How Does Washing Clothes Affect the Environment?

If you’re like me, you probably hate doing laundry. But what if I tell you washing clothes does more than exhaust you: it can affect the planet in terrible ways. The environmental impact of washing clothes includes water pollution due to microfibers and toxic detergent chemicals, water consumption, high energy use, and the emission of greenhouse gases.

In short, laundry is one of those things that are necessary yet carry lasting consequences.

But how laundry affects the environment comes down to what we wash, how often we wash, and what we use. In essence, this blog is not to dissuade you from washing your clothes. No one should wear dirty garments.

This blog discusses how washing clothes affects the environment and ways to make your laundry more eco-friendly.

Understanding the Environmental Impact of Laundry

Each time you wash in the washing machine, about 700,000 to millions of microfibers are shed from your clothes into the water, polluting whatever ocean the wastewater ends up.

Microfibers from synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylic destroy aquatic life because they are a form of plastic. An estimated 100,000 marine mammals and over 1 million seabirds die each year from plastic waste.

Beyond that, the chemicals from laundry detergents also contribute significantly to water pollution. Many wastewater treatment systems can capture some of these pollutants, but many slip through. From there, they enter rivers, lakes, and oceans, killing aquatic life.

Washing machines contribute heavily to the environmental impact of laundry as they consume more water and energy than hand-washing.

Fun fact: According to a study by Plymouth University, each cycle of a washing machine can release more than 700,000 microfibers. Multiply that by millions of households washing clothes every week, and you start to see the scale. When you also consider that synthetic fabrics (aka the notorious plastic) make up almost 70% of all clothing material, it's easy to see how much pollution we're releasing into the environment. It’s insane.

Some studies estimate that 35 percent of primary microplastics in the ocean come from synthetic textiles, much of it released during washing.

You can reduce your laundry’s environmental footprint by switching to natural fabrics like cotton, silk, etc. By so doing, you make laundry more eco-friendly as the issue of plastic microfibers is eliminated.

Environmental Impact of Laundry Detergents

Laundry detergents affect the environment by releasing toxic chemicals that are destructive to marine life.

You see, many detergents contain surfactants, fragrances, preservatives, and dyes. They do not vanish when washing ends. Dissolved in your laundry wastewater, they find their way into waterways, where they go on a killing spree.

Phosphates, still present in some detergents globally, cause algae to grow too fast. This process depletes oxygen in water, creating dead zones where fish cannot survive.

Even phosphate-free formulas can contain chemicals that irritate fish gills, interfere with reproduction, or damage plant life underwater.

And because these chemicals are used daily in millions of homes, the exposure is constant.

If this is a big deal for you, it’s worth considering switching to eco-friendly detergents. Made with natural ingredients, eco-friendly detergents do not contain toxic chemicals that affect aquatic life.

Read our review of the best eco-friendly detergents.

The Environmental Impact of the Washing Machine

The washing machine is probably one of man’s greatest inventions for convenience, but this convenience comes at a huge environmental cost. Washing machines affect the environment through high energy use (especially for heating and drying), water consumption, water pollution, and carbon emissions.

Water Pollution

Washing machines send laundry wastewater containing toxic detergents and microplastics straight into wastewater treatment plants. These plants remove many contaminants, but not all of them. Many microplastics and chemical residues often pass through and end up in rivers and oceans.

High Energy Use and Carbon Emissions

Washing machines consume 400 to 1,400 watts per cycle, amounting to billions of kilowatt hours each year, contributing millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

And guess what? Heating water accounts for 90% of a washing machine's energy use. So one of the best ways to reduce your laundry's environmental impact is to wash in cold water, and simply air dry your clothes outside.

Fun fact: You do not need to wash at high temperatures. In fact, heat can be damaging to some fabrics. So when you wash in cold water, you’re not just reducing your carbon footprint but extending your favorite gown’s life span while saving on energy bills.

Of course, high-efficiency machines exist now. But the consumption still adds up fast.

High Water Consumption

If you have hand-washed your clothes a few times, you probably have noticed you use less water than when loading the machine. A standard top-load washing machine uses 20-25 gallons of water per cycle. Older machines often use more.

And that water does not return clean.

How to Reduce Environmental Impact When Washing Clothes

Here are ways to be more eco-friendly when washing clothes:

1. Wash with Cold Water

Since 90% of your washing machine’s energy use goes to water heating, cold water washing drastically reduces your laundry’s environmental impact. Hot water should be reserved for truly dirty items or hygiene needs. It shouldn’t be a habit.

2. Choose Non-Toxic Detergents

Eco-friendly detergents can significantly reduce your laundry’s environmental impact. These formulas do not contain toxic chemicals that pollute waterways, making them a safer alternative. They are usually made from natural ingredients.

3. Use Shorter Cycles

Long cycles mean more agitation. More agitation means more fibers released and more energy consumed. Reserve long cycles for very dirty or thicker clothes.

4. Install a Microfiber Filter or Laundry Bag

Laundry bags can trap a sizable amount of microfibers before they escape into water systems. It’s not a perfect fix. But it helps.

5. Avoid Washing Clothes Too Often

This may take you by surprise, but it's true. Some garments don’t need to be washed after every use. One of the best ways to make your clothes last longer is to wash them less often. Washing only when needed helps you reduce your laundry’s environmental impact as you conserve water, consume less electricity, and release fewer pollutants into waterways yearly.

Read this guide on how often you should wash your clothes.

6. Fill the machine properly

Running a washing machine that is not full wastes water and energy. So wait till there’s more dirty laundry.

7. Opt for Natural fabrics

The microplastics released from synthetic fibers when we wash are one of the biggest environmental problems tied to laundry. 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic pollution. And a huge portion of that plastic comes from our synthetic clothes: Think polyester, acrylic, and spandex.

These plastics do not go away.  They remain in the ocean for thousands of years, killing fish, marine animals, and aquatic birds.

The good news is this is one problem we can actually overcome. Simply by switching from synthetic clothing to natural fabrics.

Cotton, silk, hemp, linen, and modal are natural fabrics. They are non-toxic and biodegradable. So even when they get into waterways, they do not constitute the same problem as microplastics. They break down and go away within a shorter time too.

In summary, choosing natural fabrics makes washing clothes gentler on the environment.

And if you are looking for well-made pieces, Ichcha offers block-printed dresses, crop tops, and loungewear made with durability in mind so your clothes last longer, helping you save money while reducing your carbon footprint.

Shop eco-friendly clothing from Ichcha

Frequently Asked Questions

How does washing clothes affect the environment?

Washing clothes affects the environment through heavy water consumption, high energy usage, microfiber pollution, and chemical runoff from detergents. These factors contribute to water pollution, marine harm, and greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the most environmentally friendly way to wash clothes?

The most environmentally friendly way to wash clothes is to wash only when necessary, and in a cold cycle using eco-friendly detergents.

How often should you wash your clothes?

Shirts may be washed after every use, dresses after every 1-3 wears, jeans after 5-10 wears, and down jackets about 2 times a season. Washing less often makes your clothes last longer and reduces their environmental impact.

Why should you wash clothes less often?

Every wash releases millions of microfibers. Fewer washes mean fewer fibers and toxic detergents entering waterways overall. Washing less frequently also extends the lifespan of your clothes, as washing too frequently weakens the fibers.

When shouldn’t you do laundry?

You may not have to do laundry when:

• You have only worn that jeans or hoodie once
• The load is only half full