In July of 2016, Amherst, Massachusetts went under a voluntary water ban to combat a moderately serious drought; in August of the same year, the situation grew in severity and a mandatory one was instituted instead. Droughts of this kind are not very common in the New England area, which is concerning, but they have certainly happened before: the last Drought Watch to occur in the Connecticut River region was in the year 2002. However, officials and experts know that in order to dig ourselves out of this dry spell, some effort on everyone's part will need to be taken.
Despite having received rain in the past few weeks, officials still urge town residents and college students alike to do everything in their power to conserve water. The town itself has stopped watering town commons and recreational fields, and will fine anyone filling swimming pools, washing their cars at noncommercial sites, and watering their lawns. Large town projects that would have required the usage of a lot of water have been rescheduled until further notice. According to the town website, the ban will only be lifted once, "groundwater and surface water levels return to normal or have the ability to continue to recharge."
It may seem difficult to believe that individuals can have an impact on this situation, but this is entirely untrue: it is the effort of many individuals that will eventually improve this situation. The biggest transgression I am currently guilty of (and this may seem a little strange to some) is doing too much laundry. I am very picky with my clothing, and I like having everything clean most of the time. When I wear a shirt to a dining hall or walking around all day, I feel that I cannot wear it again until it’s washed. But is this a psychological thing, or are my cloths truly getting that dirty? I took to the web to find out:
1. Workout cloths
Socks, shirts, sports bras, and all other cloths you sweat heavily in should be washed after every usage. This is generally a rule that you shouldn't be breaking, except perhaps if you don't sweat too much in what you're wearing (for example, if you're doing a low-impact yoga routine). Also, wash your gym bag about once a month to prevent bacteria growth.
2. Towels
Although this can be extended slightly depending on the context you're using them in, bath towels should generally be washed after 3 or 4 uses. To make them last longer, make sure they're hung up in a non-humid dry area between uses.
3. Regular cloths
T-shirts and undershirts are generally able to withstand 1 or 2 wears, depending on how much you sweat in them. Pants and sweaters can go a bit longer, lasting about 5 wears, and jeans could potentially go for weeks without really needing a good wash. Use your discretion on that last one.
4. Bedding
Your sheets should be washed approximately every other week, but if you sweat a lot, increase this to once a week. Pillows and comforters, however, only need to be washed about once a year.
5. Private stuff
This should be a no-brainer: wash your undershirts, underwear, and socks after every single usage. Pajamas can go a bit longer, lasting about 4 wears until you should consider throwing them in the wash.
6. Winter cloths and outerwear
Most jackets and coats only need to be washed once a season, but if you wear them very often and feel them getting dirty it couldn't hurt to rinse them off. Be cautious of what type of material your coat is made out of, because some fabrics should only be handled by a professional. Saves, hats, and gloves should be washed about once a month during the winter seasons, simply because they interact with a lot of surfaces.
When all is said and done, just remember that individual contributions have the ability to make a real difference. According to the Amherst town website:
Turning off water when brushing teeth or shaving can save 10 gallons/person/day. Installing a high efficiency toilet can save 19 gallons/person/day. Washing full loads of clothes can save 15-45 gallons/load and washing full loads of dishes in the dishwasher can save 5-15 gallons/load.
That's right: washing full loads of cloths can save between 15 and 45 gallons of water per load. While that may not seem like a lot now, consider how much water that could save in a year--and how much you can give back by laundering smart.
