Ecoman Malcolm Rands knows a thing or two about washing clothes, after founding Ecostore with its range of green cleaning products.This week he joined Jack to talk about the best ways to wash - or not wash - your clothes. Wear it more than onceLevis say wash your jeans every 2 weeks instead of dailyDon’t iron things unless essentialHang your clothes as soon as the washing machine finishes
Use an eco detergentPlant-based instead of petroleum-based surfactantsIf you choose the right brand it means you don’t end up with the residues of nasty chemicals up against your skin 24/7
Use the most concentrated detergent Many are filled with fillers and water to make it look as though you are getting a bargainUsing something more concentrated means you save money tooWash by handMakes your clothes last longer tooUse an energy efficient front loader machine This uses half the water of a top loaderWash on cold cycle 90% of the energy goes into heating the water and only 10% in running the machineIf clothes are very dirty, then hot is goodHang your clothes out to dryNothing like sun dried clothes, it kills bugs tooIf you have to use a dryer, keep the lint draw clean and try a shorter dry timeDon’t dry cleanPerchloroethylene (also called "perc") is nasty stuffIf you have to, then search out a healthy dry cleaner or ask yours to change