So you have your green washing machine and you are making sure you do full loads at no more than 40C (104F), but you could ruin all your hard work if you do not pay attention to the detergent you use. Conventional washing powders contain many chemicals, such as pigments, fluorescent whitening agents and silicone defoamers. But many of these are not even listed on the packaging; a study by Ethical Consumer magazine found that a typical laundry detergent has 12-16 ingredients, only five or six of which are commonly listed.
The problem with most of these chemicals is their impact on the environment both when they are manufactured and after use when they are dispatched into the sewerage system and potentially our waterways. For example:
Phosphates and phosphonates, used as builders' to keep dirt from being redeposited on clothes, can cause algae blooms, which distort the natural balance in rivers and lakes; not all sewage plants can remove phosphates from the water, so they can go through to our waterways.
Bleaches used in most mainstream powders can pollute waterways and undermine the bacterial action that helps break down sewage in sewage plants.
Surfactants, such as alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and linear alkyl benzene sulphonate |
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Dishwashers
As with the tumble dryer, once you have one you probably cannot imagine how you managed without it, but you should reassess how much you actually need to use it. For the washing-up requirements of a family of four each day, the dishwasher may use less water than you would at the sink, but there is still the electricity consumption to consider.
If you cannot live without it, then follow the usual tips - run full loads only, keep it well maintained for optimum efficiency and look for machines with the best energy performance. Stopping the machine at the end of the wash and opening the door to allow air drying will also save energy.
Remember also to be sure that your dishwasher detergent is as green as possible.
Others
There are many other appliances in the kitchen that contribute to our electricity bills such as juicers, food processors, sandwich makers and yogurt makers. The golden rule with all of them is to use them as little as possible - do you really need them or are there manual alternatives?
Products exist that help you do the same job by hand, such as a mouli for pureeing vegetables instead of a blender. And remember that |
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Open the cleaning cupboard in most kitchens and you will find a veritable arsenal of cleaning products for use all around the home. Not only do these products pollute the home environment, but when you throw away the last remnants of them they continue to pollute the wider environment. In addition, greater quantities of bleach and detergent are discharged to sewers from domestic households than from factories manufacturing them. Don't forget, too, the cumulative effect of all that plastic packaging on our landfill sites, too.
Unfortunately, manufacturers are not required to list specific ingredients on labels so you do not necessarily know what you are getting. Many products not only threaten the environment but may also cause certain allergies and diseases in those people using them and living in the chemical fog they generate.
No one needs more than one or two cleaners at most, and you could probably get away with nontoxic home-made cleaners for most of your needs. But if you do wish to buy a particular cleaning product, go for the one without synthetic chemicals, that is rapidly biodegradable, phosphate free, chlorine free, vegetable oil based, unscented, dye free and concentrated. Liquid soap, for example, is a safe option, |
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