By Tim Joyce, KOIN Local 6 Environmental Reporter

Myth: Washing with hot water is the only way to get clean.

Truth: Cold water washing these days can get even whites clean and there are eco-friendly detergents to help you do it. The website SustaineLane.com recommends looking for a non-toxic detergent that is bleach and phosphate free. They say if you’d like to really go green find one without dirt-removers known as nonylphenol ethoxylates (or NPEs) these are toxic to plans and animals. Heating water accounts for 90 percent of your washer’s energy use, so going cold takes a major load off of your washer’s energy use. SustainLane recommends that sticking with the cold-wash/cold-rinse settings for just four or five washes you’ll reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by more than 72 pounds a month.

Green Tip:

When it comes time to replace your washing machine think two things: energy star and front loader machines. Front loader machines use less water and energy star appliances use less energy overall. The energy star rating program is a quick and easy shortcut to knowing which appliances are greener than others.

Green(er) Tip:

Get a clothes line. There is nothing green about drying your clothes in a conventional dryer. In the summer time, and even in the winter here in the Northwest when it’s not raining—I’ve dried my clothes outside. Nature does almost all the work. A clothesline and clothes pins will set you back a small amount of money but can really impact your overall energy bill.