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Drying Clothes Ecologically When it Rains

When it comes to getting your newly washed clothes dry when it's raining cat and dogs out there, it's tough to beat a big, powerful clothes dryer in here.

But there are portable and even vent free options available these days that can also cut down on the amount of energy you use to get those clothes dry without compromising on the result you expect to get from such a device.

Using a clothes dryer is seen by many ecologically minded folks as an extravagance or at least an unnecessary waste of valuable electricity when there is a perfectly good washing line outside.

But when it's raining, clothes just won't dry out there on a line unless you have a specially constructed covered place for that purpose.

Low-Tech Clothes Drying Innovation

Hang on there just a second partner. What was that crazy, simple idea you just sprung?

The smart money is on putting up a covered space (if you have sufficient space in your yard) where you can put up a line and hang up your freshly washed clothing and know it will get dry eventually and the rain can't do anything to stop it! Yep, with that kind of setup, you get to stick a finger up at the weather when those dark clouds come rolling in!

For sure, this solution is not for everyone because there are way too many folks living in apartments or condos with no yard space to use. But hey, if you have a balcony, there is still scope for covering it with a waterproof canopy. Just saying.

If you really can't dry clothes outside, then it makes sense to buy the most economical dryer you can get (such as a portable vent free model... see: https://ventlessportabledryer.blogspot.com for more details).

Why Would You Go To All That Trouble?

OK, in our convenience ruled lives, there will be plenty of folks that'll say it's just a waste of time and effort to put up a covered area in your yard just for drying clothes. Especially when you could simply go buy a nice, energy hog dryer and do it indoors!

But that's not the point, is it?

The whole idea is to try and cut down on your energy consumption which will not only help the planet and the environment but also save you some money in the long run. Ah, I see the flicker of interest now that old uncle dollar has joined the conversation!

You actually get to save rather a lot of money and energy over the course of a year when you opt to not use a dryer in favor of a covered line drying area in your yard. In fact, that area can be put to other uses as well as just hanging up clothes.

When not in use, the line could be retracted and the area used for sitting outside when it's warm but wet. It could be a really nice quiet space for reading a book in natural daylight, listening to some music on your headphones or just generally chilling out.

Drying Indoors, Cheaply

Of course, there is one great environmental or eco-friendly option that will allow you to dry clothes indoors without using an expensive-to-run clothes dryer or resorting to hanging them over radiators (and causing a lot of condensation in the process).

You can hang clothes on a wire clothes rack and point a big fan at them, then turn it on. Make sure there is a window cracked open behind the clothes to allow the moist air to escape to the outside.

You'll be surprised at just how quickly an ordinary fan will dry your clothes this way and how cheaply, since fans use hardly any energy!

Summary

There are lots of possibilities you know, when you just think of them. Check out this newspaper article on just this subject from The Guardian.

Or have you got some clever tricks for getting clothes dry cheaply during wet weather? Let us know in the comments below:

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Posted on April 21, 2014 in Environmental | 2 Comments