Green Options » dryer

Line Drying Your Clothes

Summer Minor — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:36:02 +0000

It used to be a common sight, rows of clothing and sheets flapping in the wind along clothes lines. But as electric and gas dryers became more popular fewer and fewer families used the wind to dry their clothes. And unfortunately more and more areas decided that the environmentally friendly clothes lines were more a nuisance than anything.

According to an article in the LA Times however line drying your clothing may be becoming popular again. And with celebrities such as Olivia Newton-John and Rachel Bilson doing it too using a clothes line might stand a chance of making a real comeback. With the stats on just how much power using electric clothes driers takes up, it’s really no wonder that more and more families are looking for a environmentally safer alternative.

White Knight Debuts Natural Gas-Powered Dryer

Ariel Schwartz — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:28:13 +0000

I always feel guilty when I use my dryer — after all, won’t my clothes dry just as well hanging on a clothesline? Fortunately, a British company called White Knight has come up with a way to ease my guilt. The recently Eco Tumble Dryer runs on natural gas and has half the carbon footprint of a comparable British electricity-powered dryer.

Daily Tip: Skip the Dryer Sheets

Amy Stodghill — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:09:22 +0000

Dryer sheets and fabric softeners are used to reduce static cling, soften fabrics and make our laundry smell good. But when you throw these products into the washer or dryer you’re coating your clothes with chemicals like benzyl acetate, camphor, limonene, and chloroform. Before you do your next load, try a few alternatives and you might find you can do your laundry without the toxins.

Instead of using dryer sheets or fabric softeners you can:

Add white vinegar to the wash cycle or baking soda to the rinse cycle (but if you use vinegar, don’t also use bleach as this can be a toxic combo).
Opt out of the dryer and hang dry your garments on clothes lines or drying racks. Or dry your clothes until they are lightly damp, then hang to dry.
Make your own or purchase lavender sachets to throw in the dryer.
Buy eco-friendly laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dyer sheets, such as Seventh Generation.

And a note from Lighter Footstep’s Chris Baskind - don’t use dryer sheets on your pets.

Amy says: I hang dry a lot of my clothes simply because I don’t want them shrinking in the dryer. But for the stuff I do tumble dry, I haven’t been able to give up the dryer sheets so I’ve opted for the eco-friendly version.

More information on dryer sheets and fabric softeners:

Care2 Living - No More Static Cling

News Target.com - Warning: many dryer sheets contain cancer causing chemicals

Global Healing Center - The Toxic Danger of Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets

Grist - Ask Umbra

More laundry tips from GO:

Daily Tip: Clean the Lint Trap on Your Dryer and Save Energy!

Daily Tip: The Solar Dryer - Free

Lighter Footstep: Why You Shouldn’t Use Dryer Sheets to Control Pet Hair

Tip o’ the Day: Clean the Lint Trap on Your Dryer and Save Energy!

Jennifer Lance — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:18:16 +0000

There as many ways to save energy when washing your clothes, and many of these topics have already been discussed on Green Options. Energy Star washing machines and dryers are more efficient and often use less water. In fact, our front-loading Maytag Neptune uses less power than my propane clothes dryer, and I can run it off two solar panels when our hydro turbine is down. Washing your clothes in cold-water can save 90% of the energy used in the process and make your clothes last longer. Hanging your clothes on a laundry line outside eliminates the need for a dryer during the summer months. But what if you live in a town that has an ordinance against outdoor clothesline, like the suburb I grew up in, and you don't have room in a basement or garage?

If you find yourself needing to use a clothes dryer, cleaning the lint trap before every load will decrease the energy used by 30%, according to the Sierra Club. Not only will removing lint save you energy, it will also reduce the risk of fire associated with gas dryers and extend the life of the appliance (whether gas or electric). Lint gets in your dryer beyond the trap, so using a lint brush with a flexible handle will help you into the vent. In addition, cleaning your lint trap with warm water, a scrub brush, and mild detergent will further increase the efficiency of your clothes dryer, especially if you use dryer sheets that can leave a waxy build up on the screen.

Ever wonder how your dryer works? A fan pulls fresh air into the dryer over a heating element or gas burner. The heated air is channeled into the tumbling drum containing the wet clothes. The warm air absorbs the moisture from the clothes, which passes through the lint trap and is then vented outside. Fresh air replaces it, and the cycle begins again. When your lint trap is dirty, the warm air cannot pass as easily and efficiently through the trap to the outside vent, and thus drying time increases.

If you must use a clothes dryer, for whatever reason, cleaning the lint trap and vent to the outside will increase the efficiency of the appliance. You can save the lint and use it for a variety of purposes, such as crafts, firestarter, and mulch. Don't forget to periodically wash the lint trap as well, to remove the fine particles and build up (if you use dryer sheets). Of course, hanging the laundry outside is the best option. Sure, it may take more time, leave your clothes a little stiffer, etc., but a little sacrifice to reduce our impact on climate change is worth it.

Tip o’ the Day: The Solar Dryer - Free

Rebecca Carter — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:56:22 +0000

Some call it a solar dryer. Our moms call it the clothesline. Nature's way of drying clothes, and nobody seems to do it anymore. Some say it brings down property values. Others say that only those that "stay-at-home" can do it. We say, give it a shot.

Behind the refrigerator, the dryer is the second biggest energy using appliance in the home. In fact, it probably is costing you around $85 / year to run it. So by cutting out this energy user whenever possible, you'd be doing yourself and the planet a favor. (We understand that sometimes you need to dry the kids' school clothes asap.)

There are all types of clotheslines to dry your clothes: outdoor, indoor, and even garage door. Yes, that's right, someone has invented a clothesline for your garage. Plus, there's even more good news…it can also be used for jerky & sausage making. (What??)

Outdoors you can have a long, permanent line, one shaped like an umbrella, and even a pulley system. Indoors you can install a retractable line in your bathroom, or have collapsible drying racks waiting for your under the bed.

It sounds like a lot of work, but really shouldn't be if you can get the right system set up for your living space. Give it a shot and tell us what you think! Maybe you already do use this "solar dryer"…we'd love to hear about it!

Rebecca says: I have to admit, when I was living in Mexico a couple of years ago, I did mostly air drying. I had a nice big backyard and lines ready and waiting for my clothes. It was great. Since moving to a tiny condo in Miami, I've been very reliant on the dryer. Although I would need to do so indoors, I really need to look at drying "naturally". Looks like I'll need to take my own advice next week!