You’ve chosen your eco-fashion line-up for the coming season — and that’s no small investment. Now it’s time to keep those clothes looking bright and clean for as long as possible without harming the environment. No, that doesn’t mean we should all meet at the river with our washboards. But, if we really want to reduce our impact, we do need to do things a little differently

The fact is that only the toilet wastes more water than the washing machine in the average household. And as that water drains out, it takes with it the chemicals from your laundry detergent. While conventional detergents may do a great job cleaning your clothes, they can do major damage in the environment.

Choose less-toxic detergents
Unlike soap, which can be all-natural, detergents are synthetic and most are petroleum-based. They contain surfactants that enable the product to penetrate stains and wash them away. Some common surfactants used in detergents are known to be toxic to the immune system and suspected to interfere with the hormonal system. They are also major contaminants in US waterways where they threaten the survival of fish.

One alternative is to use soap instead of laundry detergent. However, since 85% of US households have hard water, I’m not a big advocate of this. Soap mixed with hard water equals soap scum and, last I checked, soap scum laden clothes are not in fashion this season. Soap nuts, however, are not actually soap and may be worth a try.

For most of us, this is one job where buying a green product is a better bet than making one at home. Look for detergents that are plant-based, biodegradable, and free of fragrance and dyes. As with any green product, the more complete and easy to read the ingredient list, the better.

Consider the packaging as well. Look for concentrated formulas that use less packaging, and buy in bulk whenever possible. According to a Green Guide survey, the three most popular brands of green detergents are: Seventh Generation (Free & Clear), Ecover and ECOS.

Conserve resources
With a little strategizing, you can save water and energy regardless of what kind of machine you have. Washing in hot water accounts for 90% of the energy used to wash clothes. So wash in cold whenever possible. Even switching from hot to warm can cut your energy use by half. It’s also a good idea to run your washer during off-peak energy use hours.

If you are in the market for a new washer, look for an ENERGY STAR-certified model. These models can reduce your water and energy consumption by over 40%.

A good green detergent and some smart planning will help keep your eco-duds looking great for many years to come. Next week we’ll take a peak inside your clothes dryer for more ways to reduce the environmental impact of your laundry.