Eco-Friendly Laundry Care: Practical Ways to Reduce Chemicals in Your Wash
Doing laundry should not make the air feel heavy or your skin feel prickly. If you make a simple changes you can do laundry in a way that is good for the earth.
Here is a simple guide for people in the United Kingdom on how to choose detergent that is natural, how to use the right amount and take care of your washing machine. These small things can make a difference and help you take care of your laundry in a way that is not bad, for you or the earth. If you like doing things in a way to take care of your home you can look at the Terréa Home Ritual.
Rethink the order: air, pre-treat, then wash cool
To get the results, from sustainable living you have to start before you even begin the process. When you take off your clothes hang them up for a bit like ten minutes. Lots of things that you have worn once will still be fine they will pass the smell test so you do not have to wash them away. This helps to cut down on the chemicals you use when you do your laundry. When you do wash your clothes sustainable success is important treat any stains first. Use a bit of liquid detergent like a pea sized amount or you can use a plant-based stain gel. This way you can use a temperature when you wash your clothes like 20–30°C and that helps to keep the colors from fading and it supports sustainable fabric care and sustainable success.
Choose clarity, not volume
When you do your laundry you should look for products that are low-residue and biodegradable. These products should have ingredient lists that're easy to understand.
You will find that liquids that have enzymes in them work well when the water is not too hot. They also rinse off cleanly which is great for people who have sensitive skin.
You should try not to use chlorine bleach and optical brighteners on your colored clothes all the time. These things can make your clothes look bright at first. After a while they can make your dark clothes look dull. Laundry products, with chlorine bleach and optical brighteners can also put stuff in the water when you rinse your clothes, which is not necessary.
Smart dosing, fewer repeats
- Match measure to water: Hard water may need a touch more; soft water, less. Over-dosing leaves film; under-dosing leaves odour precursors.
- Three-quarters drum: Give fabrics space to circulate; they release soil faster, so you use less product and energy.
- Inside out for colour: Turning garments protects surface dye and reduces micro-shedding.
Machine hygiene chemical-free habits that work
Keeping our machines clean is really important. We need to get into the habit of using chemical-ways to do this. These methods really work for machine hygiene. Machine hygiene is something we should all think about. We can keep our machines in shape by using these "chemical-free" habits for machine hygiene.
A clean washing machine needs things added to it. You should wipe the rubber seal around the door every week. It is also an idea to leave the door and the drawer that holds the detergent a little bit open so they can dry. Every month you should run the washing machine with nothing inside it at sixty degrees Celsius to get rid of the stuff that builds up. Take out the tray that holds the detergent and rinse it so it does not get all clogged up. These simple tips for your washing machine will keep it smelling nice and clean without much fragrance, from the washing machine detergent.
Eco-friendly stain removal by category
- Oils and make-up:
- When you get oils or make-up on something you can try to get rid of the stain by massaging a drop of detergent into the spot. Then you should blot it. After that you can rinse it with cool water. This might help get rid of the oils or make-up.
-
Wine and berries: First I rinse these stains with water. Then I use a cleaner that has oxygen in it and the label says it is safe for the color of my clothes. I make sure to follow the instructions, on the label for wine and berries stains.
- Sweat and deodorant: Dab a 1:1 white vinegar and water mix for five minutes, then launder at 30°C.
- Earth and grass:
- You should let them dry brush off the solid parts. After that pre-treat the earth and grass stains and make sure to avoid using water because it can make the earth and grass stains worse by setting the pigments.
Fibre-smart settings that cut chemical load
Settings that are smart about fibre can really cut down on the amount of chemicals we use. This is a thing for people who want to reduce their chemical load. Fibre-smart settings are about using fibre in a way that is good, for us and the planet. By using fibre-settings we can cut down on chemicals and make our lives better. Fibre is a way to do this and fibre-smart settings are the way forward.
When it comes to Cotton or linen you should wash them every day at 30°C. If they have stains you can wash them at 40°C. For Synthetics you should use a cycle or the synthetics cycle with a slower spin. This helps to stop many microfibres from coming out. If you have Wool or silk you should use the wool programme. Wash them by hand. To dry them you should press the water out with a towel. You should never wring them. If you want to learn more, about how to take care of your clothes you can look at our Laundry Care section. We have a lot of tips and tools to help you with laundry solutions and refills.
Drying and finishing: where freshness is won
Drying and finishing is an important step. This is where you make sure everything is completely dry. When things are dry they are fresh. So drying and finishing is where freshness is won. It is the key to keeping things fresh for a time. Drying and finishing is really important, for freshness. When you can it is an idea to line-dry your clothes. A little bit of sunlight can really make your white clothes look brighter. You do not need chemicals to make them look that way.
Fresh between washes: light, not loud
The best way to freshen clothes is ventilation first, scent second. Pass garments through a fine, measured mist from 30–40 cm so droplets fall as a veil, not a patch. Choose airy profiles (citrus, tea, cedar) that clear cleanly. Discover calm compositions you can use from entry to wardrobe in our Home Fragrance selection.
Sensitivity first: kinder routines for skin
Choose fragrance-light or hypoallergenic options, and rinse well. Skip heavy cationic softeners on babywear and sports fabrics; they can reduce breathability and leave film. Patch-test a new product on one T-shirt before you commit a full load, simple assurance for non-toxic laundry care.
Small, sustainable wins—day after day
- Refill and concentrate: Fewer bottles, less transport weight, calmer cupboards.
- Cool first: Lower heat protects dyes and saves energy; reserve hotter cycles for linens or sanitation needs.
- Air the drum: A minute of air after every wash prevents the “mask it with scent” spiral.
Finish with a textile-friendly refresh
Keep rooms and linens quietly inviting with a fabric-safe spritz over sheets, throws and curtains. Formats designed for textiles sit gently on fibres and help you avoid over-fragrancing. Explore sizes and notes created for bedding and daywear under Fabric & Linen Sprays.
At-a-glance eco routine
Air - Spot-treat - 30°C - Precise dose - Three-quarters drum - Line-dry - Light mist. Follow this rhythm and you’ will use fewer inputs, keep colours true, and make your home air feel clearer, proof that reducing chemicals in laundry is as much about ritual as it is about product.
