The simplest thing you can do to improve the environmental performance of your wash is to turn down the temperature.

If everyone in the UK did this, it would save enough energy a year to power 1,000 villages. In Italy, it would provide lighting for most of the country's squares. There are, however, a host of other things you can do as well. For instance:

• Buy compact detergents over big-box types.
• Buy unidose formats such as tablets or liquitabs.
• Use refills wherever you can.
• Stick to high-quality brands that have invested significantly in minimising the environmental impact of the production processes as well as the brands that you can buy.
• Make sure you use the correct amount of detergent for your wash (hence the benefit of unidose formats) - it will make your product last longer and reduce the amount of waste going into the environment.
• Fill your washing machine or dishwasher completely and follow the manufacturer's instructions before you switch it on, so you can be sure you are washing as infrequently as possible and thereby saving energy and water.
• Select energy and water saving cycles if you have them.
• Cut out pre-washes unless you really need them.
• Follow the instructions on your detergent, your appliance and the items you are washing. It will help make sure you get optimal results every time and do not have to wash things twice.
• If you are in the market for new appliances, buy ones that are as energy and water efficient as possible. They will also save you money in the long run.
• Dispose of packaging responsibly, recycling wherever possible.

Remember, most of these measures will benefit your pocket as well as helping the environment.

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