Line Drying Benefits

We all love our conventional clothes dryers; they are convenient and handle one of the more dreaded chores. Despite their convenience, though, dryers require a lot of energy, and as a result, clothes lines are making a comeback. Studies conducted on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy have discovered that unlike most other appliances, clothes dryers don't vary much in terms of energy consumption. All dryers currently found in the U.S. market work the same—heated air is drawn through the clothes as they tumble, which in turn heats up the clothes, removing moisture. It may be effective, but it’s costly, and for those looking to curb household expenditures, line drying may be the right answer. “Line drying is by far the most inexpensive and energy-saving method of drying clothes, but busy families should keep in mind that it can be very time consuming, and therefore not the most desirable method for everyone,” says Norma Keyes, Director of Product Standards for Cotton Incorporated.

Line Drying Benefits

• Helps reduce ongoing energy costs, saving you money.
• Environmentally friendly; no greenhouse gas emissions from usage
• The sun helps to kill bacteria on the clothing
• Less wear and tear on clothing seams
• Eliminates static cling caused by electric dryers
• Can reduce wrinkles

According to the California Energy Commission the average clothes dryer will cost approximately $1,530 to operate over its lifespan, which lasts, on average, about 18 years. Despite the economic and environmental benefits of line drying, it isn’t necessarily the most desired drying method for everyone. There are several homes in the U.S. that do not have clothes lines due to space constraints and city code restrictions. For those who live in communities that do not accommodate line drying, there are still several steps you can take to reduce the amount of energy used during laundering:

• If your washing machine has spin options, choose a high spin setting in order to reduce the amount of remaining moisture from the wash. This will speed up the drying process even before you put your clothes into the dryer.
• Improve air circulation in your dryer by cleaning the lint filter in your dryer after every load
• Avoid over drying your clothes. Most clothes dryers have a moisture sensor which can be used to shut off your machine automatically when the clothes are dry.
• If line drying is not an option in your community, consider hanging your clothes on drying racks that can be placed throughout the home.

For more information on the benefits of line drying, visit Tide.com

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