WashWise - a sustainable approach to washing

Lower sodium laundry detergents

Amway Home SA8 Concentrate powder

Premium with Bioquest

Amway Home SA8 Concentrate liquid

Liquid laundry detergent
Delicate

Surf logo

All Surf Ultra Concentrate powders, including:

Tropical
Herbals
Sunshine
Lavender

All Surf Concentrate liquids, including:

Tropical
Herbals
Sunshine
Lavender

Biozet Attack Ultra Concentrate powder

Regular
With softener

Biozet Attack Ultra Concentrate liquid

Rapid

Duo Ultra Concentrate powder

Cleans + Whitens
Cleans + Cares
Cleans + Softener

Duo Ultra Concentrate liquid

Cleans + Whitens
Cleans + Softener

Radiant powder

Brilliant Whites Sharper Colours
Mixed Colour Wash
Sensitive

Radiant liquid

Brilliant Whites Sharper Colours
Mixed Colour Wash
Sensitive

These laundry detergents are produced by the following leading laundry companies: Amway, Kao and PZ Cussons.

Updated February 2020

Clothesline or dryer – pros and cons

Pros

Clothesline	Dryer
Energy (and cost) savings The sun does all the work, not electricity. The environment and your bank balance thank you!	Convenience Throw your clothes in, set and forget! Good for last-minute drying, too.
Hygiene Ultraviolet (UV) from sunlight can kill or prevent bacteria from reproducing, which can mean cleaner, fresher and more hygienic laundry.	Rain – who cares! Your dryer can be used rain, hail or shine.
Bleaching If hung in direct sunlight, the sun can help whiten your white clothes.	Softness Some items, such as towels, come out softer and fluffier from the dryer. Ironing is easier, too.
Clothing care Wash items can last longer because line drying is gentler than using a dryer. And there is no risk of clothes shrinking.

Cons

Clothesline	Dryer
Time cost You have to hang your wash items then take them off the line again. Sometimes more than once (see Rain!).	Energy used Electricity is needed to power your dryer. This uses environmental resources and costs money.
Bleaching If hung in direct sunlight, the sun can make your brightly coloured clothes less vivid (this can be overcome using a portable clothes line in the shade or indoors*).	Cost As well as the costs of running your dryer there is also the upfront cost of buying a dryer**.
Rain Rain happens. Laundry items that are drying outdoors will get wet or need to be retrieved and re-hung.	Noise and heat Dryers can be noisy, and some can generate heat and moisture*. However, many modern dryers are much quieter, and generate much less heat than their precursors.
Air pollution If you live somewhere with high levels of air pollution, line drying can make your laundry items dirty again.	Limited scope Not all laundry items can be tumble dried.

*Drying laundry indoors using a portable clothes line or an older-style tumble dryer increases indoor moisture. This can increase dust mites and mould spores – especially if you live somewhere cold or damp – which could be an issue if someone in your household has sensitivity to these.

**For information on different types of dryers, see www.energyrating.gov.au/dryers.

The science behind laundry ingredients

What do modern laundry detergents do?

Modern laundry ingredients CLEAN

Remove stains: localised areas of visible discolouration

Remove soils: invisible matter, including microorganisms, spread throughout the fabric

Surfactants are the major ingredients responsible for cleaning
Builders assist the action of surfactants by reducing water hardness
Alkalis increase the pH to enhance oily soil breakdown
Buffering agents maintain a stable pH
Anti-redeposition agents prevent removed soils from re-adhering to fabrics
Enzymes can aid removal of specific stains
Bleaches can assist with the cleaning process

Modern laundry ingredients ENHANCE LOOK and FEEL

Softness

Freshness

Colour protection

Fabric shape

Ironing ease

Fabric softeners add softness and control static electricity
Fragrances give freshness and a pleasant smell
Optical brighteners, also called fluorescers, give brightness to fabrics

Modern laundry ingredients AID the WASHING PROCESS

Assist laundry product

Protect washing machine

Preservatives increase product shelf-life
Hydrotropes maintain liquid detergent homogeneity
Foam regulators minimise suds formation
Corrosion inhibitors protect washing machine surfaces

For more information, click here to download the l aundry detergent ingredients information sheet.

	Effect on plants	Effect on soil	WashWise suggestions
Salinity	Excess can block plants from taking up water from the soil, resulting in plant stress	Some is necessary for good soil structure	Choose an efficient detergent Follow the manufacturer’s dosage instructions Only use laundry rinse water
Sodium	Excess can block plants from taking up water from the soil Some plant species can tolerate higher amounts	Excess can cause loss of soil structure and permeability, especially for clay soils The effect of sodium on clay soils is most harmful when irrigation with sodium-rich water is followed by soft water	Choose a lower sodium detergent, especially if you have clay soils or a soft water supply
Phosphorus	Necessary for plants BUT can cause over-proliferation of some algal species in inland waters	Leaches readily from sandy soils and could contaminate groundwater	Choose a lower phosphorus detergent with the NP or P label If you are watering sandy soils, consider a detergent with the NP label
pH and total alkalinity	High pH water can block plants from taking up nutrients from the soil Different plant species can tolerate different pH levels, but generally pH 9 is a maximum	High total alkalinity means that the pH of the greywater is quite stable, and the pH of the soil is likely to rise	Only use laundry rinse water as it has lower pH than wash water

What are chemicals?

A chemical is a substance with a distinct molecular composition.

Natural chemicals are found in nature. “Natural” does not necessarily equal “harmless”: everything can be harmful in certain contexts or quantities.

Synthetic chemicals are made by man. Many synthetic chemicals are copies of natural ones, so that environmental resources don’t have to be exploited.

Sometimes, chemicals are semi-synthetic, meaning that natural chemicals have been modified by man to do something more effectively.

Read more about chemicals at www.furphies.org.au/what-are-chemicals.html

What is water hardness?

Water hardness is a measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium in water. A simple test of water hardness is to see how well a lather forms. Add some detergent to the water and agitate – lather will form easily in soft water but not in hard.

Water hardness depends on the source of the water:

Rainwater is very soft.
Bore water is typically hard but varies around the country.
Reticulated water varies around the country. Typical levels of water hardness in major cities are shown below. Your local water authority may be able to give you more information on water hardness in your local area.

Typical levels of water hardness in major cities

Adelaide	Hard to very hard
Brisbane	Moderately hard
Canberra	Soft
Darwin	Soft
Hobart	Soft
Melbourne	Soft
Perth	Varies from soft to hard
Sydney	Soft

Water Hardness Scale (mg/L calcium carbonate)

Soft	0 to 60
Moderately hard	60 to 120
Hard	120 to 180
Very hard	>180

SETTING UP your laundry

SETTING UP

your laundry

DOING the wash

DOING

the wash

AFTER you wash

AFTER

you wash

What is the point of washing laundry?

To enjoy a healthy and hygienic lifestyle with clean and fresh clothing, towels and bed linen.

By washing wisely you will realise this goal. But you can achieve more than this.

You can save money, time, and precious environmental resources by getting the job done right first time.

Explore the three sections above to learn how.

The WashWise website is for Australians who value:

Clothesline

Dryer

Clothesline

Dryer

Effect on plants

Effect on soil

WashWise suggestions

Salinity

Sodium

Phosphorus

pH and total alkalinity

SETTING UP

your laundry

DOING

the wash

AFTER

you wash

By washing wisely you will realise this goal.
But you can achieve more than this.