A Smart Guide to Recycling Your Laundry Greywater

Wait, don’t throw away your washing machine’s greywater just yet - it might just come in handy!

You might be asking yourself “Well, is it still useable, and how can I reuse it?” Of course, it is, and there are many ways to put your greywater to good use!

We have compiled a list of the niftiest greywater usage tips to help you save water and money while also keeping Mother Earth one happy chap.

Clearing up the “grey” in greywater

Let’s get started!

You might be wondering well, what is Greywater?

Greywater is wastewater that comes from a variety of sources including your washing machine, shower, laundry tub, dishwasher, and the kitchen sink - just to name a few.

The majority of wastewater in your home is generated by your washing machine - on average, it uses anywhere between 40 to 224 litres of water per wash!

So, if you are doing, let’s say 6 loads of laundry per week you are using up to 1,350 litres of water a week! Now that is a larger amount of water.

How can I use greywater?

There are numerous ways to put your greywater to good use! The most common use of greywater is to keep the garden looking healthy and green. But nowadays, one technique commonly used by many is to install a residential greywater system.

A residential greywater system allows you to send used water directly from your water pipes to your lawn or garden via connected tubes and pipes. You can also do it yourself by attaching a pipe to your washing machine and allowing the water to drain into your garden. Make sure that before you get started you check with your local council and what their policies are on greywater use and storage.

Before you begin, keep the following helpful tips in mind to ensure a positive greywater reuse experience:

1. Make sure the garden area is flat to avoid greywater from running off into other areas.
2. Apply greywater to the soil only. Don’t allow it to make contact with the upper portion of plants, fruits, or herbs.
3. Use greywater only on fully-developed plants - it is not to be used on seedlings and young plants.
4. Alternate greywater use with fresh water so salt and chemical buildup will not take place.
5. Do not irrigate root crops with greywater, as it might affect their development.
6. Do not apply greywater to plants that only thrive in acidic soil.
7. Don’t store greywater, it must be used straight away. There is no use for it if it has been sitting around for a few hours.
8. Use cleaning and laundry products that are safe for greywater use. Euca has a wide range of eco-friendly cleaning products that are not only tough on grease and grime but are 100% soluble meaning that no added fillers (that are found in supermarket brands) are added to our formula. Check out our wide range of laundry products here.

Is washing machine greywater safe for use?

Generally, greywater is a safe option for reuse. However, some common chemicals may be found within that could be harmful to your plants and greenery if not used correctly.

1. Phosphorus. Small amounts of phosphorus can promote growth among plants, which is why it is a major component found in fertilisers. However, excessive amounts can cause algal blooms - which are harmful to your plant's health. At Euca, we only include small amounts of Phosphorus in our laundry products, which is beneficial to the soil.
2. Salts. Sodium salts, such as sodium nitrate and sodium phosphate are toxic to plants in large quantities. That is why we recommend dispersing greywater over a large gardening area to minimise damage.
3. Alkaline. High-pH detergents contribute to increased soil acidity, particularly when greywater that contains high levels is applied to the soil.

This is why the team at Euca have formulated our laundry products, to be naturally low in these chemicals to ensure that we are protecting the environment and our future, but also so that you can get the absolute most out of your greywater. Did you also know that our laundry powders not only leave your clothes fresh and clean but also clean and protect your washing machine at the same time?

Use Euca for a better clean!

Whether you put your greywater to use or not, your weekly laundry will still generate litres of greywater. So, why not make the most of it by using laundry products that are not only effective at cleaning your clothes but are also safe for greywater use? That’s a two-in-one!

According to Lanfax Laboratories, organic laundry products, such as Euca Laundry Powder Concentrate, have been proven and tested safe for greywater use. Made from Australian Eucalyptus and Lemon Myrtle (with no added chemicals or nasties), Euca’s laundry powder provides a better clean, while still being safe and suitable for greywater use in your garden or lawn.

Check out our wide range of laundry products that are also suitable for septic, bio, and greywater systems. Pair these products alongside our Euca Laundry Powder for a better clean:

• Euca Eucalyptus Laundry Sanitiser: made with Broad Spectrum Bacteriacide, to disinfect and remove the nastiest germs.
• Euca Fabo Fabric Softener: A highly concentrated fabric softener that has anti-static properties and will leave your clothes feeling and smelling great!
• Euca Eco-friendly Pre Wash Stain Remover: A new generation eco-friendly cleaning product that is extremely effective in dissolving all kinds of stains and soils. It is also free of any harsh chemicals.

Our team at Euca have also developed our very own eco-friendly 20 g cardboard scoop to use during laundry time. Replace your Euca pumps and sprayers with our scoop for the perfect wash.

Have a look at what some of our customers have to say about how eco-friendly and greywater-safe Euca’s laundry products are:

Review by BP and RC from ProductReview.com.

Review by Sharon from ProductReview.com.

Review by Bonnie from ProductReview.com.

Don’t wait any longer, choose Euca!