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 may want to make life with a baby as resource-efficient as possible and reduce your ecological footprint when it comes to household chores. That’s a great reason to take a closer look at how washing and cleaning can be done as sustainably as possible—and which products are both environmentally friendly and effective. You’ll find the best tips in this article.

Sustainable Washing

We all use the washing machine, and with a baby, it can feel like it’s running around the clock. Two main factors can negatively impact the environment:

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

2. Frequent washing increases electricity—and therefore energy—consumption .
   

Accordingly, there are a few things you can do to make washing more environmentally friendly:

• When purchasing a washing machine, pay attention to its Energy Efficiency : A++ and A+++ are the most environmentally friendly.

• Load the washing machine fully . By washing as much laundry as possible at once, you maximize each cycle and reduce how often you need to run the machine. It’s optimally loaded when there is a one-hand-width space between the laundry and the top edge of the drum.

• Pay attention to the correct dosage of laundry detergent. Many people tend to use more detergent than necessary
  to get clothes truly clean. Instead, base the dosage directly on the instructions on the detergent packaging. Another tip : 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 right detergent: In general, powder laundry detergent is 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
  alternative, use about one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or baking soda, which you simply add to the fabric softener compartment of the washing machine. Both help prevent limescale deposits and leave laundry nice and soft. The typical vinegar smell dissipates once the laundry is dry.

• Wash as cold as possible. By lowering the temperature , you can save a significant amount of energy with each wash cycle. For
  most laundry items, 30 to 40 degrees Celsius is sufficient. Nevertheless, it’s 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.

• Skip pre-wash : With modern washing machines, this program is usually unnecessary to get your laundry properly clean. If you do have heavily soiled items, try pre-treating them with natural stain removers like soap nuts or lemon juice.

• You can also reduce the number of revolutions . With a modern washing machine, you can usually do without high spin speeds.
  Strong spinning wastes unnecessary energy and also wears out your washing machine.

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

• Skip washing sometimes. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should completely get rid of your washing machine. ;) But sometimes it isn’t even necessary to put laundry straight into the machine: often, it’s enough to air out or freeze individual items for a few hours to refresh them. Another advantage: by washing less often, you also protect your clothing and extend its lifespan.

• Wash in eco mode: Most washing machines
  now have a Eco Program . This takes longer, but also washes at a lower temperature. Because the water doesn’t need to be heated as quickly and the detergent has more time to work, the eco cycle saves energy while still delivering an equally clean
  result.

• Avoid synthetic fabrics : Polyester, nylon, and similar materials can release harmful microplastics into the water cycle during washing. If you do wash synthetic fabrics, put them
  in a special laundry bag beforehand to catch fibers released during washing.

• Use sustainable detergent Ecological detergents are based on plant-based ingredients and do not contain chemical
  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 you wash baby clothes properly?

Finger paint, the first carrot purée, or exploration tours in the sandbox—no question, your little explorer’s clothes and other laundry are especially prone to stains. In addition, your baby’s skin is still much thinner than an adult’s and therefore particularly sensitive to potentially irritating detergents. So, what matters most when it comes to laundry for the tiniest?

• You should waschen Sie vor dem ersten Tragen baby clothes and other laundry your child comes into contact with
  to remove any chemical residues.

• 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 on the delicate cycle.

• To prevent your child’s sensitive skin from coming into contact with artificial fragrances and additives, choose a
  In die Wäsche geben gentle laundry detergent . Fabric softeners, additional hygienic rinses, or disinfectants are not necessary; on the contrary, they can even cause skin irritation. Stubborn stains can be pre-treated with natural stain removers such as gall soap.

• You should also wash new cuddly toys before they’re allowed to accompany your little explorer everywhere. It’s best to clean them by hand using a delicate detergent, and repeat the bath whenever these beloved everyday companions get dirty. Non-washable cuddly toys can simply be placed in the freezer for 48 hours to kill germs.

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

Even when cleaning, there are a few things you can keep in mind to protect the environment. Many conventional cleaning products are petroleum-based and contain artificial fragrances, dyes, and preservatives that enter the environment with the cleaning water. In addition, these substances can dry out skin and mucous membranes and trigger allergies—especially in sensitive babies. Here are our best tips for sustainable cleaning:

• Use fewer products . You don’t necessarily need countless specialized cleaners. To keep your home clean, all-purpose cleaner, scouring cream, and dish soap are usually sufficient. Dish soap, for example, has degreasing properties and can also be used to clean the kitchen. In addition, there are one or two 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 are also ecological cleaning products that are
  more environmentally friendly. When purchasing, simply look for labels such as the Blue Angel or the EU Ecolabel.

• Use sparingly . No matter which cleaning product you use, using less means fewer harmful substances enter the environment. Tip : Let products work longer or remove dirt by scrubbing, so you need less cleaner.

• Avoid disposable aids . For many tools such as paper towels, which are thrown away 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 a long time and stay hygienic, use one cloth per room, wash them after each cleaning, and always let them dry thoroughly. Harsh 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, it’s best to forego them, since they usually contain a variety of artificial fragrances and additives. The same applies here: home remedies or tools 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 can see that it only takes a few small changes to make washing and cleaning a bit more environmentally friendly. To make family life more sustainable, you don’t have to change everything at once—taking it step by step makes it much easier to make eco-friendly choices.