Is Washing Really Necessary?
Minimalism is also trending in laundry: Less is sometimes more. Washing clothes uses energy, and the use of detergents puts strain on our water treatment plants and waterways. So next time you're doing laundry, ask yourself: does your beloved piece really need washing? With a few simple tricks, you'll ease the burden on the environment, save money, and improve your carbon footprint.
Stains
Small stains can often be removed by hand from the fabric and you're good to go. With a little dish soap and water, you'll get most stains out quickly.
Freshness Without Washing
Your clothes pick up light odors from wearing them? Or they've been in a suitcase for a while? Hang the clothes on a hanger or clothesline outside overnight. Fresh air and nighttime humidity will help your clothes smell fresh again and may even prevent wrinkles.
How to Wash Sustainably & Properly
Temperature
Feel free to lower your water temperature! Save half the energy by washing at 30°C instead of 60°C. Of course, always check the care label before washing. However, it always shows the maximum wash temperature. So you can confidently choose a lower temperature, as modern washing machines and detergents often work just fine at lower temperatures. Your clothes will also thank you for not exposing them to excessive heat, keeping their color and shine longer.
Many machines also have an eco-wash program that takes longer to run but saves water and energy by using less heat and less water. In other words: your clothes need more time to achieve the same washing result (with cooler and less water) as a regular program, but you'll save resources in the process.
Detergent
Generally, you can distinguish between regular detergent, color detergent, and delicate detergent. Here's the rule of thumb: Solid over liquid - powder detergent is usually more environmentally friendly than liquid versions. Powders are more effective and put less strain on water treatment plants. There are already various eco-friendly alternatives on the market that, unlike conventional detergents, avoid oil-based surfactants, fragrances, and preservatives.
Regular detergent contains bleach and is often used for whites because it makes laundry shine. It's also good for heavily soiled laundry, sheets, and towels that can be washed at 60°C.
Color detergent is especially good for colored (and black) fabrics. It doesn't contain optical brighteners and protects the color quality of your clothes.
For our erlich textil products made from lace and modal, delicate detergent is the right choice. It's free of bleach and brighteners and cleans delicate fabrics gently. Combined with a gentle cycle at low temperatures (20 to 40°C), nothing can go wrong.
Are There Any Helpful Tools I Can Use?
Laundry Bags
To keep the beautiful, smooth surfaces of your clothes looking great for years, we recommend using a mesh laundry bag for delicate fabrics, bras, and underwear (especially those with lace). This protects your textiles from unnecessary friction in the washing machine drum.
GUPPYFRIEND
Der GUPPYFRIEND Waschbeutel ist die erste clevere Lösung, um dem Mikrofaser Problem an den Kragen zu gehen: Mit dem GUPPYFRIEND kannst du selbst einen Beitrag leisten, um die Plastikverschmutzung in Gewässern zu reduzieren und auch andere auf die Problematik aufmerksam zu machen. Wie funktioniert's? Bei jedem Waschgang lösen sich Mikrofasern, also kleinste Kunstfaser-Bruchstücke von deiner Kleidung, die ganz einfach ins Abwasser gelangen. Am umweltschädlichsten sind Fasern von synthetischen Materialien, wie Acryl, Nylon und Polyester.Der GUPPYFRIEND verschafft ganz einfach Abhilfe: Wäschestücke in den Wäschebeutel geben, bis zur Hälfte Füllen und die Wäsche wie üblich waschen. Aufgrund der weichen Oberfläche des GUPPYFRIENDS verliert die Kleidung automatisch weniger Fasern, was die Lebensdauer der Kleidung verlängert. Abgebrochene Fasern werden gefiltert und nach dem Waschen in den Ecken und im Saum des Beutels abgelagert. Die Reste kannst du ganz einfach entfernen und im Hausmüll entsorgen.Der GUPPYFRIEND ist ausunbehandeltem und ungefärbten Polyamid 6.6 hergestellt und verliert selbst keine Mikrofasern. Für weitere Infos und ein umfassendes FAQ schau hier vorbei.
Reuse Instead of Disposal
Intact products are refurbished and put back on the market – so the returned product goes back into our regular sales cycle. When that's not possible, we repurpose B-grade items in sample sales and regularly pass them on to the "Mit Ecken und Kanten" imperfect shop. In addition, we donate remaining products to charitable organizations: last year alone we were able to support Cologne's homeless assistance program with over 600 items. We want to prevent our products from being disposed of using these recycling steps.
And What Comes After Washing?
Drying
The classic clothesline is probably the best option for drying your favorite pieces. It uses no energy and is gentle on your clothes and the environment. Before hanging, shake out your clothes once or twice – that usually saves you ironing later.
When drying, make sure to hang heavier items like our Horst or Milla flat to dry. Hanging them on a hanger or clothesline could cause them to stretch and lose shape from their own weight.
Tip: When you hang your clothes on the line, they dry best in the breeze – not, as you might think, in strong direct sunlight. So always aim for good airflow, and your laundry will dry faster. The wind also helps smooth out wrinkles. Sun acts as a natural bleach for white cotton items; if you're drying color-sensitive pieces, protect them from too much sun or turn them inside out.
Ironing
With a bit of practice, ironing can usually be avoided: Start by shaking out your laundry right after the wash cycle and hang it on hangers or a clothesline with clips along the seams; best placed outdoors with good airflow (this smooths wrinkles as it dries), once dry, smooth it out and fold it. Done!
Nevertheless, reaching for the iron is sometimes unavoidable. If you do need to iron, check the care label and make sure not to use too much heat. It's easier if you lightly mist the garment with distilled water before ironing.
You'll find exact details on how to care for individual products on the care labels sewn into each erlich textil product.
Want to know all the details and learn more about individual materials and how to care for them? Find out more here:
