I use water from the washing machine on the grass here in australia.
As long as you change the area where you put it from time to time and use a quality detergent and not too much it is fine

I use wash water on my hydrangea with no problem

I've been using my washer water for 22 years, the washer was like that when I bought the house (hose out the window). I now have the hugest volunteer Siberian elm in my yard right by the window, shading the south side of my desert residence. There's grass underneath too, not planted by me. It's been the best "free" gardening boon I have. I never water there, it's just the washwater.

I'm just glad my hydrangea is right outside the basement door! It's a bear hauling 5 gallon buckets of water up the steps! Worth it though!

When I was growing up in Michigan, my parents' house was on a septic tank, so we hooked up a garden hose to the outlet of the washer, and just watered the grass, except when my mom was bleaching clothes . . .

If your current detergent is giving problems to your plants, look at an all natural one, like those available from Seventh Generation.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seventh Generation

Using washing water is quite common here especially in the last few years. I just put the drain hose from the washer into another longer flexible hose and let it pump out as normal. Except very hot water of course. I just shift the hose around to a different spot each wash.
Cheryl.

Another bio soap product you might find across the country in a supermarket is called, "Sun and Earth". They make a bio laundry detergent, window/counter cleaner, and dish washing soap. I've used all 3 and have been siphoning greywater from the sink for months through our drought alerts here in SE Massachusetts with no probs to any plant material. As a matter of fact, not many unwanted bugs either. Bugs don't like soap!
Best,
PP

I'm sorry to come in on this very late! I hope no one minds. My question is, what happens to plants if the wash water is hot? And, since I am in a wintery area, do you still shunt it off into the garden during the winter?

Hi Elanor,

I just came upon your post and thought I'd give you my two cents worth.

I'm guessing the hot water would shock and kill your grass or plants (plants are like us...don't like scalding water on our skins either).

Whether you shut it off in the winter probably depends upon how cold it is where you are. I live in Colorado and winter water our trees & shrubs at least every four weeks if the temp gets above 50 or so.

We're asked not to water our grass though.

Hope this helps!

Paul

Thanks- we do have freezing conditions, and our water is softened, so I guess we're outta luck doing this.