In the Laundry Room

In General

• Only do laundry when you have full loads. Machines use the same amount of energy no matter how many clothes you put in. Pair up with a friend or roommate if needed.
• Do laundry less often. Items such as towels, sheets, sweatshirts, and jeans may only need to washed every once in a while.
• Purchase environmentally friendly laundry products. Look for products that are two or three times concentrated and that have natural ingredients. Check here to search for good brands!
• Donate leftover laundry products to Clean Sweep/ReCoop at the end of the year. Leave them in your laundry room at the end of the school year or bring them to a donation drop-off point.

Washing

• Wash using cold water. When washing on hot, about 90% of the energy used by the washing machine goes to heating the water! Only 10% actually powers the machine's motor. Advances in laundry detergent mean that hot water is no longer integral to getting clothes clean. Cold water washing also makes your clothes last longer.
• Use 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent. Since Pomona has efficient, front-loading machines, half or less of the recommended amount of detergent will still get your clothes clean.

Drying

• Air dry your clothes to protect them and to save energy. Shared drying racks are located in many residence hall laundry rooms, and you can also check out a small, foldable rack for use in your room through the Sustainability Integration Office checkout program.
• Clean out the lint screen before using a dryer. Dirty lint screens cause dryers to use up to 30 percent more energy and can also be a fire hazard.
• Nix the fabric softener and drying sheets. Fewer chemicals mean a healthier you and a healthier environment.