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Cool cleaning

Cool cleaning

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Wash your clothes at 30°CDoers doing this DoAction have pledged to save: 1167 kg CO2
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The DoNation Cool cleaning 30°C

Wash your clothes at a cool and efficient 30°C and all that will shrink is your carbon footprint (oh, and your energy bills). Modern detergents are designed to work perfectly on cooler temperatures, so you’ll still get your whites sparkling.

Why?

Long lasting clothes

There’s nothing more frustrating than ruining your warmest woollies, shrinking your favourite skirt, or running the dyes of your smartest top because of washing them too hot.  Avoid the risk: wash on cool.

Climate change

We’ve all become so accustomed to having piping hot water at the twist of a tap that it’s easy to forget what an energy-intensive luxury it is. 

Heating water in your washing machine uses a great deal of energy: by washing your clothes at 30°C you could save 45Kg CO2 a year.

Fat wallets

Energy costs money. By washing at 30°C you could cut £10 from your energy bills over the year. Ok, so it’s not quite like winning the jackpot, but it’s enough to treat yourself to that slightly pricier jumper next time you’re out shopping.

85%

of the energy used during a 60°C wash goes into heating the water!

How?

Well, this one is pretty self-explanatory.  Turn the dial down to 30°C.

The washing powder

Modern detergents are designed to work perfectly at 30°C, so unless you’ve been rolling around in the mud or have been eating like a complete mucky-pup, then your clothes should emerge as fresh and clean as ever. 

The washing machine

Perhaps you have a pretty old washing machine that doesn’t have a 30°C setting?  If that’s the case then it’s probably time to upgrade to an AAA rated machine.

There are a few other laundry-related good deeds you can do while you’re at it:

  • Always wait until you have a full load
  • Use eco-friendly detergent (think of the fishies!)
  • Hang your laundry to dry naturally
  • Go crazy, join these hippies...

 

Want to do this action? Head over to our list of Doers to find someone to pledge for.

Got other tips or great resources to share? Please email them over to us at info@thedonation.org.uk