How to care for clothing, linens — and the planet!

Avoid formaldehyde in fabrics

What’s colourless, preserves frogs, coats pillow cases and impregnates “no-iron” shirts?

Answer: formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is used in clothing, bedding and curtains because it…

• Prevents wrinkles.
• Prevents mildew during shipping.
• Increases colour fastness.
• Increases stain resistance.

Why the concern?

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer says formaldehyde is a human carcinogen. Canada has also declared it toxic. The U.S. doesn’t regulate its use in clothing.
• You won’t find it listed on the label.
• Even low-level exposure can cause headache, runny nose or contact dermatitis (a.k.a. skin irritation/rash).

Formaldehyde is particularly troublesome for those with chemical sensitivities, which may explain why you’re still suffering from rashes or eczema even after switching to less-toxic laundry soap and ditching fragranced dryer sheets.

Switch from dry cleaning to wet cleaning

Dry cleaning dirties the planet. Find a professional wet cleaner near you!

Wet cleaning uses environmentally friendly, 100 per cent biodegradable soaps and conditioners to remove tough stains and treat “dry clean only” items without harmful solvents. State-of-the-art machines allow for flexibility and precision in water temperature, agitation and amount of detergent — the best options for stain removal and fabric care.

Gentle detergents, a process that measures the humidity during the drying process and finishing machines for pressing mean less stress on garments, reduced energy and water use, and no toxic ingredients. The dollar cost is about the same and less costly to us all — no air, water or soil pollution.

What are the benefits?

Dry cleaning releases harmful chemicals into the air (including in your home), water and soil that are toxic to aquatic animals and humans. The active chemical, perchloroethylene (PCE, PERC), is a known neurotoxin and carcinogen, and can skin cause irritation and redness. (Ever feel itchy after your clothes were dry cleaned?)

Harsh chemicals also deteriorate fabric over time. Wet cleaning is safer for all fabrics, including delicates like wool, silk, chiffon and lace. It’s also great for natural rubber pillows or wool and silk duvets. Some machines even disinfect items like handbags, shoes and stuffed animals in only eight minutes.

Don’t forget about the people doing your cleaning! Do you want your clothes washed in a solution that isn’t safe for employees to put their hands in? A workplace without harsh chemicals is better for everyone.

Hang to dry

Simply put, hang or line drying is the most environmentally friendly laundry decision you can make. It saves energy, and reduces pollution and climate-altering carbon emissions. In fact, most of the world hangs their laundry — and not just “developing” nations, but also industrialized countries such as Italy and Spain. Why? Hang drying is woven into many cultures. It saves space, energy, money and can make fabrics last longer.

Machine dryers are most prominent in North America, where hang drying is not as common. On average, people in Canada do more than four loads of laundry per week. That means running the dryer at least 200 times a year. Dryers often use five to 10 times more power than washing machines, creating enormous carbon emissions. Heat-pump dryers are the most energy-efficient alternative. They recycle hot air so the machine’s heating unit doesn’t have to work as hard.

If you don’t have access to hanging your clothes outside on a line or across a balcony, set up an indoor rack or line.

Iron without heat

Don’t fall for “anti-wrinkle” sprays marketed as alternatives to heat ironing. They don’t work well and can be full of toxic chemicals that may irritate skin.

Instead, make your own! Add water to an old spray bottle (pull one out of the recycling bin), liberally spray your wrinkly clothes, give them a good shake and put them on. Your body heat will help relax the wrinkles and dry excess moisture.

Store items with care

Treat your closet like it’s a high-end boutique. How would they display the garments? It’s not just about presentation, its about maintaining items in excellent condition so they last longer and you don’t have to replace them.

• Don’t let unworn clothes pile up in heaps (or worse… sit wet in the washing machine or dryer!)
• Wash delicates, such as lingerie, in a laundry bag or by hand.
• Fold items neatly.
• Use hangers specifically designed for pants, jackets, tank tops, suits, etc.
• Fold knitwear so shoulders don’t stretch out on hangers.
• Store leather goods in dust bags.
• Hang more expensive items in garment bags.
• Protect hats from getting crushed or flattened.
• Don’t pile shoes on top of each other. Keep them stacked in boxes (if you have space) or use a shoe rack or closet organizer.
• Save spare buttons provided with purchase.
• Don’t overcrowd your closet or overstuff drawers (which can lead to unnecessary stretches and pulls). De-clutter.
• Free your house of dust!