Page 91 - Natural Health (February 2020)

LIVING

3 THINK TWICE care platform supported by UK waste
Flick through the rails in a swanky boutique charity Wrap. It has plenty of tips and Dry to wet
and you’ll spot ‘dry clean only’ labels time techniques for refreshing tricky garments
after time. Some are warranted after all silk, without calling in the professionals, or
rayon and viscose all require careful handling, resorting to toxic chemicals. Find out how to swap dry
while pleats, crushed inishes and elaborate cleaning for a low-toxin
embroidery can all emerge from a washing 4 CURB YOUR alternative...
machine in utter ruins. But is dry cleaning CONTAMINANTS
Say no to dry
always necessary? “When I purchase clothes “For decades we’ve been talking about
the irst thing I do is look the label to see what washing in terms of energy use, water “Don’t buy dry clean only
clothes”, say CHEM Trust’s
the manufacturer says,” says Paula. “A lot use and detergent use,” says Paula.
Dr Anna Watson. Manufacturers
of the time, especially with high-end items, “And now we’re talking about the
and retailers will soon get
they’ll stick ‘dry clean only’ on the label microplastics released. Fundamentally, they the message that garments
just because it’s convenient from them. all have an impact on the environment.” should be labelled and designed
Personally, if I think a fabric is ine, I won’t The threat that plastics in water courses more responsibly.
listen to that. I’ll put it on a delicates wash, present to our wildlife is well understood:
Up your skills
and I’ll never have a problem.” Take a marine species commonly die of digestive
Try handwashing delicates with
good look at your favourite ‘dry clean only’ damage, drowning or even starvation after
zero-waste natural detergents.
garment. Are you sure it needs a trip to the encountering plastics. The risk to humans
“Soap nuts are dried fruit shells
cleaners? LoveYourClothes.co.uk is a clothing is less well-known, but one recent report
containing a natural soap called
suggests urgent work is needed to ascertain
saponin, which is released when
the toxicology of the microplastics and nano
they meet water,” says Jen
plastics that have been found in multiple Chillingsworth, author of Live
ish and shellish in our food chain. A report Green (£8.99, Quadrille). “They
into marine plastic pollution conducted on can be used several times before
behalf of Friends of the Earth concludes replacing, and you can put the
that laundered synthetic clothes are a major used ones in the compost.”
contributor, and recommends a shift away Speak to local professionals
from fabrics that emit the most ibres.
Wet cleaning is a closed-loop
The average UK household runs through
system that prevents plastic
around 165 washing machine cycles each microfibre entering water
year, with estimates suggesting up to courses, and uses biodegradable
2,900 tonnes of ibres pass through water detergents. Check if your ‘dry
treatment to end up in rivers and estuaries. clean only’ delicates are suitable
“To reduce the environmental and human for professional wet cleaning.
health impact of washing powders the
advice would always be to only use eco-
labelled products,” says Dr Anna Watson,
head of advocacy at CHEM Trust, a charity bathroom, rather than a full wash? Do your
founded to prevent man-made chemicals jeans need quite so much laundering?
causing long-term damage to human health “Our organic denim is long-lasting and
and wildlife. “Use unperfumed products, durable; the less you machine wash them,
cut down on the frequency of washing the better,” says Tracy Mulligan, creative
(only washing clothes when they really director at sustainability brand People
need it), make sure it is a full washing Tree. “Try putting them in the freezer as
load – to reduce microibre release into the an alternative.” Ambient temperatures can
waste water.” also be harnessed. “If you use a tumble drier
it takes four times the energy to dry your
5 GO GENTLE clothes as it does to wash them,” says Paula.
Keeping your clothes fresh and clean “Plus it’s a violent cycle that reduces the
without endangering your own health or life span of those garments.” Opting to dry
that of the environment means changing your clothes on clothes horses will seriously
your routine. Could that beautiful blouse lower your energy footprint, and keep your
beneit from a spell hanging in a steamy favourite garments in good shape.

NATURAL HEALTH 91