Go Green Clinton! Clothes Drying

April 22 is Earth Day, as it has been for over 40 years. But why limit it to just one day? Join us here on Katrina’s Corner throughout the month of April for 30 Days of Green--each day a new environmentally-friendly tip!

Your clothes dryer is one of the top energy-using appliances in your home. And if your family is anything like mine, it seems like the dryer is in constant use.

That can add up to a high electric or gas bill each month. And I am always looking for ways to decrease my electric use and thus my bill!

Here’s an eco-friendly (and money-saving) solution--let the sun do the work (for free)! Hang your laundry to dry.

This costs nothing--other than the initial set-up supplies and some of your time. And in addition to saving money, the benefits are many.

Air drying reduces wear and tear on clothing as well as on the dryer itself. Also, the sun will sanitize your laundry and “bleach” stains naturally. And even if it is an overcast or cloudy day, your clothes will still dry. In fact, some people hang their clothes outside during winter! They might freeze, but on decent winter days, they’ll eventually dry!

You can also choose to air-dry your clothes inside on drying racks, on hangers, on clotheslines in the attic, over shower curtain rods--whatever works for you! The point is that for many people, clothes dryers are a luxury item. But if you take the time to air dry your laundry, you might find that the dryer is a luxury you can do without.

If you don’t like the stiffness of your laundry after air drying, you can put your clothes in the dryer for just a few minutes on cool to fluff them up.

And if you can’t totally part with your clothes dryer, here a few tips to reduce energy usage and keep it running most efficiently:

First, spin the water out of your clothes as much as possible during the wash cycle to decrease the amount of moisture and thus drying time.

Second, if your dryer has a moisture sensor so that it shuts off when the clothes are dry (clothes should be very slightly damp, not hot, when removed from the dryer), use it! It might also reduce drying time if you add a dry bath towel to the wet load before drying.

Third, don’t forget about the lint trap! Clean it after every load. If you use fabric softener, you might need to occasionally wash the lint screen with soapy water (dry thoroughly before replacing) to keep the dryer running efficiently.

And finally, wash and dry several loads in a row to take advantage of the dryer’s retained heat.

Laundry never ends, but these tips will help get you started in a eco-friendly way!