But experts say there are simple changes you can make to your laundry routine that could help lessen the environmental and climate impacts. Here’s what you need to know.
**Laundry sheets and pods may not be as environmentally friendly as you think**
One key ingredient in these detergent products is polyvinyl alcohol, a type of plastic also known as PVA or PVOH, which can dissolve in water and biodegrade under the right conditions. Based on decades of lab studies, PVA has been deemed reasonably safe by the Environmental Protection Agency and has been included on the agency’s Safer Chemical Ingredients list and Safer Choice label for years. The Food and Drug Administration has also declared the material “safe to consume in normal quantities.”
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Doing laundry might be a tiresome chore for you, but washing and drying clothes and linens can be a nightmare for the planet.
The average American family does laundry hundreds of times each year, according to Energy Star. Beyond [guzzling water and gobbling energy](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/11/29/laundry-cold-water-environment/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2), using your washer and dryer can [pollute waterways and the air with tiny plastic particles](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/02/19/laundry-microplastic-microfiber-pollution/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2). It can also be harmful to your clothing, shortening the life span of your garments.
But experts say there are simple changes you can make to your laundry routine that could help lessen the environmental and climate impacts. Here’s what you need to know.
**Laundry sheets and pods may not be as environmentally friendly as you think**
While detergent pods and [laundry sheets](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/01/09/eco-friendly-laundry-detergent-sheets-plastic/?itid=lk_inline_manual_30) are becoming increasingly popular, a debate is raging over whether they may contribute to the growing plastic pollution problem that threatens human health and the environment.
One key ingredient in these detergent products is polyvinyl alcohol, a type of plastic also known as PVA or PVOH, which can dissolve in water and biodegrade under the right conditions. Based on decades of lab studies, PVA has been deemed reasonably safe by the Environmental Protection Agency and has been included on the agency’s Safer Chemical Ingredients list and Safer Choice label for years. The Food and Drug Administration has also declared the material “safe to consume in normal quantities.”
But some scientists and advocacy groups are questioning how PVA behaves in the real world. Several peer-reviewed studies have detected PVA in [drinking water](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749122010144)[ ](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749122010144__;!!M9LbjjnYNg9jBDflsQ!EHF8GOuTN2WeXEbh4jqD7Sy6jPlnyBabO9X7ZULdZBvKIyPZNtYT4JANtJoKrHhJXAAyKW6ALutgWT2A5bkt$)and [human breast milk](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9269371/), and one estimated far more plastic may be flowing into the environment than breaking down in waste-treatment plants.
Still, experts say more research is needed to understand how much PVA is breaking down in real-life settings.
In the meantime, if you’re trying to get rid of all plastic from your life, you probably want to avoid PVA-wrapped pods and sheets, The Washington Post’s Michael J. Coren [writes](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/01/09/eco-friendly-laundry-detergent-sheets-plastic/?itid=lk_inline_manual_37).
Laundry powder could be a more environmentally friendly alternative. Manufacturers now produce the powder in [pre-measured compressed tablets](https://www.thereducereport.com/home/tag/Laundry+Tablets).
**Read the full story here, and skip the paywall with email registration:** [**https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/01/16/laundry-tips-cold-water-detergent-air-dry/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/01/16/laundry-tips-cold-water-detergent-air-dry/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
Switched to laundry powder, it’s not hard and a LOT cheaper.
Also use cold water, most of the time you really only need agitation and some soap.
Big way to save energy, and therefore money:
Dry your clothes *longer*, but at the lowest heat setting.
Works a charm, because the tumbler uses much less energy than your heater source.
Washington Post lol