Cheaper greener future hangs on the outdoors
Why using the washing line is better than the tumble dryer
DRYING your clothes outdoors is always a bit of a risky business here in Ireland. It only takes one untimely downpour to ruin all your hard work.
And nobody likes the stress of the quick dash outdoors to grab the clothes off the line as the clouds darken.
However, experts say that with a bit of forward planning, drying your clothes on the line can see you save on your electricity bills, help the environment and also keep your clothes crease free.
One of the benefits to drying outdoors is that you can often dry more clothes at the one time.
While drying clothes outdoors may take longer than using a tumble dryer, most clotheslines can hold up to two loads at a time.
It reduces the likelihood of creasing, and opting to dry your clothes with the outdoor air also reduces the risk of damaging delicate garments.
Ryan Calvert, product expert at Hiatt Hardware, said that for homeowners with never-ending piles of dirty clothes, the higher temperatures and longer days offer lots of opportunities to dry your clothes outdoors on a clothesline, which can save money on your energy bills.
He said: “Drying your clothes efficiently requires sufficient space, warmth and plenty of ventilation and the warm summer months offer this in abundance.
“Using the fresh air to your advantage is a cost-effective solution to clothes drying and also comes with the pleasant benefit of a light and fresh-smelling wardrobe.”
He said people should take three things into consideration when drying clothes outdoors. He said overlapping garments on the line can help busy households who often have large amounts of clothes to wash and dry every week.
Mr Calvert added: “Outdoor clotheslines offer ample space to hang your clothes on, but if you find yourself with a couple of extra items and are struggling for space, we recommend overlapping your items at the corners.
“This technique may require an extra hour or two of drying time for the pinned corners but it will allow you to dry more clothes overall.
“By overlapping your items in this way, you can also use fewer pegs. If there are gaps for smaller items like socks or underwear, you can also fit these on.”
He said hanging your clothes across multiple lines, where space allows, increases ventilation and allows the lingering moisture to evaporate much faster.
This trick will also allow more of the breezy, outdoor scent to cling to your clothes – bringing that sought-after ‘fresh laundry’ smell.
Lastly, Mr Calvert has advised people to stay organised when it comes to dealing with your washing.
He added: “We have all experienced the confusion of a single, stray sock returning from the washing pile.
“Outdoor drying offers the opportunity to pair your socks up before drying, and many great solutions on the market offer homeowners the opportunity to organise and maximise space on their clotheslines.
“Hanging peg dryers allow you to hang up several items at once and you can bundle and pair socks together as soon as the drying process is done, preventing any lone socks this summer.”