Frugality in Practice: Air-Dry Your Clothes (Even Indoors!)
Published on - July 12th, 2008 (by J.D. Roth) Tiffany wrote with a quick energy-saving tip:
I hang up my wet clothes inside during the day to let them dry. When I get home from work, I put them in the dryer for about five minutes to get rid of the wrinkles. I don’t have a clothesline, but this works just as well.
I’m not familiar with hanging clothes to dry indoors, but I like the idea. Kris and I have actually begun experimenting with hanging our clothes outside. We had a failed attempt earlier in the year (line was too long, and it rains in Oregon). But now Kris has created a makeshift clothesline running from the maple tree to the raspberry arbor:
I’d like to install something more permanent. Some of our neighbors have real clotheslines, and maybe someday we will too. Fortunately, the internet is full of advice, so when the time comes to build one, it’ll be easy to do.
Here are some resources about air-drying clothes:
- Tip the Planet: All you ever wanted to know about air-drying your clothes
- Michael Bluejay: Tips on saving money on clothes drying
- Life in a Nutshell: How to build your own clothesline
Not everyone likes a clothesline. For them, Tiffany’s indoor drying tip could be a great alternative.
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I dry indoors on a rack, making sure the clothes are as spun-dry as possible (I live in a high-humidity area, have given up and turned on the AC, and don’t want it to have to work too hard). When the pollen count is low I dry clothes on a rack outdoors, but like an earlier poster, I have to be careful about allergens. (However, I still leave windows open when I can; I just stick filters in them or stick filters behind the window fans.)
For those worried about rough clothes–put vinegar in your wash water; it deodorizes and acts as a fabric softener, and no, your clothes will not smell in the least like vinegar.
Turn your clothing inside out, and it won’t fade, if you dry in the sun. If you dry them indoors, no worries.
Air-dried clothing pills and shrinks less.
I will check out air-dry.com to find a good indoor solution for my sheets … those, alas, never go outside or I would have constant sinus headaches
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You could air dry your clothes indoors throughout the year, even if you think you don’t have space for a drying rack.
Take a look at the unique Ceiling Drying Rack at http://www.airdry.org
AirDry does not need any floor space. It comprises of six rods that can be individually raised or lowered, and can accommodate a full load of laundry. Imagine how simple it will be to lower the rods and hang your damp laundry right out of the washing machine. Raise each rod and let the warm air trapped near the ceiling finish off the drying.
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I’m French and in France most people don’t even own a dryer. People are used to air-dry clothes, outdoor or indoor.
I live now in the Boston area and I have to say that Ms Clear is wrong. Outdoor air-drying in Boston is not an April-September activity. Last week I hung my sheets outside in the morning and got them extra-dry in just a couple of hours. The cold air in the winter is very dry and with a combination of wind and sun, it works really well.
Of course, before hanging your laundry outside, be smart and check the weather forecast.
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thank-you for reminding us of the economic and environmental benefits of air drying our clothes. My unique wall mount drying racks are designed for indoor use (helps with Oregon winters
and can accommodate up to 5 QUEEN sized bed sheets!
The best part is the drying rack extends from the wall only 3.5″ when not in use so it takes up very little space in the home. The sturdy 1″ diameter drying rods won’t bend and are made of strong Douglas fir.
If you are interested please visit http://www.hoganwood.com
Hopefully more people will be turning off the most energy intensive appliance in the home.
Thanks for your post!
Best regards,
Miles Hogan, Owner
The Hogan Wood Company
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I grew up in Britain, and find it incredible that Americans are only just realizing that you can dry your clothes outside !! Like needlessly idling the engine in summer or winter for a half hour just to keep the car warm/cool, electric drying is likely to be regarded in the future as a luxury. In much of Europe, people avoid using the tumble dryer except in emergencies, because of its cost. The only place in the US I have been to where outside clothes drying is routine is Amish country in Lancaster County, PA.
I dry my clothes indoors, on a drying rack. One great aspect about living in the US is that the air inside houses is usually very dry, so clothes dry quickly inside. Clothes hung out in the UK or Ireland may take a day or two to dry because of the humidity, and then of course, there is always the rain, which is much more frequent, although less intense, than in the New York/NJ area where I live now.
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I have drying rack. I just put my clothes on that and set the drying rack in my tub. Then I clothes the curtains. My guests never know. I use the tub to wash my clothes. I just put in some clothes with some laundry soap and let them sit in the soap for a bit. Then when I get the chance I i get in the tub and use my feet. (like squishing grapes) to put a cycle process on it. Super easy. I do not own a washer or a dryer and I have 3 kids.
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Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9msqdw27c28 for an easier, more organized and pleasing to the eye way of air drying your laundry.
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I live in damp, cold, rainy & foggy north Spain and clothes simply never dry up completely. Quite different from other parts of the country. Electricity is horribly expensive, a dryer is a luxury to run. The trick is to use the clothes line when it doesn’t rain much, is windy and around noon, so the sun rays help. Weather has changed dramatically in the past decades so months of continuous rain are a childhood memory.
Clothes lines are varied, we have one in the building backyard,then a metal foldable one in the terrace and there is always the emergency resort of hanging them on the radiators, so they will dry in a few hours.
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Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes which will make the most significant changes. Thanks for sharing!
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