Green Washing (the good kind)

No, this post isn't about greenwashing, but about greening your laundry. I will get around to discussing the most earth-friendly clothing options soon, but an issue very much on my mind right now is washing the clothes you already have. (Laundry day cometh.)

I've received many lectures from eco-conscious friends about the evils of clothes dryers. And it's true-- the average American releases 700 lbs of carbon a year drying their clothes. But I always found drip-dried clothing and towels so stiff and unpleasant to use that I couldn't give it up.

However, it seems that one of the miracles of baking soda is that it acts as a fabric softener (and brightens your clothing) if you add it to your wash. I'm going to try it out tomorrow and, after my clothes have dried on the rack I just picked up (used on craigslist for $5) I will report back on how it worked.

And if it needs to be said: It really is ok to wash your clothes in cold water. I've been doing this for years because I'm paranoid about shrinkage and I swear, they still get clean. Unless you're washing something like scrubs that need to be washed in hot water for sanitary reasons, why use the extra energy?