When picking detergents or bleach, less is best. "People should choose the simplest product that works well for them," says Philip Dickey, staff scientist at the Washington Toxics Coalition. "None of [the fragrances, dyes or brighteners] have any effect on how clean clothing is, in terms of removing soil and stains," he adds.

Don't be fooled either by undefined, non-verified labels such as "non-toxic," "biodegradable" and "organic" (only meaningful on food and some personal care products). When possible, choose products that disclose all ingredients on labels, as many eco-friendly product manufacturers do, and look for words that indicate what's not in the cleaner, i.e., "chlorine-free" and "no NPEs."

Water, Water Everywhere

Alongside those chemicals swirling down the drain, the machines in your laundry room may be washing resources and money away. Washing machines can use as much as 40 gallons of water per load, whereas Energy Star-rated machines use around half that.

Water conservation is crucial—and no longer just in the West. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that cities nationwide are placing undue stress on groundwater supplies to support population and industrial growth, and that stress can lead to increased pumping that causes saltwater pools to infiltrate freshwater supplies. The World Wildlife Fund last March listed the Rio Grande as one of the world's 10 top rivers at risk, largely due to excessive water extraction that led to saltwater intrusion from the Gulf of Mexico; increased salinity has already displaced 32 of the river's 121 native marine species. "In any area of increased population, there'll be an increased demand for water," says Lynn Torak, USGS hydrologist, noting that most of the Atlantic seaboard, from Long Island, New York, into the Florida peninsula, faces this problem.

Switching from liquid detergents to powders is another easy way to reduce your water burden. "Laundry liquids contain a significant amount of water, presently 70 to 80 percent, soon to be reduced to 40 to 60 percent in double and triple compact concentrates," says Martin Wolf, director of product and environmental technology at Seventh Generation. "It costs energy and packaging to bring this water to the consumer," he says; that's unnecessary when your machine will add water on its own.

Live Free AND Dry

What's the most efficient, conservative—and free—tool in your laundry room? Sunlight. Not only is it a natural bleaching agent and disinfectant but line drying a single load of clothes saves approximately 2.6 kWh of electricity and prevents 3.35 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Even so, line drying laundry isn't always practical. To tread lightly, and dryly, opt for a dryer with more efficient settings, such as a moisture sensor, which shuts the dryer off automatically when fabrics are dry, and an air-dry feature, which dries your clothes with cold air, cutting down on energy use and wrinkles. Also, set your washer on the fastest spin cycle—front-loading washers have the advantage of faster spin times—reducing the water in your clothes beforehand. Energy Star doesn't yet rate dryers, but Consumer Reports has found that gas dryers are cheaper to run and have a lighter eco impact.

To protect your health, avoid dryer sheets, which may be treated with the same harmful chemicals as those in liquid fabric softeners. These sheets and similar reusable cloths are also made from synthetic, petroleum-based chemicals that don't biodegrade in landfills. Some companies have introduced reusable products that will soften clothes and eliminate static cling; among the most advertised are dryer balls made from polyvinyl chloride, which releases carcinogenic dioxin during production and may release hormone-disrupting phthalates during use. Instead, reduce static cling by drying natural fibers and synthetics separately, or add one-fourth of a cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle.

One Last Wrinkle

Irons can consume up to 1,800 watts of energy, and if used for two hours, one iron emits 4.8 pounds of carbon dioxide. Line drying clothes, air drying with cold air or removing them from the dryer immediately will keep wrinkles to a minimum.

Furthermore, irons and ironing-board covers may be treated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is used to prevent sticking and stains. Also used on clothes that claim to be stain- and wrinkle-repellent, PFOA is a persistent chemical that has been detected in the blood of virtually all Americans (see www.thegreenguide.com/blog/worrywart/386). It was found in 2004 to cause cancer in lab animals, and while DuPont, the only manufacturer of PFOA in the U.S., disputed those findings, the company agreed to eliminate the chemical by 2015.

To prevent your cleaning chores from getting too dirty, choose the alternative laundry products listed in our checklist (above). And if you're inspired to return to simpler times, that bucket and washing board are still worthy options. Plus, spring's warmer weather freshens up line-dried clothes better than any chemical.