A Sustainable Spin

Are you looking to reduce your environmental impact on campus and live more sustainably?

One easy, hassel-free way to cut your carbon footprint begins with changing how you do your laundry. By switching to cold water, you can save up to 90% of the energy that a washing machine would use for a typical load of laundry. 

In addition to increasing energy savings, avoiding using hot water has a multitude of other benefits. Hot water can:

• cause fading by breaking down dyes in fabrics.

• shrink fabrics.

• set stains into fabric making them more difficult to remove.

• cause premature wear and tear on delicate fabrics.

• cause more wrinkles in certain fabrics.
  
  

Other ways to have a more Sustainable Spin:

• Switch to using dryer balls over dryer sheets. Dryer balls are hypocallergenic, designed to reduce drying time by up to 40%, reduce static, and can be reused which cuts costs on purchasing dryer sheets. 

• Consider using “eco-friendly” laundry detergents that exclude harsh chemicals.

• Recycle laundry detergent and fabric softener containers (make sure to clean them out first).  

• When possible, avoid using laundry pods, which can release microplastic pollution and harm marine environments.  

• Always run full loads of laundry to maximize energy efficiency.

• Most modern laundry detergents, even those that aren’t specifically marked for cold-water use, are generally formulated to clean just as effectively at lower temperatures.

• Consider air drying denim, knits and delicates to make your clothes last longer and avoid fading or shrinking.
   

Have questions or concerns regarding reducing your environmental impact on campus?

Contact greenbuckeyes@osu.edu.