Clothing used to be washed on the washboard, but luckily for us, that time has passed, and the washing machine is now a great tool to clean our clothing.
Unfortunately, this is bad for the environment as it wastes water, energy, and releases chemicals into the environment.
There are ways to save money and wash clothes in a way that is a little more environmentally friendly.
Spot test on clothing where relevant to make sure this will work for your clothing.
Instead of wasting money on elaborate packaging and using a product that is full of chemicals, try the following for some great and cheap stain removing solutions: * Spray neat vinegar on deodorant and rub on stains or garments just before washing them.
You can also use baking soda and water to make a paste over the stain, and then wash it.
For pre-soaking, to be sure you get all the stains out mix a tablespoon of Borax for every gallon of water, and let the clothes soak in the mixture for half an hour.
* Using cold water to wash clothing will save energy cost.
Other than to remove stains from white clothing, it is not really necessary to use anything but cold water, which will save money, as well as energy on your heating bill.
If you have to rough it -- such as having to wash clothes in icy water -- you can dissolve the detergent in warm water before using it to wash clothing.
* Instead of washing clothes in small loads and doing more loads, it is better to wash larger loads.
If you need to wash a small load of clothes, consider doing so by hand, which only takes minutes and you will save water this way.
By following these simple rules, you can save the environment and some money.