Check out the article below for more tips for washing laundry from the Holland Sentinel. Though they are specifically referring to sheets and towels, these tips can be applied to any type of laundry.

We use sheets and towels daily, but given proper care, they can last for years. And while prolonging the life of the items we own isn’t as obviously green as, say, recycling, this practice helps conserve resources and save money.

The life expectancy of your linens depends on how much use they get, says Linda Cobb, who offers cleaning advice under the name The Queen of Clean.

Putting sheets right back on the bed will cause them to wear out a little faster, says Cobb, but the tradeoff is saving time with folding, particularly those tedious fitted sheets. A few other simple steps can help prolong the life of these household staples.

1. Use the right product

Your choice of detergent certainly matters for laundry items, but also the environment.

“Harsh detergents and bleaches break down fabric fibers,” says Cobb, who personally recommends the Vaska line. She recommends using “quality, safe, natural laundry products” to extend the life of linens.

2. Read the label

Check labels and wash sheets and towels at the recommended water temperature; some items call for a gentle wash cycle or should not be bleached. Most Americans also use too much detergent, according to the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science, especially as washers become more efficient and detergents more concentrated. Excess suds can re-deposit soiling matter on your laundry.

3. Don’t let soiling build up

Unlike blue jeans, which benefit from fewer washes, going too long between launderings for sheets and towels causes dark discoloration to build up that won’t necessarily wash out. Cobb recommends pre-treating any spots so stains don’t set in.

4. Thoroughly dry items before putting them away

Still-damp sheets and towels can harbor bacteria and mold, according to the American Cleaning Institute, formerly the Soap and Detergent Association. This is also true of damp linens stuffed in a hamper, or towels that don’t dry out fully between uses.

5. Line dry when possible

That fuzzy buildup in your dryer’s lint tray is made up of fibers that used to be part of your sheets and towels. This is normal for newly purchased items, says Cobb. But each trip to the dryer eats away, ever so slightly, at your linens. If weather and local ordinances permit, hang out your linens to dry and cut down on both energy use and wear and tear. If you do use the dryer, be sure to clean out the lint trap after every use.

Did you know?

Concentrated versions of laundry detergent and fabric softener use 15 to 50 percent less material than traditional packaging, according to the American Cleaning Institute.

If you happen to be buying new linens, Egyptian cotton is known for having a long lifespan. Organic cotton and cotton-bamboo blends are generally grown using sustainable methods.

Soft toilet paper is made from trees that are cut down, which also affects the forests and the entire surrounding environment and ecosystem. Using recycled toilet paper decreases the need for cutting down trees for this everyday household product.

Not all recycled toilet paper is made equal though, see the EPA guidelines for recycled toilet paper.

Check out the selection of recycled toilet paper at ToiletPaperWorld.com and start saving trees today!

Nature’s Source Cleaning Products
The skeptics of the effectiveness of green cleaning products have finally met their match with Nature’s Source Cleaners.  These natural cleaners (made only from organic ingredients such as plant-based cleaners, purified water, lactic acid, and corn-based ethanol) are the first products to earn the GREEN Good Housekeeping Seal. This denotes Natures Source products as meeting the  traditional Good Housekeeping Seal standards, plus an additional set of Green requirements.  From the makers of Windex & Scrubbing Bubbles, Nature’s Source Product Line includes: Glass & Surface Cleaner, All Purpose Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, & Bathroom Cleaner.

Atlas Green Heritage Toilet Paper
This line of recycled paper products bears the ultimate mark of eco-friendliness: The Green Seal.  All Green Seal products are made from 100% recycled paper, are chlorine free, and are biodegradable.  Plus, the use of Green Heritage products qualifies you for L.E.E.D. certification points!  Recycled Products include: 1 ply toilet paper, 2 ply toilet paper,  jumbo toilet paper, and super jumbo toilet paper

Boardwalk Green Recycled Paper Products
For those of us that would like to go green but may not have the financial resources necessary to do so, this new line of eco-friendly, natural  & recycled toilet paper and paper towels is the perfect solution. An environmentally conscious and economically smart choice, Boardwalk Green & Boardwalk Green PLUS (the premium line) offer a variety of 1 ply toilet paper, 2 ply toilet paper, jumbo bathroom tissue, multi fold paper towels, C Fold Paper Towels, S Fold paper towels, & hardwound paper towels.

As always, thank you for your continued support of these green, natural, & biodegradable products and of ToiletPaperWorld.com.  We are thrilled to have you as a customer.

But if we had to pick another love, the runner up would have to be the green and eco-friendly products category.  And according to our sales numbers – so do you.  Therefore, in appreciation for your continuous commitment to preserving the environment, ToiletPaperWorld.com will be giving away FREE reusable shopping bags with all orders placed before Friday, 9/11 at 5 pm.    Traditional plastic bags account for approxiametely 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees wasted each year in production, so please remember to bring these handy bags with you on your next shopping excursion.

Why we love reusable shopping bags:
-    They can hold more than plastic bags
-    They are A LOT sturdier than plastics bags  = No messy bag-break cleanups
-    You can carry more at once
-    THEY’RE GREAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!

We hope you enjoy your FREE reusable green bag and use them often!  Please remember to place your order by Friday, 9/11 at 5 pm to be eligible for this offer.

* Bags ship separately from order; Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery
** Bags are truly FREE – the shipping & handling is on us!