My MINIMALIST and ZERO WASTE Laundry Routine

[@Go-zi1py]

I love the concept of everyone in a family doing the chores they enjoy (or at least don't hate) the most! Many hands make light work.

[@ecofriendlia]

Yes, I think that is the best solution! Like that we can all do more of the things we like and less of the things we don't like to do ☺

[@katrinschilcher3753]

hey :) to answer your question why washing machines in the eco-mode take so much time: it´s like the dishwashers´eco-mode - the laundry/dishes has to sit longer in the detergent/dish washer soap - due to lower temperature, less water and less mechanic movements it can save the energy. so: the time the detergent needs to sit in is why the washing cycle is taking so much more time

[@samevans1289]

Idk if this has been discussed already, but another eco-friendly choice is to wash clothes as rarely as possible, meaning: spot cleaning, and airing out the clothes you've worn to work/outside each day, and even lounge wear whilst you sleep, let your bedsheets to air out by not making the bed immediately after you've woken up, air dry jackets, sweaters, jeans, blankets, etc.-anything that isn't in direct contact with the body can be used longer before it needs washing if you air it out, because they don't smell of sweat or other powerful odors, they just smell worn, they don't smell freshly washed anymore, but if you air them out a bit, especially outside in the fresh air, you sometimes gain up to a couple more days before you actually need to wash them. I always air out blankets, sweaters, jeans, jackets and winter outerwear on the balcony this way, for a couple of hours or overnight.

[@anewchapter8142]

Thank you for the tip about horse chestnut soap. I look forward to giving it a try. Love your channel.

[@ecofriendlia]

I am glad you liked the video! ☺

[@IAmSherry12]

the chestnut idea is super cool!

[@dorisw5558]

The eco programs take longer because they compensate for heat and speed with time. The laundry needs to sit longer in the liquid.

[@kathleen6288]

A friend's washer takes over 2 hours for a regular load. Their dishwasher, too. They are newish and eco friendly. Geez! I couldn't believe it!

[@dorisw5558]

Kathleen they soak the laundry/dishes so they can get them clean using less energy and detergent

[@ecofriendlia]

Oh this makes sense... My washing circle takes four hours... I was really shocked when we used it the first time but I don't really mind now... I just have to plan a bit better so I don't start the washing machine at night... ☺

[@Meerchenfee]

It's called "Der Sinnersche Kreis", if you take temperature away you need to extend time or use more detergent. Wenn Du das eco Programm laufen lässt, dann wählst du 40 Grad, die aber nicht erreicht werden, das Programm läuft deshalb länger um den gleichen Reinigungseffekt zu erreichen.

[@nadja9674]

@@Meerchenfee I was wondering about the degrees!:) I wash bed linen, underwear and socks on 60C. I have read many times that if you wash lower then 60C it doesn't get washed properly. Also, Lias wash takes 4hours for 40C, if I got that right?? I use 60C and the fastest is done in 1hour and 15minutes. How is that, what is better?

[@halimakimathi4189]

I'm skeptical about how clean those cloths smell, but I'm jealous of your intelligence and creativity:)

[@carolann811]

For our family of three we switched to soap nuts or soap berries. One little cardboard box lasts us a year each doing a load a week. I use cold water for everything except bathroom clothes and kitchen towels, which get washed in hot water with borax and once in a blue moon some bleach. (There's cats and a raw chicken diet and a special needs cat who gets food everywhere - bleach is a good thing in this case). Our clothes are soft and clean with no residue. And at the end of the year I shred the box and put it in the compost bin. A year's worth of nuts costs us under $20.00.

[@louisespiteri5587]

I use a drying rack also for all my laundry. Drying clothes outside in Canada isn't realistic for several months, as they would freeze, but it's easy to keep the items indoors, especially when the heat is on. I use Tru Earth laundry strips, a Canadian product.

[@dorisw5558]

you can freeze dry clothes

[@louisespiteri5587]

@@dorisw5558 I know that, but drying clothes outside in winter is not very common here. When it gets considerably below freezing, most people I know won't do it, especially if there is any humidity in the air.

[@thestorygirl2818]

I use TruEarth too! Big fan. I dry my clothes indoors on a drying rack in the Winter and on the line in the summer. I've heard of people freeze drying clothes but I think you need to have a really dry winter, not a moist winter like we have here in Ontario. It's a cool idea! We hang our sheets or the closet doors and have no issues having things dry before going to bed at night. :)

[@kathleen6288]

I don't separate my clothes either. Most of my clothing is linen. I wash all my linen on gentle cycle with no soap. I spot clean if needed. I hang them to dry. Hang drying is the best imo. My towels and dish towels I wash regular and use very little soap. When I think back to past years with the scented soaps...ugh! I love your videos!

[@ecofriendlia]

Oh yes, I am so glad I don't use highly scented detergent anymore! Like that I can actually smell if clothes are really clean and if everything just smells like detergent it would be harder... ☺

[@Cuntmilk]

May I ask why you dont use soap?

[@kathleen6288]

@@Cuntmilk Hi. Because it's not necessary. I do use soap (a tablespoon or so) on rags & towels. I have the ultimate minimalist laundry routine.

[@ema-b1h]

For laundry i use my eco dishes liquid soap as detergent, i actually checked and its the same ingredients. Its much cheaper and the butle is made by recycled plastic. Its very good by a award wining brand Ecover and i use very little also i use it for everything to be as minimal with cleaning products. I actually tried it with shmppo, other eco dishes soap and reguler once, i just use less and i think its fine. Sometimes i put also backing soda to give another push. In my country Its not easy to get eco products and nuts too and they are very expensive here. I actually think is ao much better on the machine too, technician told me so too. Sometimes ill add some viniger,/ deluted acetitic acid 5-7%/ lemon salt water all over the machin and soaps pockets to give the machin a good clean. I usually use the short program 0 degrees and 500 cicle on dry rack and its fine I like using uper door machines as they are stronger, but low doors can have good eco options. The more options i can set myself on the program the better. If something is too dirty i can wash it separately in a ball before. Really . Simplifying your cleaning routine is very easy people have done it for decades

[@elizabetabihler2875]

Wow I never knew!😮 We actually don't have to waste money on laundry detergent! Wish I knew this before. ❤

[@sashawilkinson6978]

We use horse chestnuts too and vinegar for fabric softener if it needs it, I love knowing I'm making a less of an impact using it, me and my husband have talked about cutting the washing machine out and doing everything by hand eventually, I'm really interested to see how well that goes 😂

[@elenaxleganus]

Well... I wash the laundry on the 1st floor, take it to the attic to air dry, take it to the ground floor to fold it on the sofa (becuz we love making life difficult) and again, going to the 1st floor to put everything away. I also don't know why... :))

[@Debbiesdilemmas]

I usually end up folding my laundry in the dining room. I’m not sure why but maybe because it’s close to my laundry room. The table is a good height and if I want to I can sit down. I found this so interesting that you can use chestnuts for laundry soap. I don’t think I’d every find enough chestnuts where I live,🤔

[@lizhopkins6926]

One thing I do is hang outside and give my clothes/linens a little spin in the dryer for 10 minutes or so if it’s off-season! Gets rid of wrinkles or any dampness.

[@lMcTinal]

Awesome! I heard of some nuts to get but haven't tried but now I have seen this, I'm going to pick them tomorrow, it's going to be great activity for my 2 years old and oh gosh, saving some cash too! Thanks for sharing!!

[@ecofriendlia]

Oh yes, my son (turning seven soon) also really enjoys helping me. And especially toddlers I can imagine find great joy in such an activity ☺

[@HollyOak]

Soap nuts

[@annbeth6730]

We call them conkers . Like you I don't sort. Air dry out side and inside in the winter. l use half the amount of detergent that recommended by the manufacturer

[@ecofriendlia]

During winter time we sometimes dry the laundry inside as well... But then the humidity goes up and that is a problem of its own 😉

[@jonnamakkonen]

I love the idea of using horse chestnuts to clean your clothes. A few questions: could you use them fresh i.e. just directly soak them and then do laundry? I presume you mainly dry them to keep more and for a long time. Can you reuse the same soaked chestnut several times? Have you used them to handwash some more delicate items?

[@renupunjabi9482]

That's such a natural way to wash your clothes with. Awesome! I use detergent and soap. Am planning to use the detergent to do my dishes also. I recently used my body soap to wash my hair, but it became so dry. ☹️☹️ Search and experiments are still on my friend. 😅

[@ecofriendlia]

Oh yes, I know the issue with body wash and hair. I would suggest doing it the other way around. For me at least my hair is way pickier when it comes to the right soap for my body, I don't care too much since everything seems to work similarly ☺

[@renupunjabi9482]

@@ecofriendlia ohhhk ya that way hair will still be softer. I've stopped buying facewash and vaginal wash. Yes, they all work the same way. 🤷

[@margaretquinn5335]

Thank you Lia. This is new information me. Will try it if I can find horse chestnuts. Also saw Niamh in fairyland cottage using fresh leaves ivy leaves.

[@ecofriendlia]

I am glad you liked it! Yes, I have heard of that solution too and I think I have tried it once but around here I can't find a lot of ivy

[@AnkaMara7940]

I always hang my clothes to dry but I wash them separately - black, white, jeans, underwear +towels, woolen items, delicate clothes, colourful clothes... I like it that way

[@EmOrganizer]

Yes, I find they last longer that way. Especially towels you should wash on their own, to protect the structure of the fabric. As a one-person household I have just enough of them (including wash cloths and the smaller guest towels) to make a full load :-)

[@lizasoliman723]

i was mildly surprised when lia said, "pain in the ass" ♥️

[@oneirosnauta]

I am trying this method! Yesterday I collected them and started to cut them! How do you dry them? I mean... If there is no sun like recently? How long do you let them dry? In internet I have read at least 3 or 4 weeks! Do you agree?

[@kirpparilla2649]

Whoa! Very interesting, will try those horse chestnuts!

[@livingforshalom9152]

Very cool video. Does your son have a minimal wardrobe too? Would like to see that.

[@theallotmentkitchengarden3694]

Thank you for a great video! Your routine looks so simple and straightforward! I’m always over complicating laundry for some reason (though I’m getting lots better these days at trying to keep categories to absolute minimum!) I’ve heard about using horse chestnuts, but have not tried it yet. I use Ecover detergent and I order the bulk paper bag, I compost the bag when it runs out. I use liquid softener from the bulk store, but only use it on natural fibre clothes (I wash natural fibres and synthetics in separate loads, because synthetics don’t really need softener, and it also isn’t great for synthetic fabrics). I wish I didn’t need the softener but the water is super hard in our area so the natural fibre fabrics get really stiff and hard without it. I wash most things on 30C (apart from reusable toilet wipes that get washed with towels and flannels at 40 with nappy sanitising detergent, which comes in a cardboard box, or on very hot is I don’t have any) My washing machine is a washer/dryer, but I use the dryer only for 10 minutes at the end of the cycle (the shortest time I can set it to!), then I hang it all up to air dry. That way I don’t need to iron anything (I’ve decluttering my iron and board recently as I’ve realised that I’ve not used them in years!) I have to hang the laundry up to dry indoors, and as it’s already humid here in the UK, I run a dehumidifier to avoid condensation and the laundry dries quite quickly too. But it is not ideal in terms of energy use.

[@ecofriendlia]

That does sound a bit more complicated but it all makes total sense how you explain it! I actually really love the stiff feeling clothes have when I don't use fabric softener (we have super hard water here too) ☺

[@Lihoradka-s6v]

I just watched this and thought, how else do you dry your laundry if not hang dry? Have been doing this my whole life, totally clueless about other methods. Maybe that's the reason some of my clothes have lasted me for years. Interesting idea about chestnut detergent, thank you!

[@jvegarenas]

I use soapnuts for my laundry from a colombian native tree (where I live) and works perfect. Love your channel and your minimal lifestyle. Keep doing what your doing because you're such an inspiration ❤️

[@mysli_vsluh]

Great video! Can you also use this hourse chestnut solution as a body wash or a shampoo?

[@jennifertooth4851]

I'd like to try horse chestnut soap but unfortunately their is no trees on the west coast of Oregon in the USA. I love the smell of laundry dried on lines or rack.

[@ecofriendlia]

That's unfortunate! Are there soap nut trees? And I have heard that ivy leaves and birch leaves work as well! ☺

[@jennifertooth4851]

Not that I know of. But I'm looking into other plants that create soap bases that are native to oregon.

[@Sarah-nk9pl]

I use a product called the “eco egg” - it’s made of plastic but you fill with with little mineral balls that wash the clothes. I have to add new balls about every 9 months to a year, they last forever and I haven’t had to buy more than what came in the original package yet! I live in a household of 2, though, so you might go through them a little quicker with kids :) Overall, cheaper and better than using laundry powder or liquid;; and I don’t have to put in work to saponify coconuts or whatever.

[@brittanylove222]

I’m in Tacoma, WA and we have a ton of horse chestnut trees. Now I can use them as laundry soap! So cool!

[@carlaportocarrero6464]

Thanks for the tip!! Horse chestnuts, brilliant!! I will start using them. Thank you Lia. Saludos. Adiós. 🤗

[@ecofriendlia]

I am glad you like the idea! It's not mine, I have seen it over and over again in the online zero waste community and I hope you have success with them! ☺

[@carlaportocarrero6464]

@@ecofriendlia I hope so. 🤗

[@liendemoitie8420]

At the moment I use soap nuts, works like normal detergent. But I live very close to a wood with loads of horse chestnuts, so I'm going to try your method out of curiosity :)

[@ecofriendlia]

Yes, soap nuts work super well! I think they both have natural soap in them and that is why they work... Is it called saponin in English as well? ☺

[@Woeschhuesli]

My daughter just collected and processed 8kg of horse chestnuts to use, because they finally finished their bag of soapnuts, wow they lasted so long!! But I think she likes both methods.

[@happiness.felicidad2631]

Japanies got better way... Magnesium metal beans in bag and vinegard to have your laundery soft :) Aple vinegar is great as hair a conditioner, too..

[@joannachapman2864]

Did you think of using the chestnut(called "Buckeyes" here in Ohio,) on your own? Did you grow up doing it this way? I think it is amazingly genius

[@ecofriendlia]

I saw it in zero waste blog posts a few years ago, so it wasn't my idea but I think it is genius as well ☺

[@mirelaxo]

You learn something new every day... how did you learn to use nuts?

[@katerinastruncova611]

Would you recommend any essential oil to use for your laundry or is it not a good idea?

[@gailjlyons2000]

How do you dry your sheet set and quilts? I hang all my clothing on a drying rack as well but sadly mine has to remain indoors.

[@ema-b1h]

You wana give the cloth a good shake before you dold them for dust and weinkle remove

[@oneirosnauta]

Hallo! So interesting! I will surely try the chestnut method!! Do you wash everything like that? I mean, maybe the big sweater you made yourself is too much delicate? Or someone in the family has maybe wool clothes or delicate clothes... do you wash them 40 degrees or maybe by hand? I have wool sweaters and socks (handmade from my grandmothers) and I am wondering how to wash them! I also have a caschmire one (this one was a present from a friend) and again, I am thinking to bring all of these things to a laundry shop, but surely there is a method to do it by myself, but I am so scared to ruin them.

[@ecofriendlia]

Yes, that is kind of a problem... Sometimes I wash wool sweater lime that but I am always afraid they shrink... I think the safest method is washing them by hand and drying them flat. Some people also say that wool sweaters only need to be washed very rarely and kind of clean themselves if you hang them outside for a while...

[@liananda1252]

i hope i have soapnut tree's beside my house after watching this video. in my country soapnut is expensive.. i have to shopping online to buy soapnut and i think that's a not good idea. i'm so sorry with my broken english but i love watching your video lia 💚

[@ecofriendlia]

Maybe you have! In Germany, we have websites where people put the location of fruit trees and similar useful plants so maybe something like that exists?

[@lindaflow5434]

oh mann. hab das mit den kastanien ein halbes jahr gemacht, bin dann auf efeu umgestiegen. nach zwei jahren hat mich das vorbehandeln so genervt, dass ich nun wieder bei flüssigwaschmittel bin. auch diese waschbälle mit keramikkugeln kommen an waschmittel einfach nicht ran. ich hab mir einen kanister davon bestellt und ich schätze damit 1 1/2 - 2 jahre auszukommen - für 50€ ganz ok!

[@ecofriendlia]

Ja das hört sich nach einer guten Lösung an! Deswegen haben wir zusätzlich auch flüssiges Waschmittel für wenn wir mal direkt waschen wollen oder keine Lust auf das vorbereiten haben ☺️

[@galigyal399]

I loved the video because it was relaxing to watch

[@LanaMinimalist]

Great style of video!

[@avbeasley]

Not totally related, but what sort of wool is your new sweater made from? It looks so cozy!

[@ecofriendlia]

It is cashmere! Super cozy and high quality but often not very ethically produced, which is also why I bought it secondhand (and saved a lot of money too) ☺

[@sannelyeaylis9197]

Hi, Can I ask you, when you make your soap for laundry, do you throw used nuts or do you keep them and dry them again?

[@ecofriendlia]

I compost them and take new nuts every time. But Maybe drying would be possible I am just too afraid of mold and since we have a lot of them here I don't mind using new ones each time. ☺

[@tinkerblue677]

Enjoyed the video, thanks. Does anyone still iron clothes in 2020? I fold my laundry as it comes out of the washing machine and I rarely use an iron. Perhaps it's time to let the iron and ironing board go...

[@jordanasrukas4880]

Eco cycle takes long becouse it heats the water slowly so it saves energy:)

[@kyrastandl907]

ich verwende meistens den schnellwaschgang mit 20-30min und hatte damit eigentlich noch nie ein Problem. ich glaub auch, dass man so viel wasser und strom spart.

[@rebebristol5696]

Such a kind face ! Thank you

[@you8835]

Привет, милая ♥ Спасибо за полезный контент! with love

[@intentionallymade]

Haha I love everything about this video. I too fold on the couch! But I’m also a person who uses my bed as my desk 😆😆 I love that basket you have and the method of using one basket only. How often do you do it since you do it based off the basket being full? New to Your channel so I’ll have to browse and catch up! Thank you for sharing.

[@kriskadania7687]

I can‘t find a video about your bathroom? I am pretty interested in what kind of Deo you use.

[@ecofriendlia]

There is one from a few months ago, it is called "minimalist zero waste bathroom" and to answer your question, I use cream deodorant (I think in the video I used one I was gifted by "we love the planet" and now I use one a friend of mine made) ☺

[@ema-b1h]

In winter hang in cold dry inside by heat

[@milekrizman]

5:18 dry it in the house in cold or wet weather near the stove

[@222-q7w]

Also hang dry my washing. Find that tumbler drying machines make clothes shrink or jean's go shorter. This to me is horror or horrors.

[@ecofriendlia]

Oh yes, that sounds horrible! I think a lot of people use these dryers successfully because they are the standard where they live but I personally would also always choose hang drying over tumble dryers ☺

[@asisqueezylovediary6474]

How does it smell the chestnut wash

[@elizabetabihler2875]

I guess it doesn't have any scent or just smells clean.😊

[@smartypants1980]

My cousin has to air dry lamudry and conplains about it stiffing the cloths. Do you hav any suggestions?

[@kyrastandl907]

i just like to shake my dry clothes a bit cause sometimes they can feel a bit stiff after drying like you said. shaking seems to work just fine for me

[@becca3795]

Another thing you can do to get that soft feeling on your clothes without using a lot of energy is to put the clothes in the dryer for like 5 minutes and then hang dry then for the rest of the time. Hope this helps!

[@gardeninn]

Wow

[@ZikhonaN]

First

[@ecofriendlia]

Thanks for being here the minute I upload 😉

[@GenerationalDysfunction]

You pronounce th as d....togeder instead of together. Cute.