Just hanging

What

Put a breath of fresh air in your laundry and give your sheets the soft scent of nature… for real. Hang dry your laundry instead of tumble-drying.

Tumble dryers are the most energy-intensive household appliance, costing the average British household £60 a year to run, and emitting as much CO2 as driving five long hours from London to Newcastle.1

Why

Tumble driers gobble up energy and cash. Based on three cycles a week, the most efficient dryers will cost around £23 to run a year, while the least efficient will cost you more than £140.

Al fresco clothes drying is fast and easy … but only if it's sunny or breezy outside. But of course, you can also dry your clothes inside - either on a pulley-system hanging rack or a clothes horse. Either way - get hanging and save money.

How

Drying clothes outside

It doesn’t have to be full sun outside to dry your clothes, although obviously that helps. It also doesn’t have to be toasty warm. You’ll be amazed how quickly they’ll dry on a warmish cloudy day with a decent breeze, as long as you hang them with plenty of space to flap about.

Drying clothes inside

If it’s raining outside, or you don’t have access to a garden, you can still dry your clothes indoors. Here are a few tips to speed up the process:

  • Hang your clothes carefully, allowing space in between.The aim is to get as much air circulating around the clothes as possible, to carry away that moisture.
  • If possible, hang your clothes near something warm (like a radiator or heater), or next to an air source (like a window or vent).
  • Check on your clothes and rotate anything that still has damp patches.

Need a clothes horse or some nifty-space saving radiator racks? Pop down to your local hardware or pound shop, or have a look online. We love the traditional Sheila Maid that hangs from the ceiling!

References

  1. Berners-Lee, M. (2010). How Bad are Bananas?
  2. The Guardian
  3. The EPA Greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator