By choosing to travel to a household to join the washing, you are really pitching in to do your part! It is estimated that an average of 60% of domestic water in the home is used for washing and cleaning. This includes washing ourselves, our clothes, our dishes, the floors and counters².As part of the washing water, you’ll notice that all of the grease, soaps, hair products, detergents, and cleaning products used end up going down the drain with the wastewater. Although water quality can be impacted, it is a relief to know that some of the products now available are designed to break down quickly and limit contamination.

Water quality can also be impacted by the dirt, oils and microorganisms that come off whatever is being washed. Laundering clothes made of synthetic fabric also results in microfibres and microplastics in the wastewater, although there are now new devices designed to catch the microfibres before they go down the drain.