detergent

There are so many little things that we used to do without a second thought that we're now realizing add up to big environmental costs. Take laundry for example: Gone are the days when you could feel OK about tossing a few jeans in the washing machine with a little detergent, cranking the water temperature up to hot and then tossing them in the dryer an hour later.

Now we know there are a number of easy ways to be greener in the laundry room.

First, let's talk about detergent. Co-op America has a great page dedicated to "Going Green With Your Laundry." In it they list four different eco-friendly detergents: Ecover, Natural Home Safe Products, Sun & Earth and Seventh Generation. We use Method, which is readily available at Target.

Then there's your machine. If you already have an Energy Star high efficiency washer and dryer, you're set. If you don't, they're everywhere. The hottest new green washing machine is probably the Barolo Kenmore HE5t Steam Washer -- which uses 77% less energy and 73% less water than your average washing machine.

Then there's the drying machine. If you're using a drying machine, think about ditching those fabric softener sheets for a pair of Dryer Balls. They soften clothes naturally and they last for years.

Of course, the greenest way to dry your clothes is to let Mother Nature do the work, by hanging them outside to dry. We've written about that here before, and we still think it's a green and intrinsically satisfying chore.

How have you greened your laundry room?

Image: Via Lukasz Brzozowski; sxc.hu