Up for a Challenge?
I’m always up for a little challenge, whatever it may be. The past few weeks, I have been participating in a challenge. The challenge is to do all of our laundry in cold water using Seventh Generation laundry detergent, and line dry. Did I just say line dry? Yep, that’s right. I admit I was a bit intimidated at first. The last memory I have of line drying was my mom doing it when I was little….outside. I’m all about convenience and am a bit of a creature of habit, so I knew this would definitely be a real challenge.
First 15 Days
The challenge is 30 days long. I’ve been going a few days over 15 at this point. There are a couple of things that have been hard for me to get used to. The first is washing everything in cold. I generally wash my darks in cold, whites and lights in warm, and towels, dishcloths and sheets in hot. To be honest, I’m not sure why I wash my towels in hot, other than I remember reading somewhere that it is more effective at killing dust mites. The other reason that I was my whites in warmer water is because it seems to get stains out better. Even though I’m used to washing clothes this way, I started washing everything in cold. I was glad to be doing it after reading this statistic:
If the average family washed their laundry in cold water and dried it on a clothesline, they could save almost $200 a year. If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of traditional 100 oz. concentrate laundry liquid with a 100 oz. concentrate plant-derived product, like Seventh Generation, we could save 466,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 26,800 U.S. homes for a year
Not only does that quote address how cold water can save you money, it also lets you know that by using an eco friendly plant derived detergent, you can do your part to save a lot of oil. It seems like there are a lot of pros to washing in cold. On average, I do about 10 loads of laundry a week for our family of 4. I started looking for any noticable difference in our clothing or towels, and really I didn’t notice anything. I have yet to have any really bad stains to try to get out, so I’ll let you know how that goes down during the rest of the challenge if I get a bad one.
As far as the line drying goes, I’m honestly having a hard time. I feel like I’m a bit pressed for time between work, home, and church. There have been times during this challenge where I have thrown a load of laundry in the dryer because I needed an article of clothing then, and I couldn’t wait for it to line dry. I’m also finding that I’m having to drag out my iron more with line drying, and the indoor rack we have takes up a lot of space. I keep telling myself that our electric bill will go down this month if I just keep trying! I’ve been keeping a small video log along with this challenge, so if you are interested, watch below!
I’m interested to see how the rest of this challenge pans out. Want to win a Seventh Generation laundry pack to get going on your own green challenge? Then be sure to enter on this post! A random winner will be selected and and announced at the end of my 30 day challenge.
Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win Seventh Generation Laundry Pack which includes: Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid (good for 66 loads of laundry), portable laundry line, clothes pins, and laundry basket.
Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)
- Do you wash your clothes in cold water or line dry? Why or why not?
Additional Entries
- Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
- Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
- Follow me – 2 entries
- Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries
- Become a fan of Babes and Kids on Facebook – 2 entries
Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on June 21st. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.
Seventh Generation and My Blog Spark provided materials needed for this Laundry Challenge. I received Seventh Generation laundry detergent, a portable clothes line, laundry basket, clothes pin, and a Flip Camera to help faciliate this challenge. All opinions remain 100% mine.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Fan on facebook #1
.-= Ashley B´s last blog ..Say "Arizona!" =-.
[Reply]
I follow #2
[Reply]
I follow #1
.-= Ashley B´s last blog ..Say "Arizona!" =-.
[Reply]
I subscribe #2
[Reply]
I subscribe #1
.-= Ashley B´s last blog ..Say "Arizona!" =-.
[Reply]
I tweeted #2
.-= Ashley B´s last blog ..Say "Arizona!" =-.
[Reply]
I tweeted #1
.-= Ashley B´s last blog ..Say "Arizona!" =-.
[Reply]
Great post. I wash all my clothes in cold water. Why? Because the water here isn’t very cold anyway so it’s like washing it in warm water. As for line drying, well, it’s really dusty, windy, and sunny here. I don’t want to get my clothes dirty right after I washed them, but maybe if I hung them in the garage it would be okay…hmm.
.-= Ashley B´s last blog ..Say "Arizona!" =-.
[Reply]
I’m a facebook fan
[Reply]
I just recently switched to only washing my clothes in cold water. I haven’t attempted line drying yet. My husband has been begging me to though! This prize pack would be perfect so that I could get started!!
[Reply]
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/16207337557
entry #2
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Happy National Strawberry Shortcake Day! =-.
[Reply]
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/16207337557
entry #1
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Happy National Strawberry Shortcake Day! =-.
[Reply]
Daily tweet #2
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/16123950287
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
Daily tweet #1
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/16123950287
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
tweet #1 – slightly out of order
http://twitter.com/bettycd/status/16069678451
[Reply]
follow the blog #2
[Reply]
Follow the blog
[Reply]
FB fan #2
betty dennis
[Reply]
FB fan
betty dennis
[Reply]
email subscriber 2
[Reply]
email subscriber
[Reply]
http://twitter.com/bettycd/status/16069678451
tweet 2
[Reply]
tweeted
http://twitter.com/bettycd/status/16069678451
[Reply]
I wash in either cold or warm water – The last I really used hot water was when I had baby clothes or grass/mud stains in kids clothes though I will wash in hot water if someone is sick.
Started doing laundry at night during off peak electric hours years ago and it followed that all clothes go in dryer except those few that I pull out and dry on hangers.
[Reply]
facebook fan 2
[Reply]
facebook fan
[Reply]
follower 2
[Reply]
follower
.-= Clarissa´s last blog ..5 Must-have Fashionable Pieces to Pack for Every Weekend Trip =-.
[Reply]
subscriber 2
.-= Clarissa´s last blog ..5 Must-have Fashionable Pieces to Pack for Every Weekend Trip =-.
[Reply]
subscriber
.-= Clarissa´s last blog ..5 Must-have Fashionable Pieces to Pack for Every Weekend Trip =-.
[Reply]
http://twitter.com/cneiding/status/16050378296 tweet 2
.-= Clarissa´s last blog ..5 Must-have Fashionable Pieces to Pack for Every Weekend Trip =-.
[Reply]
http://twitter.com/cneiding/status/16050378296 tweet 1
.-= Clarissa´s last blog ..5 Must-have Fashionable Pieces to Pack for Every Weekend Trip =-.
[Reply]
I do line dry as much as possible. COld water. Sometimes I do. If I know a load isn’t super dirty or smelly etc. I don’t feel completely confident that all my laundry would come truly clean in cold
.-= Clarissa´s last blog ..5 Must-have Fashionable Pieces to Pack for Every Weekend Trip =-.
[Reply]
Tweet
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/16019762258
entry #2
[Reply]
Tweet
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/16019762258
entry #1
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
I have been washing my laundry in cold water (except the whites…they go in hot water). I don’t line dry clothes, only because I don’t have a clothes line. I would love to be able to hang clothes outside to dry. I do hang some clothes in the bathroom on hangers on the shower rod to dry. Thanks for the review and giveaway!jackievillano at gmail dot com
+1
[Reply]
I follow via Google connect. #2
[Reply]
I follow via Google connect. #1
[Reply]
email subscriber #2
[Reply]
email subscriber #1
[Reply]
I wash most of my clothes in cold water and I will line dry when weather permits.
[Reply]
I tweeted! #2
http://twitter.com/Haydensmommy05/status/15962033899
[Reply]
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/Haydensmommy05/status/15962033899
[Reply]
I am a FB fan! #2
[Reply]
I am a FB fan!
[Reply]
I follow on google friend! #2
[Reply]
I follow on google friend!
[Reply]
I subscribe by email! #2
[Reply]
I subscribe by email!
[Reply]
I do wash in cold because its better!! I dont line dry because I live in an aparment so its a little hard!
[Reply]
I am a fan on facebook (andrea potter kruse)
entry #2
[Reply]
I am a fan on facebook (andrea potter kruse)
entry #1
[Reply]
I subscribe via email
entry #2
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
I subscribe via email
entry #1
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
I follow your blog
entry #2
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
I follow your blog
entry #1
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/15909379480
entry #2
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/15909379480
entry #1
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
I don’t use cold for all my loads. I also wash towels & bedding on hot. I line dry my diapers and non dryables… but my rack is too small for much else.
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners! =-.
[Reply]
Email subscriber 2
[Reply]
Email subscriber
[Reply]
I wash my clothes in cold water everytime and line dry them in the summer. I do this more for reasons of going green and also doing my part in helping the earth. I also use a green detergent that has no harmful chemicals
[Reply]
follower 2.
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Vintage Anchor Bundle (Lace – Buttons – Applique – Piping) =-.
[Reply]
Follower 1.
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Vintage Anchor Bundle (Lace – Buttons – Applique – Piping) =-.
[Reply]
I wash with cold water but don’t hang to dry because we don’t have the space.
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Vintage Anchor Bundle (Lace – Buttons – Applique – Piping) =-.
[Reply]
I do wash my clothes in cold water, but I don’t line dry (except for a few delicate things that I do hang to dry in the shower).
[Reply]
facebook fan 2
[Reply]
facebook fan 1
.-= Christine Marshall´s last blog ..{sigh of relief} =-.
[Reply]
I subscribe 2
.-= Christine Marshall´s last blog ..{sigh of relief} =-.
[Reply]
I subscribe 1
.-= Christine Marshall´s last blog ..{sigh of relief} =-.
[Reply]
I follow 2
.-= Christine Marshall´s last blog ..{sigh of relief} =-.
[Reply]
I follow 1
.-= Christine Marshall´s last blog ..{sigh of relief} =-.
[Reply]
When we bought our house we inherite the very antique washer and dryer that it came with. Being on a tight budget, we are not planning on replacing them anytime soon. Our washer has two settings: warm and hot. So, nope, don’t wash in cold… I used to only wash in cold, though!
I line dry almost all of my clothes, because whenever I machine dry them, they always shrink. I do machine dry everyone else’s clothes, though.
.-= Christine Marshall´s last blog ..{sigh of relief} =-.
[Reply]
I follow on google friend connect #2
jackievillano at gmail dot com
[Reply]
I follow on google friend connect #1
jackievillano at gmail dot com
[Reply]
I subscribe via email #2
jackievillano at gmail dot com
[Reply]
I subscribe via email #1
jackievillano at gmail dot com
[Reply]
I have been washing my laundry in cold water (except the whites…they go in hot water). I don’t line dry clothes, only because I don’t have a clothes line. I would love to be able to hang clothes outside to dry. I do hang some clothes in the bathroom on hangers on the shower rod to dry. Thanks for the review and giveaway!
jackievillano at gmail dot com
[Reply]
gfc follower 2
[Reply]
gfc follower
[Reply]
email subscriber 2
[Reply]
email subscriber
[Reply]
I do wash clothes in cold water, but for towels and underwear and socks I use hot water. I don’t know why I feel like it kills the germs or something. I don’t line dry, but I guess I could start!
[Reply]
I’m a Google Friend follower (Lisanne624).
.-= Lisa A.´s last blog ..The face of evil =-.
[Reply]
I’m an email subscriber!
.-= Lisa A.´s last blog ..The face of evil =-.
[Reply]
I don’t wash my clothes in cold water unless the label recommends it, or I’m afraid of fading colors. I know, I’m a slave to recommendations!
.-= Lisa A.´s last blog ..The face of evil =-.
[Reply]
follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
[Reply]
I am a gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
[Reply]
I am a email subscriber.2
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
[Reply]
I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
[Reply]
I like to line dry, but I have to be careful. The nasty old people in back of me, will turn on their sprinklers and face them, so they soak my clothes. I love the smell of line dried clothes. I would dry them this way even more, if it weren’t for nasty neighbors.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
[Reply]
I’m a fan of Babes and Kids on Facebook 2.
[Reply]
I’m a fan of Babes and Kids on Facebook 1.
[Reply]
I follow 2.
[Reply]
I follow 1.
[Reply]
I subscribe via e-mail 2.
[Reply]
I subscribe via e-mail 1.
[Reply]
Tweeted 2 ~ http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/15833294942
[Reply]
Tweeted 1 ~ http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/15833294942
[Reply]
We wash some of our clothes in cold water ~ I think we still have that thinking that hot water really gets it clean. We hang all the time because it really does cut down on electricity costs.
[Reply]