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Line-dry laundry seasonally

All Practically Green: 2,223 or so people have DONE this action so far.

All Practically Green: 88 or so people have ADDED this to their action plan so far.

Why is "Line-dry laundry seasonally" green?

A clothes dryer is one of the largest energy hogs in any home. Some new models may have energy savings settings on them, but there isn’t really any such thing as an energy efficient dryer.

By relying on air and sun to do the drying work for you seasonally, you eliminate the use of electricity or gas, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and conserve non-renewable resources.

If you have never air-dried your laundry before, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. The smell and feel of air-dried clothing and sheets is pleasant. Sunshine acts as a natural sanitizer and whitener, eliminating the need for chlorine bleach. Air-drying is also gentle on fabrics, helping them last longer, though dark items should be kept out of the sun or they’ll fade.

Once you get hooked, you’ll find yourself expanding what you consider the season for air-drying. Dry on racks inside when it's raining or during the winter. All of that evaporation does great double duty as a humidifier, too. Then you can relegate the dryer to doing the hard work--like blankets and towels--only.

How to: Line-dry laundry seasonally

Set up your drying system. Get pegs, a rack or two, and a line (that is, if your town, neighborhood, and/or owner’s association permit line-drying; oddly some don’t). If it's banned or you have no yard, indoor drying works well.

When it’s nice out, double check the weather (rain is fickle!), then get going. Clothes dry faster in low humidity.

Think ahead to save time. Drying shirts on hangers means they can go straight from the line into your closet.

  • Lehman's Clothesline Kit
    • (0 Ratings)

    Air-dry your clothes with Lehman's 50 foot clothesline kit. It comes with a plastic coated wire clothesline, 2 rustproof pulleys, screw eye hooks, and a rustproof ratcheting tightener.

  • Project Laundry List
    • (1 Rating)

    This air-drying advocacy site has every gadget, rope, rack, peg, and pulley anyone could even dream of. Shop here to set up your system, and get all sorts of tips as you go.

  • Umbrella Clothes Dryer
    • (1 Rating)

    This easy-to-assemble folding Umbrella Clothes Dryer from Gaiam is a classic must-have for air-drying laundry. It rotates to allow for easier clothes hanging and the height adjusts from 4 to 6 feet.