Sustainable washing and cleaning

Never-ending piles of laundry and an apartment that could probably use a deep clean every other day – chances are, this sounds familiar to you as a mom or dad. ;) At the same time, you might also want to make your life with a baby as resource-efficient as possible and reduce your ecological footprint when it comes to household chores. This is a good reason to take a closer look at how washing and cleaning can be done as sustainably as possible and which products are environmentally friendly and effective at the same time. You’ll find the best tips on this in this article.

Sustainable Washing

We all use the washing machine, and with a baby, it feels like it's running around the clock. There are mainly two factors that can negatively impact our environment:

1. The Laundry detergent may contain non-biodegradable substances that enter our waters through wastewater and can harm their organisms.

2. Frequent washing increases the Electricity and thus energy consumption .
   

Accordingly, there are some things you can pay attention to in order to make washing more environmentally friendly:

• Already when purchasing the washing machine, pay attention to their Energy Efficiency achten: A++ and A+++ are the most environmentally friendly.

• The washing machine fully loaded . By cleaning as much laundry as possible at once, you maximize each wash cycle and reduce the frequency of using the machine. It is optimally loaded when there is a one-hand-width space between the laundry and the top drum edge.

• On the correct dosage pay attention to the laundry detergent. Many people tend to use more detergent than necessary,
  to get the clothes truly clean. Therefore, base the dosage best directly on the instructions on the detergent packaging. Another Tipp : The water hardness also affects the optimal amount of detergent (the harder the water, the more detergent is needed). You can find out how hard the water is in your area from your water supplier.
  inquire.

• Use the correct detergent: In general, it is Powder laundry detergent less burdensome than liquid detergent, which contains more water-polluting surfactants.

• Skip fabric softener . Fabric softener contains additional chemicals that enter the wastewater cycle. As a natural
  An alternative to fabric softener is about one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or baking soda, which you simply add to the fabric softener compartment of the washing machine. Both agents work against limescale deposits and ensure that the laundry becomes nice and soft. The typical vinegar smell dissipates once the laundry is dried.

• Wash as cold as possible. With the Lowering of the temperature You can save a significant amount of energy with each wash cycle. For the
  Most laundry items can be washed at temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, it is advisable to wash at 60 degrees Celsius at least once a month (towels, bed linen, and underwear) to prevent germs from forming in the washing machine. Additionally, a hot wash cycle is recommended twice a year, during which limescale, bacteria, and deposits are removed, thereby extending the lifespan of your washing machine.

• On Skip pre-wash : For modern washing machines, this program is usually not necessary to get your laundry properly clean. If you do have some heavily soiled items, try pre-treating them with natural stain removers like soap nuts or lemon juice.

• The Reduce the number of revolutions You can confidently do without high spin speeds with a modern washing machine.
  The strong spinning wastes only unnecessary energy and simultaneously wears out your washing machine.

• Air drying instead of tumble dryer The advantage is obvious: The tumble dryer consumes quite a bit of energy, while
  Your laundry on the line will dry completely emission-free.

• Skip the washing. Of course, this doesn't mean you should completely get rid of your washing machine. ;) But sometimes it's not even necessary to put laundry directly into the machine: often, it suffices to Ventilation or freezing individual pieces for a few hours to refresh your laundry. Another advantage: by washing them less often, you also protect your clothing and extend its lifespan.

• Washing in eco cycle: Most washing machines
  own nowadays a Eco Program . This takes longer, but washes at a lower temperature at the same time. Because the water does not need to be heated in the shortest possible time and the detergent has more time to work, the eco-wash cycle therefore saves energy, but still delivers equally clean
  Washing result.

• Avoid synthetic fabrics : Polyester, nylon, and co. can release harmful microplastics into the water cycle during washing. If you do wash synthetic fabrics, give them
  preferably beforehand in a special laundry bag that catches the fibers released during washing.

• Use sustainable detergent Ecological detergents are based on plant-based ingredients and do not contain chemicals
  Additives such as optical brighteners, dyes, and foam enhancers. There are also completely natural alternatives like soap nuts. The dried fruits of the soap nut tree are fully biodegradable and produce foam upon contact with water, containing natural saponins. However, the washing power of the nuts is limited and may leave a yellowish film on light-colored fabrics. Another option is reusable washing balls made of plastic. Inside them are mineral balls that emit negatively charged ions upon contact with water, which in turn loosen light dirt. An additional cleaning effect is achieved through the friction generated by the movement of the ball in the machine. However, the washing balls can only remove stains up to a certain extent.

How do I wash baby clothes properly?

Finger paint, the first carrot puree, or exploration tours in the sandbox – no question, your little explorer's baby clothes and other laundry are especially prone to stains. Additionally, because your baby's skin is still significantly thinner than that of adults and therefore particularly sensitive to potentially irritating detergents. So, what is important when it comes to the laundry of the tiniest?

• Baby clothes and other laundry that your child comes into contact with, you should waschen Sie vor dem ersten Tragen , um
  to remove any residues of chemicals.

• Underwear, bed linen, cloth diapers and other heavily soiled garments are best washed at 60 degrees Celsius, while other clothing items can be washed at 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. Natural materials like wool or silk can be washed either by hand or in the delicate cycle.

• to prevent your child's sensitive skin from coming into contact with artificial fragrances and additives, you should choose the
  In die Wäsche geben gentle laundry detergent use. Fabric softeners, additional hygienic rinses, or disinfectants are not necessary; on the contrary: they can potentially even cause skin irritation. Stubborn stains You can instead pre-treat with natural stain removers such as gall soap.

• Also new cuddly toys should you wash , before they are allowed to accompany your little explorer everywhere. It is best to clean them with hand wash and delicate detergent, and repeat the bath whenever the beloved everyday companions become dirty. Non-washable cuddly toys can simply be placed in the freezer for 48 hours to kill germs.

What should I pay attention to when cleaning in an environmentally friendly way?

Even when cleaning, there are some things you can keep in mind to protect the environment. Because: many conventional cleaning products are petroleum-based and contain artificial fragrances, dyes, and preservatives that enter the environment with the cleaning water. Additionally, these substances can dry out skin and mucous membranes and trigger allergies, especially in sensitive babies. Therefore, here are our best tips for sustainable cleaning:

• Use fewer products . They don't necessarily have to be countless specialized products. To keep the household clean, all-purpose cleaners, scouring cream, and dish soap are usually sufficient. The latter, for example, has degreasing properties and can therefore also be used for cleaning the kitchen. In addition, there are also one or two others natural home remedies , that you can use instead of harsh cleaning agents. Citric acid, for example, works against limescale, baking soda against grease, and baking soda and vinegar against clogged drains and burnt-on residues.

• Alternatively, there is also ecological cleaning products , the
  more environmentally friendly. When purchasing, simply look for labels such as the Blue Angel or the EU Ecolabel.

• Take sparingly . No matter which cleaning product you use, the sparing dosage results in fewer harmful substances entering the environment. Tipp : Let the agents work longer or remove dirt by scrubbing, so you need less cleaning agent.

• Avoid disposable aids . For many aids such as paper towels, which are discarded after a single use, there are more sustainable alternatives, such as washable and reusable cloths. Cotton cloths are perfect as cleaning rags; they can be easily washed at 60 degrees Celsius and reused repeatedly. To ensure they last long and stay hygienic, make sure to use one for each room, wash them after each cleaning, and always let them dry thoroughly. Sharp cleaning agents can also sometimes be replaced with durable tools like brushes or copper cloths.

• For certain household products such as toilet blocks, drain cleaners,
  Scent diffusers and sprays should ideally be to forego , since they usually contain a variety of artificial fragrances and additives. The same applies here: home remedies or accessories such as a suction cup or a drain spiral are the more sustainable alternative.

By the time your baby starts exploring their environment with all their senses, you want to ensure that the apartment is always clean. Similar to washing, special antibacterial agents are not necessary. However, of course, the rule applies to all cleaning products: Keep them well sealed and out of your child's reach.

You see, it is already enough to pay attention to a few small things to make washing and cleaning a bit more environmentally friendly. To make family life more sustainable, it is also necessary to
not everything has to be changed immediately – taking it step by step is not so difficult to make environmentally friendly decisions.