Doing laundry, 6 myths to dispel and the method to make it perfect, economical and eco-sustainable - Lifestyle

Enfant prodige of the sector (hypnotized by the soapy spinning of clothes in a washing machine at the age of two), in-depth studies, pioneer of a

which over time involved thousands of participants Patric Richardson, well-known like the

, passion, competence and irony, he reveals tricks, secrets and tips for a faster, cheaper, ecological washing.

He is the source for debunking the clichés about laundry to which he dedicates an entire chapter of The magic of laundry, the book just released in Italy by Vallardi, in which he teaches the method for washing everything at home, from men's

, saving time and money and not resorting to dry cleaning (expensive and using harmful chemicals).

Indeed, if anything, bleach is what causes yellowing.

White fabrics are white because they are dyed, and the bleach removes the dye, restoring them to their original color, which in the case of cotton is ecru.

Instead, throw them in a net laundry bag and wash them with the corresponding colored garments (white, black, cold, warm).

Then hang to dry.

In reality, the choice is free.

To be honest, there are not a few people who do not mind the slightly wrinkled look: that is a right too.

Others rarely wear this elegant garment, but for special occasions, such as for job interviews or weddings, they are willing to bring out iron and board.

Someone else wouldn't even go out and take out the trash in an un-ironed shirt.

That said, if the idea of ​​ironing throws you into despair, know that there are shirts that don't require ironing at all.

These days they come in all price ranges, and they look great, even straight out of the dryer.

.

Fortunately, that's not the case.

Hang up the sweater and use a vertical steam iron to restore it to its ideal shape.

Dish soap has a specific formulation designed to remove grease, such as that left in the pan after baking mac & cheeses.

However, it is not designed to remove stains from your favorite sweater, and its chemical composition is too aggressive for practically all fabrics.

In fact, it can even ruin some garments

Dryers are very picky: they don't eat socks, but specially choose one of the two that makes up your favorite pair.

In his book Richardson explains that hot temperatures should be avoided, as well as cold temperatures and that warm and quick is better, using the express program.

He strongly discourages the use of pods, i.e. concentrated pre-dosed capsules (also concentrated in chemistry), of bleach (which he replaces with 100% pure sodium percarbonate to be mixed with water).

Instead, he recommends having vodke, 70% alcohol, vinegar available.

a bunch of whites: white shirts, white bras, white socks, white sheets, white towels, etc.

Also include white garments with some hints of color: for example, the white blouse with blue polka dots, or white trousers with a black stripe on the side.

Do not forget the light garments tending to white: cream, cream, ivory, beige ones.

Finally, if you have straw yellow items, include them.

Now make a bunch of black clothes.

The third pile will consist of all the

: blue, green, purple.

Gray also goes into this pile.

Again, don't hold back: your favorite jeans, the purple lace bra, the green floral towels, the sheets with your kid's pirate ship - all in it, as long as it's cool in tone.

The fourth pile will be just as colorful, but made up of warm colors: reds, yellows, browns, oranges.

Finally, if you have

  we need an additional pile of fabrics such as polypropylene, lycra, and others like that, which mainly characterize sportswear.

Fleece sweatshirts end up in this pile too.

Because?

Because they are oleophilic and hydrophobic fabrics: in other words, they attract grease and repel water, because they have to be very efficient when it comes to absorbing skin oils and sweat.

These substances therefore remain attached to technical fabrics during normal washing, since water alone cannot eliminate oily substances.

That's why the more you wear them, the more they stink, whether you wash them regularly or not.

Plus, the elastic of the swimming suit hasn't come loose - it's just greasy with grease.

To thoroughly clean these fabrics, and make sure they always smell good, vi

Here from the super expert

1. Never use the dry cleaners again.

Dry cleaning damages clothes, health and the environment in general.

2. Wash less.

We often throw a garment in the laundry basket when there is really no need to wash it.

Maybe it would be enough, before wearing it again, to let it air, or give it a quick pass of steam with a vertical iron, or spray it with vodka to eliminate odors, or dab a risotto stain with a drop of 70% alcohol. .

These simple solutions will allow you to have clothes that look and smell like freshly cleaned without actually having to clean them.

And not washing unnecessarily will save you water, energy and time.

Have you ever heard of those Levi's jeans aficionados who never, ever wash their pants?

They are not entirely wrong when they say that washing machines and dryers can damage clothing:

3. Use eco-sustainable products.

Thoroughly discard fabric softener, dryer sheets, and laundry fresheners.

By stopping using those toxic products, you will not only avoid spreading volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including acetone and ethanol, into the atmosphere;

you will also safeguard your health, because those substances are harmful and can cause breathing difficulties, coughs, migraines, skin and eye irritations, and much more.

Furthermore, avoiding certain products will not expose yourself to the spread of phthalates, which, according to recent studies, can alter hormonal functions and damage the reproductive system, as well as growth processes.

And stop using bleach.

For washing, use only high-quality, vegetable-based soap flakes, so much so that a spoonful is enough for each load.

Not only is it good for the environment, it is kind to the skin as well.

If you use the dryer, favor a quick drying with the wool balls, natural and ecological, which can speed up the process by 40%.

And if you want the laundry to come out fragrant, pour a few drops of essential oil of your choice on the balls: perhaps a citrus oil for the summer and frankincense for the winter.

And don't forget to add a ball of aluminum foil to eliminate static energy.

For stains, rely on household products like 70% alcohol and vinegar.

Using non-toxic products will be good for the whole family, and everyone will be calm and peaceful about the clothes you wear, the towels you dry with, and the sheets you sleep on.

No doubt,

knowing that you have no toxic substances on you is a guarantee of happiness.

And you will be even happier to know that you are respecting everyone's air, earth, water.

Not to mention that opting for good quality plant-based soaps implies less bulky packaging and therefore less waste (especially less plastic bottles to drag home).

4. Always opt for the 30 minute cycle, and use the spin cycle at maximum rpm.

This will allow you to save water and electricity, and also to achieve better results.

It's true: the washing machine is more able to pass water through the fibers, and therefore to clean clothes better, if there is less water in the drum.

By using a short cycle, the garments will shed less lint, which will not end up on other clothes, dirtying them, or, even worse, in seas and rivers after unloading.

And, absurdly, the fast spin cycle is gentler on fabrics: it causes less tearing and damage than a slower cycle.

Even delicate items remain glued to the drum walls while the water is squeezed out.

If the spin cycle is slower, the clothes are tossed around, and therefore wear out and spoil more easily.

5. Go back to the drying rack.

Hanging laundry outside is better for the clothes themselves.

As I said, hardly any fabric can withstand more than fifty dryer and washer cycles.

If you eliminate the dryer passage, you can wash that garment many more times, extending its life and saving a lot of money.

Finally, and perhaps most important: save energy.

Class A dryers consume as much electricity per year as "an energy efficient refrigerator, washing machine and dishwasher combined," according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a major non-profit that promotes the need to ensure and distribute water and air. clean.

6. Make your clothes last as long as possible.

These tips (including washing less generally, and air drying more often) extend the life of the garments themselves.

7. Buy consciously.

Carefully evaluate each purchase.

Do you really need yet another black turtleneck sweater?

Maybe not.

Or another pair of jeans?

And how long will that skirt going crazy this summer go out of fashion?

Or that pullover with the shawl neckline?

I'm not saying that we should all be minimalists (if the idea doesn't appeal to you), but to evaluate the real value and long-term usability of the items you buy, possibly enjoying them for as long as possible.

Even fast fashion clothes can last a long time if treated with care.

I just invite you to reflect on the inevitable negative effects of this type of purchase, and therefore to support brands that pay their workers fair, are committed to protecting the environment and reduce or eliminate waste,

water pollution and other harmful practices.

Finally, when you are sure that you will never wear that certain item of clothing again, consider recycling it: organizations or companies that recycle fabrics are now everywhere.

If, on the other hand, you think that something that you no longer like might be good for someone else, give it to a nonprofit organization with a good reputation so that someone may enjoy it in the future.

Of course, just make sure it is in good condition, perhaps asking yourself first if, in the state in which it is presented, you would give it to a good friend.

If not, instead of donating it, recycle it.

Another viable option is to organize a swap party, to find something new by rummaging through your friends' old wardrobe.

When you buy,

when you are sure that you will never wear that certain item of clothing again, consider recycling it: organizations or companies that recycle fabrics are now everywhere.

If, on the other hand, you think that something that you no longer like might be good for someone else, give it to a nonprofit organization with a good reputation so that someone may enjoy it in the future.

Of course, just make sure it is in good condition, perhaps asking yourself first if, in the state in which it is presented, you would give it to a good friend.

If not, instead of donating it, recycle it.

Another viable option is to organize a swap party, to find something new by rummaging through your friends' old wardrobe.

When you buy,

when you are sure that you will never wear that certain item of clothing again, consider recycling it: organizations or companies that recycle fabrics are now everywhere.

If, on the other hand, you think that something that you no longer like might be good for someone else, give it to a nonprofit organization with a good reputation so that someone may enjoy it in the future.

Of course, just make sure it is in good condition, perhaps asking yourself first if, in the state in which it is presented, you would give it to a good friend.

If not, instead of donating it, recycle it.

Another viable option is to organize a swap party, to find something new by rummaging through your friends' old wardrobe.

When you buy,

organizations or companies that recycle fabrics are now everywhere.

If, on the other hand, you think that something that you no longer like might be good for someone else, give it to a nonprofit organization with a good reputation so that someone may enjoy it in the future.

Of course, just make sure it is in good condition, perhaps asking yourself first if, in the state in which it is presented, you would give it to a good friend.

If not, instead of donating it, recycle it.

Another viable option is to organize a swap party, to find something new by rummaging through your friends' old wardrobe.

When you buy,

organizations or companies that recycle fabrics are now everywhere.

If, on the other hand, you think that something that you no longer like might be good for someone else, give it to a nonprofit organization with a good reputation so that someone may enjoy it in the future.

Of course, just make sure it is in good condition, perhaps asking yourself first if, in the state in which it is presented, you would give it to a good friend.

If not, instead of donating it, recycle it.

Another viable option is to organize a swap party, to find something new by rummaging through your friends' old wardrobe.

When you buy,

so that someone can maybe enjoy it in the future.

Of course, just make sure it is in good condition, perhaps asking yourself first if, in the state in which it is presented, you would give it to a good friend.

If not, instead of donating it, recycle it.

Another viable option is to organize a swap party, to find something new by rummaging through your friends' old wardrobe.

When you buy,

so that someone can maybe enjoy it in the future.

Of course, just make sure it is in good condition, perhaps asking yourself first if, in the state in which it is presented, you would give it to a good friend.

If not, instead of donating it, recycle it.

Another viable option is to organize a swap party, to find something new by rummaging through your friends' old wardrobe.

When you buy,

- cotton, cashmere, goose feathers, linen and wool - all of which are renewable resources.

By now you know that it can be taken care of easily, as you would with polyester or rayon;

and then, natural fibers degrade naturally, not like synthetic fabrics, which release microplastics into the oceans, polluting them (for more information on this, see the box on the next page).

A further reflection: the very soft fibers of cashmere (which come from the hair of goats) offer eight times greater insulating power than wool (which comes from the fleece of sheep) with a much lower weight.

Therefore, cashmere will keep you warm, without making you sweat.

And wearing these natural fibers means that you will be less tempted to turn up the heat in the house, 

8. Choose energy efficient appliances.

If you are planning to buy a new washer or dryer, or if your landlord is planning to do so, can I suggest that you choose energy-efficient appliances?

These are washing machines that consume 25% of energy and 40% of water less than the more common consideration;

for dryers, the energy saving is around 20%, which then turns into an economic saving of over 150 euros for the entire life cycle of the appliance.

Another high-efficiency appliance that I recommend is the heat pump dryer, which offers an energy saving of 60% compared to the less efficient equivalent, and does not need, to work, neither a resistance that generates heat nor a fan that diffuses it.

This means that these machines can be installed anywhere, because they do not need devices for the discharge of air or water to the outside, they also avoid the accumulation of microfibres and fluff, thus reducing the risk of fires.

Sure, heat pump dryers cost a little more than condensing ones, but they will save you a lot in terms of energy consumption in the long run, helping the environment substantially.

Finally, although they often have less spacious baskets, they offer a more delicate drying on the garments, thus helping to prolong their life.

Heat pump dryers cost a little more than condensing ones, but they will save you a lot in terms of energy consumption in the long run, helping the environment substantially.

Finally, although they often have less spacious baskets, they offer a more delicate drying on the garments, thus helping to prolong their life.

Heat pump dryers cost a little more than condensing ones, but they will save you a lot in terms of energy consumption in the long run, helping the environment substantially.

Finally, although they often have less spacious baskets, they offer a more delicate drying on the garments, thus helping to prolong their life.

9. Wash everything in one day.

This will not only mean that, on that day, you will have the entire wardrobe ready to be used, along with tablecloths, sheets and towels;

but also that you can make the most of this wardrobe, mixing the pieces at will.

Having access to all your clothes at the same time also means being able to choose to have less because, by always having everything in view, you can avoid buying things you don't really need.

Finally, setting a one-day laundry day also means not having to think about it for the next week, and this is truly an invaluable gift.