Save money, energy – and WORK!

Dare to wear clothes more than once between washes 

By habit, most of us are accustomed to throwing all our clothes into the laundry after we’ve worn them once.  But unless we work in situations where we sweat a lot or get physically dirty, most of us could easily get away with wearing clothes at least twice between washings.  The advantages are MANY:

1. Clothes will last longer, because washing is a pretty punishing process
2. Clothes washers and dryers will last longer because they’ll be doing fewer loads
3. Much less detergent will be used
4. Much less water – particularly that energy-intensive hot water – will be used
5. Less dryer use means lots of electricity will be saved, because a single dryer uses as much power as 350 CFL light bulbs
6. IMPORTANTLY: wearing clothes more than once will greatly reduce your washday workload!

So – to save money, energy and work, dare to wear your clothes more than once between washes.  (Logical exceptions: socks and underwear)

Hung out to dry – in winter even!

The clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy hogs in your home; clotheslines can save a heap of money and energy. But what about those cold winter days, when hanging clothes out isn’t very pleasant?

Consider portable or retractable clotheslines: lines that can be set up indoors or in porches when needed, and neatly put away when not in use. There are many models available, from single strands that can be strung above your bath tub to room-length multiple parallel lines that can hold a full load of laundry. (If you have wood heat and a ceiling fan, you’ll be amazed at how fast clothes dry indoors.)

You can see different models here http://www.urbanclotheslines.com/retractable-clotheslines or here http://www.breezedryer.com/ (note: not an endorsement, just examples).

One important note: it’s good to dry clothes indoors, but beware that you’re not creating excess moisture in your home, because that can cause problems such as mold. In many homes, the natural air leakage is enough to remove moisture. In more air-tight homes, air exchangers usually prevent moisture problems. But take note!

In the news

Disappointingly, world leaders meeting in Singapore have given up on reaching a global climate agreement in Copenhagen next month http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1929071_1929070_1939676,00.html, and Prime Minister Harper’s office has indicated that the PM is not going to the summit http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/725776–pm-to-skip-summit-on-climate-change?bn=1.

For a quick overview of the Copenhagen summit, click here: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/858411.

Check out this YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hs1aUMGaOQ and get involved with a neat new project, Love Letters to the Future.