Prewashing in ecological laundry: when and how to do it

The good ecological practices in laundry may involve many aspects: the kind of detergents used; the water management, about both amount and temperature; the kind of fabrics (see the article about microplastics).

As often happens, users may decide to apply two or more ecological practices at the same time; in such case, sometimes it is recommendable to modify washing procedures, in order to fulfil the best cleaning quality.

For example, lowering washing temperatures is useful both to save electrical power and to preserve clothes; but it is necessary to know that it implies a decreasing in cleaning power yield of degreasing surfactants, which are ingredients able to remove soil. How to remedy this problem? For example, we may nevertheless choose to use hot water, but only in prewashing step and only for clothes which need deeper cleaning (underwear, socks, etc.): in this case, the Bleaching Powder will be the best choice, added with a little amount of Laundry Detergent if needed.

In order to maximize stains cleaning even at low temperatures (20°-25°C, that is 68°-77° F), it is recommendable to treat them before putting cloth into the laundry machine. Here is a summary list of methods:

• extravergin olive oil stains: spray the Liquid Castile Soap and rub (best if pre-soaked with hot/lukewarm water);
• greasy/workshops soil/foundry oil stains: spray the Universal Degreaser or, better, the Super Degreaser and rub (best if pre-soaked with hot/lukewarm water);
• ink/watercolour traces: soak with COLD water, spray the Multipurpose and rub; recommendable to rinse with cold water and spray again, before putting into laundry machine;
• fruit/wine/tea/coffee: treat with a little amount of hot water and the Bleaching Powder, applied locally for half an hour or more.

For other soil types (regurgitation/vomit, etc.), even with lambswool it is recommendable Hygideodorize, a good hygienizing and deodorizing agent.

All these treatments make traditional, polluting “camouflaging products” (based on optical brighteners and blue dyes: to disguise stains; based on persistent fragrances: to disguise bad smells) perfectly useless. Laundry has a really low environmental impact and does include neither allergens nor long-term toxic chemicals at all.