Environmentally Healthy Ways to Keep Clothes out of the Washing Machine

Abstract

There are many good reasons for reducing the amount of time your clothes spend in the washing machine. According to The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, synthetic fabrics shed plastic particles equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles every year. But synthetic fibers are not the only culprit. Washing clothes— regardless of the fiber type, is a water and energy guzzling affair. Unfortunately, many people believe their clothes only have one or two wear cycles before they need to be laundered. However, there are some environmentally cost-effective ways that might convince people that clothes do not have to be washed so often.