There’s no question that laundry machines have become a staple appliance used by many consumer households. Surely washers and dryers ease the upkeep of textile products, but how environmentally-sound are these machines?
Individual loads of laundry consume about 38 to 41 gallons of water.
The average United States household resident washes about 5 loads of laundry per week- therefore results in 300 loads of laundry per year, per person.
The average United States residential dryer is responsible for 6% of an individual household’s electricity consumption. It also comprises 2% of residential natural gas consumption.
Clothes dryers are responsible for 40MMT of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
According to the Journal of Integrative Environmental Studies, U.S. residential laundering emits approximately 142MMT of carbon dioxide and consumes 847 billion gallons of water per year, a vicious cycle which takes a major toll on the health of the environment and planet at large.
In the United States residential sector, laundry is responsible for 17% of water consumption- following toilets (24%), showers (20%), and faucets (19%).
Odor, soiling, and staining are the primary reasons why textile products are laundered so frequently. While staining is evident, grime can accumulate on soiled textiles through intensity of activity and environmental exposure. Odor is not as obvious- if a textile product does not pass the “sniff test” due to detected foul odor, it will likely become a candidate for the next wash cycle.
A solution to minimize the effects of this environmentally-strenuous cycle is to extend the single use of a product to several uses before it requires laundering. By extending the use of textiles between washings from a single use to four uses, it equates to a 75% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, water and energy consumption, and time spent during the laundering process.
Textile technologies such as odor control, soil and stain release features aid the performance of textiles to remain fresh-smelling, appear clean, and feel good-as-new for the next use.
Sources:
Denkenberger, D., Mau, S., Calwell, C., & Wanless, E. (2011, November 9). Residential Clothes Dryers: A Closer Look at Energy Efficiency Test Procedures and Savings Opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.nrdc.org/
EPA Water Sense: Water Efficiency Management Guide Residential Kitchen and Laundry. (2017, November). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-10/documents/ws-commercialbuildings-waterscore-residential-kitchen-laundry-guide.pdf
Golden, J. S. (2010, March 5). Energy and carbon impact from residential laundry in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19438150903541873