
Once we've chosen our clothes, we wear them and have to look after them. Caring for clothes also has an impact on our environment. The impact ranges from the energy consumed, to the cleaning products used, to the release of micro-particles from textiles into the water cycle. A few simple strategies can help reduce the impact of textile care.
Dirty clothes?

The very first question to ask is: is my clothing really dirty? How many children (and adults!) wear a garment for a very short time and then throw it in the wash? This is pure waste of resources. For one day's regular use, do we consider a pair of jeans worth washing? By asking yourself this simple question, you'll save time, energy (yours, among others) and money!
Care products
There are a multitude of garment care products on the market. They range from detergents and stain removers to bleaches and fabric softeners.
Detergents
The words biodegradable, natural, not tested on animals and ecological logos now abound on store shelves. It's important to be vigilant, however, as lead, for example, is a natural product that is highly toxic to humans. However, today we have less and less to choose between clean clothes and reducing our impact on the environment. Some ecological products do just that.
The amount of plastic waste generated by containers, however, is a matter of concern. To this end, you can choose concentrated detergents that reduce the number of containers by reducing the amount of detergent used. There are also great alternatives to refilling your containers. Also, eco-sheets are interesting ecological products, lightweight and compact (so less transport), natural and plastic-free.
Fixing and maintaining colors
Before you wash your new garment for the first time, you may want to fix its colors, either to make sure they won't fade on your other garments, or to ensure their durability.
Fill a basin with warm water, then add 250 ml of white vinegar and a handful of coarse salt (optional) and soak your garment in this solution for 30 minutes, then dry or wash it.
Next, you've got a beautiful black or bright red garment that you want the color to last? Wash your clothes in cold water and simply add white vinegar to the bleach tank of your washing machine. The colors will be maintained.
Stain removers

To remove stubborn stains, you need to identify the type of stain and use the right product. To remove most stains, you can use a stain-removing bar or a mixture of equal parts white vinegar, hot water and baking soda, applied directly to the stain. Then leave for 15 minutes, rub and rinse. If the stain persists, repeat the process and wash the garment.
In the case of a greasy stain, simply sprinkle with baking soda or Terre de Sommières (which works miracles!) as they absorb oils. Leave for 30 minutes, then rinse before scrubbing, as baking soda is also a scouring agent that can damage clothing.
For darker stains such as coffee, tea or ink, lemon is a powerful ally. Simply mix ¼ cup lemon juice, several teaspoons salt (ideally coarse salt) and ½ cup warm water. Then apply the mixture directly to the stain, leave for 10 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water, repeat as necessary or wash the garment.
Fabric softener
Vinegar is an economical and ecological solution for replacing fabric softeners in your wash. Rest assured, your clothes won't smell of vinegar. On the contrary, it will help remove persistent odors and the vinegar smell will disappear. All you have to do is replace the amount of fabric softener you were using with the same amount of white vinegar. You can then adjust the quantity. As well as softening your clothes, the vinegar will help to remove limescale from your washing machine, prolonging its life. If you're using the dryer, you can add 3 to 6 dryer balls. They will naturally soften fabric fibers and reduce drying time.
Washing in cold water
Washing clothes in cold water reduces your environmental impact through appreciable energy savings. These energy savings translate into financial savings of around $50 a year (based on 1 load a day).
The reduced impact is also reflected in the durability of your garments: colors stay brighter, and more fickle fabrics like wool and silk retain their original shape better.
Using an energy-efficient washer
First thing: Don't change your appliance until it has reached the end of its useful life. Without respecting this, it is considered a real waste. The manufacture of the appliance requires a lot of raw materials, including water, which will not be offset by the savings of using an energy-efficient washer.
When replacing your machine, consider the high-efficiency appliances that have been on the market for several years. They require less water, detergent and energy than traditional appliances. Since 2004, high-efficiency appliances have been saving up to 80% energy and almost as much water.
Maximize your load
It's best to use the washer for large loads to maximize the amount of water and energy used. When changing your machine, it's best to choose a high-capacity unit that can handle a larger quantity of clothes.
The dryer

Using a dryer has an ecological impact through the energy it consumes to operate. Hydro-Québec states that a single large dryer consumes less electricity than several small ones. So it's a good idea to make sure the dryer is full before you start it up. Using the dryer once a day for an average of 1 hour requires about 800 KwH/year and costs about $75. In most cases, it's easy to limit its use by air-drying our clothes.
However, if it's necessary, be sure to empty the filter on a regular basis and use dryer balls to maximize its use and ensure that the appliance dries clothes efficiently.
Dry cleaning
About to buy a new garment? Check the label! From both an economic and ecological point of view, it's a good idea to avoid clothes that require dry-cleaning.
Does washing a garment without water seem possible? Sounds fishy, doesn't it? In fact, this type of washing only treats the fibers on the surface. In most cases, what makes this process possible is the use of solvents that are toxic to both your health and the environment.
If you already own this type of garment, some cleaners have developed more ecological dry-cleaning processes using water or CO2. Find out more!
No magic!
So there's no witchcraft involved and no need to go to great lengths to care for your clothes in an environmentally friendly way. All you need are a few basic ingredients and a few habit changes. So you can start by choosing the habit that's easiest for you to begin with, and once you've got the hang of it, move on to the next one!

Ecologically yours,
