ecologically-friendly laundry products

With a new high efficiency washer, you must use HE detergent.  A concentrated detergent is made with less water and therefore less packaging, so you can be efficient while lightening the load on your shoulder!  When shopping for detergent, look for the HE logo  and simplify the selection by doing a comparison cost-per-load calculation.   All HE detergents are low sudsing and quick-dispersing.  They work by holding the soil in suspension instead of re-depositing it on the clothes.  HE washers have two to four rinse cycles, rather than one deep rinse as in an agitator washer.  As part of their energy savings, they remove more water from your laundry, requiring less dry time.

Getting rid of your old agitator washer for a new high efficiency model will reduce your energy bills, because there’s much less water to heat.   HE washers use less water because they clean with a tumbling action.  This motion, along with clean rinsing laundry products is gentler on fabrics. States  are offering rebates to those replacing old appliances with an Energy Star model.  Rules vary by state regarding recycling of your clunker appliance, along with the state’s allocation dollars and start dates for the program.  Although about $300 million in federal funds are making this program a possibility, many states are expected to refund the money quickly even though they have until February 2012 to use up the funds.