Here’s a great video from RealWorldGreen.com, with host Eric Rochow, about how to be green when you’re doing your laundry. Enjoy!

Often, many different chemicals are needed for removing stains from clothing, but de-staining green isn’t impossible. Here’s a great list of eco-friendly stain removal methods, compliments of EcoStreet.com:

For the removal of oil or fat stains, even tomato sauce if it is dry, try corn flour rubbed into the stain and left for about 20 minutes then brushed off with a soft cloth or brush. This may need several applications for a good result. Speed up the process if you wish by placing a paper towel above and below the treated stain and running a hot steam iron over it.

Stains from fruit, including wine and tomato sauce disappear when boiling water is poured over them in a bowl.

Ball point ink stains can be tricky. Soak in milk. It may take a while and need a top up but it does work. Apparently this also works on chocolate and even blood.

Rust stains can be cleared with application of a layer of salt and lemon juice squeezed over the top and then rubbed in.

Vinegar is the tops when it comes to multiple uses. For wine spots on cotton treat within 24 hours with white distilled vinegar applied directly to the stain and rubbed. Then clean in accordance with instructions on the label.

This next is not exactly stain removal but it is a good tip. To freshen baby clothes add one cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle, it will naturally break down uric acid and soapy residue and leave the clothes soft and fresh. This treatment helps any clothes to rinse better—it does not harm the fabric but will dissolve alkaline in soaps and detergents.

To remove chewing gum pour straight vinegar over it to saturate. This works even better if you heat the vinegar first. Another suggestion is to use basic hair shampoo (without inbuilt conditioner) on stains on washable materials, work it well into the fibers, but carefully if it’s delicate. Follow up with your usual wash.

One thing which is great for nappies and whites is natural sunlight which helps to bleach out stains but this is a summertime only solution here in the United Kingdom.

The Harbus, Harvard’s student newspaper wants to test your eco-conscience. Below are four questions relating to energy-saving laundry practices. Send your answers to meryl_brott@harvard.edu by March 10 and if you get them all correct, you can win some eco-friendly laundry detergent (of course, you may actually have to pick it up in Cambridge, Massachusetts—sorry).

1. Cleaning your lint filter before drying your clothes will reduce energy use by up to 30%.
a). True
b). False

2. Washing in cold water instead of hot water allows fabrics to retain their color and strength longer.
a). True
b). False

3. Washing your laundry in cold water instead of hot saves this much energy:
a). 40%
b). 60%
c). 75%
d). 90%

4. High-efficiency washers (like those at Harvard) need about this much detergent:
a). 2 Tablespoons
b). 1/3 cup
c). 1/2 cup
d). 1 cup

From the development stage of The Westin Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, Starwood Hotels considered sustainability. All laundry water is recycled into irrigation for watering the gardens and plants in and around the hotel, and guests will be offered the option of keeping their same bedding for the duration of their stay, to avoid over laundering and wasting water and energy. Additionally, all chemicals used at The Westin Dubai will be biodegradable, and all waste will be sorted and recycled.

The hotel is expected to open in May 2008.

From Carbon Conscious Consumer (C3), here are some of the reasons why washing your clothes in cold water will save the world and your wallet:

1. About 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water, which means that only 10 percent of the electricity a washing machine consumes goes to run the motor.

2. Water heating accounts for approximately 19 percent of total home energy use, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute.

3. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using less water and using cooler water can both reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes. In situations where hot water is necessary, for example, to kill dust mites in bedding or to clean heavily soiled items, use cold water in the rinse cycle.

4. Push the “cold/cold” button on your washing machine for 80 percent of the loads you do this month, says C3. By doing four out of five loads in cold water, you’ll cut 72 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions this month alone.

5. If you keep washing 80 percent of the loads in cold water for a year, you’ll save more than $60 in energy costs for the year—or $100 a year if you live in regions with high electricity costs. Use Energy Star machines for greater water and energy costs.

And for those of you who respond better to adorable little children, here’s a public service announcement brought to you by Harry the Green Geek:

While searching the term “dry cleaning” today, we came across a new dry cleaning service that seems to set itself apart from other professional dry cleaners. OXXO Cleaners not only makes an effort to stay environmentally friendly by steering clear of perchloroethylene, but they’ve re-defined convenience. Their 24/7 ATM-style pickup and drop off stations make it so you don’t have to rush to the cleaners before they close.

We believe it’s a national chain, but most locations appear to be only on the east coast.

Making environmentally-conscious decisions, not only with your laundry habits but with every facet of your life, can make a great impact over time. While you’re immediately seeing the difference it makes on your wallet, those small changes you make will compound and help the environment over time. So how do you make a difference? The first step is recognizing how much of a dent you’re currently making. The U.S. Geological Society has an interactive tool that can help you determine how much water they use. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star site makes recommendations for appliances that conserve energy.

Start making good decisions today so that you can make a difference tomorrow.

We found two great recipes for homemade fabric softener floating around the net and wanted to share them with you. These comes from CreativeHomemaking.com, which has homemade solutions for just about anything around the house.

Recipe #1:

• 2 Cups White Vinegar
• 2 Cups Baking Soda
• 4 Cups Water

Combine slowly and carefully over sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz. Pour into plastic bottle, cover, and shake. *Hint – Reuse your “Downy” bottle.

Use 1/4 cup in the final rinse or in a “Downy Ball.”

Recipe #2:

• 2-3 Cups Water
• 1 Cup Liquid Fabric Softener (wait, homemade? Oh well, let’s run with it).
• Large Sponge

Combine water and liquid softener. Cut sponge in 1/2 and keep in liquid. When drying clothes, remove sponge, squeeze out excess liquid and place in dryer with clothes. When dry, just place sponge back in liquid to be used for next load.

You can also use these products alone to soften:

• Plain White Vinegar – Add 1/2 cup to final rinse.
• Baking Soda – Add 1/4 cup to final rinse.
• Regular Fabric Softener – Dilute and use normally.

Shopping for laundry and dry cleaning alternatives can get confusing sometimes. Every chemical name sounds the same! Luckily, we found a handy-dandy wallet sized resource card that you can keep on you at all times! The wonderful people over at Co-op America have posted a pdf file of their Dry Cleaning Alternatives card on their website, or you can click here to download it. Here’s a screen shot:

Besides Dry Cleaner’s Secret, there are other great, eco-friendly products that can help you reduce your footprint and keep Mother Earth smiling. Here are just a few product sites that we found on CoopAmerica.org:

• Ecover—Offers nontoxic powder and liquid detergents, as well as a detergent for delicates.
• Natural Choices Home Safe Products—Sells Oxyprime, a nontoxic laundry detergent, and Allergy   Free, a detergent for people with chemical sensitivities.
• Sun & Earth—Offers a “Deep Cleaning Formula” laundry detergent.
• Seventh Generation—Sells nontoxic liquid and powder laundry detergent, as well as Free and Clear fragrance-free laundry detergent and a detergent for baby clothes.