down to your personal preferences and home layout, but if water usage is a primary concern, a front load washer may be the better fit for your needs.

Are eco-friendly washers and dryers worth the cost?

Yes. ENERGY STAR^® certified washers use about 20% less energy and 30% less water than standard models. The EPA estimates these machines can save approximately $550 in costs over the appliance’s lifetime, making them a practical investment for both your wallet and the environment.

By reducing the consumption of electricity and water, these high-efficiency appliances can help lower your monthly utility bills. Over time, the savings on energy and water usage may help offset the initial purchase price of the machines.

Explore ENERGY STAR^® Certified washers and dryers from Whirlpool brand

Whether you’re looking for a Whirlpool^® Front Load or Top Load Washer, or a Whirlpool^® Gas or Electric Dryer, Whirlpool brand has ENERGY STAR^® certified options to help you care for your family. Shop select models with green features like the EcoBoost^™ Option that uses less heat and extended cycle times for greater energy efficiency, Advanced Moisture Sensing with three sensors that offer added protection against overdrying by detecting both moisture and temperature to adapt drying times and help prevent over-drying, or the Cold Wash Cycle that helps you give your most vibrant colors the care they need.