Zero waste laundry: 8 tips for a sustainable wash

You do zero waste laundry by choosing an eco-friendly, plastic-free detergent, washing cold and with a full drum, air-drying and avoiding microplastics. That way you save water, energy and plastic. You don't have to be perfect straight away: every small change to your laundry routine counts.

What is zero waste laundry?

Zero waste laundry means allowing as little waste, plastic and wastefulness as possible into your laundry routine, from the detergent you choose to how you dry your washing. You don't have to change everything at once: every step you take already makes a difference.

Want to make your whole home less plastic step by step, not just your laundry? Then take a look at our broader guide to using less plastic.

8 tips for a zero waste laundry routine

The tips below aren't a radical lifestyle change, but small, achievable habits you can build up step by step.

1. Choose a plastic-free, eco-friendly detergent

Liquid detergent usually comes in a plastic bottle, and that bottle is mostly water. With a plastic-free detergent, such as laundry strips, you avoid both bottle waste and unnecessary water transport.

Concentrated powder in a cardboard box is also a good alternative. The most important thing is that you choose something without single-use plastic, whatever your final choice turns out to be.

2. Wash cold and with a full drum

Washing cold, at 30 degrees or lower, saves a lot of energy and cleans just as well for everyday laundry. Combine this with a full drum: the fewer washes you need, the less water and energy you use.

3. Air-dry your laundry

The tumble dryer is one of the biggest energy consumers in the home. Air-drying not only saves that energy, it's also gentler on your clothes, which means they last longer.

4. Avoid microplastics

Synthetic clothing, such as fleece or sportswear, releases tiny microfibres when washed. A wash bag or filter such as the GuppyFriend catches those fibres, and washing cold with a full drum also reduces fibre shedding.

5. Skip the fabric softener

Fabric softener often comes in a plastic bottle and isn't needed for most laundry. Dosing correctly and not washing too hot keeps your clothes soft enough. Wondering whether you still need fabric softener with laundry strips? Then read our explanation of fabric softener with laundry strips.

6. Pre-treat stains in a targeted way

Targeted pre-treatment, for example with a little ox gall soap or white vinegar on the stain, prevents you from having to rewash. That immediately saves water, energy and detergent.

7. Only wash what's really dirty

Not every garment needs a wash after being worn just once. Airing it out in between is often enough, and it's the most direct way to reduce your number of washes.

8. Dose consciously and waste nothing

Using too much detergent doesn't dissolve any stain better, but it does cause unnecessary residue and waste. A concentrated product such as a laundry strip is easy to dose: half a strip is often enough for a small load.

Start small with POWR

You don't have to overhaul your whole laundry routine in one go. Switching to a plastic-free POWR laundry strip is an easy first step towards less waste and wastefulness in your laundry.

Want to look beyond laundry alone? Our guide to using less plastic will help you get started in the rest of the home.