I try very hard to do my part, environmentally speaking. When going green, some steps are more important and have bigger impact than others. I say this in just about every book (The Complete Organic Pregnancy, The Conscious Kitchen) and article I write. That said, some green changes are more practical than others. Changing how we all launder our clothes can have a monumental impact. Cold water washing with a “green” detergent and line drying your clothing is the ideal.

For years now, I’ve had the green detergent part down. I do this to avoid non-renewable petrochemicals as well as skin and lung irritating not to mention hormone disrupting synthetic fragrances. Its residue is also far better for our waterways. And I (mainly – more on this in a minute) wash in cold water. The amount of energy it takes to heat water is unfathomable. And it mostly comes from coal-fired power plants, which I like to rely on as little as possible. Warm or hot water washing will also up your electricity bill. Trust me – and many studies – when I say that clothes get perfectly clean in cold water so I’m happy to avoid the coal (for me and my neighbors) and the bills.

When it comes to line drying, I have much room for improvement. In any green life, there are steps that have not been sufficiently taken. It’s on the top of my To Green list. To be perfectly honest, it has been there for a while, not budging. I happen to live in New York City. Some things here are beyond easy. Rely entirely on public transportation? No problem! Eat locally and shop exclusively at farmers’ markets and/or join a CSA? Check! Others eco-steps take a little more finagling, like composting in an apartment. That also sat on my To Green list for too long. But we tackled it and are now a composting-obsessed family. The line-drying (or non-dryer drying) challenge lingers. I’m not sure why. I know all too well why it’s a great idea to line dry. I like that – beyond energy conservation – it preserves your clothing. What do you think lint is? That’s your favorite outfit disintegrating. Durability is a key tenet of living green: I want my clothes to last as long as possible.

• ‹ Air Drying Week 1
• The Schoolbag ›