How

Wash less.
Skip one in six washing loads. Save up to 30,000 L of water per year.
Wear your clothes more than once before washing. The UN recommends wearing a pair of jeans at least 3 times before washing to save water and energy.
Only turn the washing machine on if it has a full load.

Choose an energy and water efficient washing machine.
Most of a washing machine's environmental impact comes from its manufacture and delivery.
Front-loading washing machines use less energy and water than top-loading washing machines.
Choose a short wash cycle to reduce the amount of water used.

Use eco-detergent.
Choose soap nuts or Indian soap berries as a natural detergent.
Choose detergent made from plant-based ingredients instead of petroleum-based.
Home-make your own natural, plastic-free laundry detergent.
Choose local stores that offer refillable laundry liquid services.

Use cold water, never wash above 30C.
A cold water cycle reduces your washing machine’s energy consumption by more than 80%.
Reducing temperature from 40C to 30C uses 38% less energy, equivalent to taking 400,000 cars off the road. (UK Energy Saving Trust Report on Domestic Water, 2013)
Reducing washing temperature from 40°C to 20°C uses 62% less energy, equivalent to taking 634,000 cars off the road.

Air dry on a clothesline or drying rack indoors.
Drying clothes outdoors on a washing line or indoors on a drying rack costs nothing and uses no energy. No harmful microfibres are released into the water system.

Avoid dry cleaning your clothes. If you must, choose a green dry cleaner.
Conventional dry cleaners use chlorinated solvents like Perc (perchloroethylene). These chemicals are toxic and contaminate water supplies, soils, and harm ecosystems through their inability to degrade.