Want to make washing your clothes greener? Use cold water. The idea that hot water cleans better comes from years ago when detergents and machines were less efficient. Detergents now are formulated to be effective in cold water. Cold water is gentler on fabrics and increases their longevity. More than 60% of Americans still wash laundry in warm water, and of the total emissions produced and energy used in a single load of laundry, 75% is the result of heating the water. Want to save more energy, spend a few bucks on a clothesline and hang your clothes outside to dry.

Why cold water is better than warm water for washing clothes