Clothes-line versus Tumble-dryer / "Green" laundry

[Chris P]

Hi Everyone,

As I write, the tumble-dryers of Ireland are probably going like the clappers. Our lovely Irish climate means that most people see these energy-guzzlers as a necessity, especially in winter, but our leccy bills would be a lot less if we could use the humble clothes-line more often.

However, an article in the New Scientist magazine (29/10/2009) reveals some startling news:

... clothes-lines evoke a negative emotional reaction from many Americans, who view them as flags of poverty;

... clothes-pegs are no longer manufactured by American firms (they are all imported);

... property owners often fear that a clothes-line in their neighbourhood will lower the value of their house;

... the dryer is the home appliance that causes the largest number of household fires in the USA: 15,000 every year, causing tens of millions of dollars in property damage;

... 80 per cent of US households own and operate a tumble-dryer;

... tumble-dryers use over 3 per cent of all household electricity in the USA;

... however, the "Project Laundry List" organisation (which is part of the "right to dry" movement aimed at overturning clothes-line bans) estimates that most of us could save about 10 per cent on energy costs if we did our laundry the green way - cold water, line dry, no bleaching or ironing.

"Project Laundry List"...here:
http://www.laundrylist.org/

Regards
Chris P
Admin

Pic #1: The clothes-line -- a flag of poverty or one way to save the planet? (Image by Andrzej Krauze)
Pic #2: One effect of global warming?

[Thewanderer_ie]

Okay, the owner is a friend of mine, but check this out. Might save a few bob, and looks good too!

ADMIN NOTE: Link below no longer working.

http://www.thehangout.ie/

[moloney2]

In the part of Florida that my sister lives in you can buy a Solar clothes dryer - in other words a clothes-horse that you put in your backyard, it's not permanent so it gets around the byelaws. For those of us with a glasshouse - why not put your washing on a clothes-horse in there to maximise drying...
Best wishes
moloney2

[TickTock]

I heard about the Odryer on RTE radio/TV about a year ago.

http://www.odryer.ie/

I can't find a price on the website. It may have been around the same price as a tumble dryer - a bit pricey for what it consists of, although it looks like a good idea though.

[Chris P]

An Australian invention, I believe...

[vfom]

I agree, It really annoys me to think that some people object to washing lines. It is a sign of insecurity. It really pains me to put the tumble dryer on when the clothes would be better dried outside. I have put some up in my greenhouse but my husband is a bit of a clothes line snob also so wont put up a washing line for me.

[chucken1]

Hi. just got price from odryer people.... 500 euro!! EDIT>> 604euro if they deliver it and stand it up for you!

[TickTock]

Hi. just got price from odryer people.... 500 euro!!
I thought as much. The people who invented the Odryer were on The Business on RTE radio. They consulted with a professional for what to charge. When they came back to the studio they decided on a price that people "would be prepared to pay for a tumble-dryer". That kind of thinking doesn't make sense. Surely they should base it on the cost price of producing and delivering the thing and then add on a bit more for profit. But just plucking a figure out of the air because people had been paying that price for the electrical product is absolutely ridiculous! Wonder if that price includes installation?

It's a great idea and I was originally interested in getting one, but far too pricey for me. Washing-line snobs would jump at it!!! lol!

My washing line is broken at present but I will be getting it fixed. For the winter I'm thinking of setting something up in the garage.

[flerg]

I have these airers on radiators all over the house, wouldn't be without them
and they're only a few pounds!

http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/content/ebiz/focus/invt/234080/234080.jpg

[chucken1]

I use a clothes horse ALL the time. Hang the washing at night on the landing,heat rises,so in the morning the clothes are practically dry. "Smalls" go over the shower rail. If needs must, a short spin in the dryer. Otherwise I pop the whole lot into a bedroom with the window open...and off we go again at next load of washing!! give the washing a good shake before hanging to cut down on ironing. All you need is a routine of doing it so you are not looking at washing during the day!

[nishead]

I am shocked by those facts but not too surprised.
Dryers are so innecessary and energy consuming not to mention the cost.
And if you shake clothes (not delicates) hard enough they dont need ironing either.
Not very time efficient but much better on cost and the environment.

[Merienne]

I can't believe clothes-line evoke negative emotions!

Just imagine laundry flapping in the wind on a clothes-line in the garden on a sunny summer's day. (OK, I didn't grow up in Ireland.)

Having grown up in the countryside, getting into a bed that's just been made with clean, stiff, airdried bedclothes is the essence of summer for me.

I hadn't even thought that our neighbours might object to our clothes line in the back garden! Not that we get to use it much, but we have a clothes horse up permanently in our spare room. (IKEA has a large, high, square one that is space efficient.)
We don't store linen in our hot water cupboard, we just put towels and bedclothes in there to get them extra dry before we put them away. Also works great if you need an item of clothing dried overnight.

And how about the fact that tumble driers are really harsh on fabric?
It wears out a lot quicker if it gets tumble dried.

[B_Happy]

Hi,

That's a very apt image on line 2 - evidence of global warming by the design of the undies. Great! Made me smile at least as Im surrounded by clothes in various stages, dry, wet, damp, dirty & using a clothes horse in the hall over night which is great as a quick air in the dryer is all that's needed.
Towels are the hardest to dry I find. Oh for the long hot summer of 2010... Please no more rain..We are nearly washed away now and it has everyone stressed out.

Happy drying!!

[moloney2]

Just to let you know that when you dry clothes inside the house eg. on a radiator etc. the water stays in the house if not properly ventilated and you get damp on your walls and around windows...I did it for several years and had to treat damp in two rooms of the house because of it. Make sure that there is always a window open where ever you have wet clothes. Just a thought on the issue of towels for any one who uses a gym or leisure centre the owners might offer a towel service for a small fee- it only cost my husband 10 euro for a full year and I do not have to deal with wet and smelly towels.
best wishes
moloney2

[Mandolin]

My Dad puts a sheet of builders polythene over the line, just pegs it down. It costs very little and it does the job, and you can fold it away when it's not raining. Simples!

[TickTock]

Mandolin, Your dad's is the most practical solution and a heck of a lot cheaper than the Odryer design - does the same job!

[chucken1]

Great idea Mandolins dad!!!!

[B_Happy]

Sorry to hear that you had a problem with damp and of course the wet clothes need ventilation too. My house has plenty of vents, so I should be okay. We also have an old dog who is in and out all the time..even in the rain and wind..Guess, he's young at heart.

Thanks anyway for the advice which I take on board.

Happy drying days..Anyway, "when winter comes can Spring be far behind". We live in hopes.

[nanny56]

"Line winder, wind finder" is a very handy rachet type handle for letting clothes lines up and down. I got mine in B&Q. My work mate calls tumble dryers "polar bear crunchers" due to their reputation for energy guzzling and subsequent damage to icebergs.

[Chris P]

Time for this thread's annual bump...

[TickTock]

Good one Chris. I finally got my washing line back into service this recent summer - it's 40 years old......and it works like new!!!! Lol!!

[Chris P]

Good one Chris. I finally got my washing line back into service this recent summer - it's 40 years old......and it works like new!!!! Lol!!
Nice one, TickTock!

Regards
Chris P
Admin

[Leo1]

When we bought our house 9 years ago the first thing I got was a table & chairs followed by a clothes line. I love my line, wouldn't be without it. I love seeing a full line of clothes drying in the wind. Looking out at my neighbours gardens; one has a small rotary line and another has a retractable line - no one else has any, I wonder how they dry their clothes? I also have a clothes airer for wet days & radiator airers for smalls.

[TickTock]

Either your neighbours all have electric dryers or they might do what one of my friends does - she brings the laundry to the laundrette! She discovered her laundrette one day when she was pressed for time with visitors coming and she's used it ever since! More money than sense I think. my friend!

[Leo1]

oh wouldn't that be nice; someone doing all the washing for you! I think clothes lines are seen as old fashioned, people seem to comment on mine

[TickTock]

Here I am watching torrential rain from my window. I've hung the clothes out three times over the last two days and they are just getting wetter and wetter and there is more in the washing machine ready to come out and join them. Fed up with this summer! I may just have to use the dryer again, dammit!

[trish53]

bought my self an old fashioned spinner. 5 euros on clara market,electric spinner that spins the clothes so fast the towels come out almost dry,cant do with out it.

[Sarahnimble]

I think tumbler dryers are very costly and for what to dry your clothes just a bit quicker. I recently found a electric clothes horse which is very energy efficient, at the same power as using a standard light bulb! Now thats really efficient!
Another wonderful Green tip I saw was on Groupon (http://www.groupon.ie/vouchers), it is great for those who don't like doing the cleaning or are too busy to. These cleaners come to your house and use enviormentally friendly cleaning products!

[TickTock]

The mild weather at the moment is a Godsend. Fresh air is free, (at least until the govt cops on to it!!!)

[TickTock]

Just came across this site by accident and they have another idea for drying clothes indoors, but would be too small for families. I haven't really seen much on the site that I actually like but there are some amazing and very clever designs for furniture and architecture. It's all pretty short on character and cozy though! But check out the Micro Houses in Japan, and the Origami Apartment in Manhattan, particularly if you live in a small space.

http://shoeboxdwelling.com/2012/05/29/blindry/

[dodfan]

hi we have a spinner too. it's brilliant. so much quicker than using the spin cycle on the washing machine and great for any handwashing! then it's on to clothes horses in the house or (thankfully with this weather) outside on the line!

[picasso]

Hi Everyone,

As I write, the tumble-dryers of Ireland are probably going like the clappers. Our lovely Irish climate means that most people see these energy-guzzlers as a necessity, especially in winter, but our leccy bills would be a lot less if we could use the humble clothes-line more often.

However, an article in the New Scientist magazine (29/10/2009) reveals some startling news:

... clothes-lines evoke a negative emotional reaction from many Americans, who view them as flags of poverty;

... clothes-pegs are no longer manufactured by American firms (they are all imported);

... property owners often fear that a clothes-line in their neighbourhood will lower the value of their house;

... the dryer is the home appliance that causes the largest number of household fires in the USA: 15,000 every year, causing tens of millions of dollars in property damage;

... 80 per cent of US households own and operate a tumble-dryer;

... tumble-dryers use over 3 per cent of all household electricity in the USA;

... however, the "Project Laundry List" organisation (which is part of the "right to dry" movement aimed at overturning clothes-line bans) estimates that most of us could save about 10 per cent on energy costs if we did our laundry the green way - cold water, line dry, no bleaching or ironing.

"Project Laundry List"...here:
http://www.laundrylist.org/

Regards
Chris P
Admin

Pic #1: The clothes-line -- a flag of poverty or one way to save the planet? (Image by Andrzej Krauze)
Pic #2: One effect of global warming?

why not check out covered washing line as alternative www.odryer.ie
I have one myself and it is very good and practical for irish weather conditions. Put washing out on mon and forget about it til weekend ! great if you are out at work all week.
Picasso

[Marhen]

Another reason for the use of tumble dryers is that most rented apartment blocks do not allow for "clothes lines" and some people have been "fined" by their management committees for using lines on small balcony's. This has caused great hardship for families with children who would have a lot of drying to do. The only tip I can pass on in these cases, it to use a few clothes horses over the bath etc. Marhen

[Chris P]

Time for this thread's annual bump...