Laundry - Drying

Drying laundered clothing should be simple - right?

If time and space and homeowners' associations permit, hanging clothes on a line outdoors is the best! In terms of energy conservation and money, that is. The dried clothes may be a little stiff when dry, but should shake out easily. If not, you may be using too much laundry detergent.

Okay, most of us use the dryer.
1) Make sure clothes are not sopping wet. The better wrung-out the clothes are, the faster they will dry. Sometimes the last spin cycle on your washing machine needs to be repeated to get most of the water out of the clothes. The best thing about front-loading washing machines is that they do a great job of wringing out water. (And don't leave damp clothes in the washing machine too long, they may get musty and moldy.)

2) When transferring items from the washing machine to the dryer, shake them out. That tightly wadded and twisted sheet will not dry as fast as the one you shake open. And that pair of underpants wadded inside the twisted sheet probably won't dry at all!

3) It's best to remove things from the dryer as soon as the dryer is stopped. Immediately hanging and folding clothes minimizes wrinkles. But I think that is no longer a "must-do" in today's world.

4) Clean the lint trap after each load. You will see how much lint is accumulated. A film of lint prevents air circulation and slows the drying process. The dryer vent should also be cleaned periodically (annually) to keep the vent open to allow more efficient drying. I am not so worried about a possible fire if the vent is blocked, as I am of damp clothes, and the electricity being used as the dryer continues to run and run!

DRYER SHEETS or Bounce:
Do not use. There are many uses for Bounce sheets which can be another blog, but they should be avoided altogether. Just think of them as sheets soaked with petroleum, and that might make you stay away from them.
1) Fabric softener? If your clothes are coming out that stiff, it's because of too much soap or laundry detergent. Cut back on the amount you use. Washing clothes is more about the tossing and turning than it is about the detergent. No need to worry about using too little detergent.
2) Static cling? Natural fabrics (except silk) don't have static cling problems. Using vinegar in the laundry machine will reduce static cling. Or put a small safety pin in the waistband or inner seam of the offending item when you are wearing it.
3) There is no need to add a scent to your clothing, either through the dryer sheets or detergent. If your clothes are clean and without a smell, that's fantastic! But if you must make your clothes smell nice, than use something natural, like real dried lavendar or cedar blocks.
4) Dryer sheets tend to add an invisible "sheen" to items, and is especially a problem with towels. Try drying a washed car with a towel that was dried with a dryer sheet. Doesn't absorb any water!
5) Dryer sheets tend to line your lint trap with an invisible "sheen" so that your dryer has to work harder. Keep that lint trap clean!
6) Dryer sheets tend to coat the electronic moisture sensor with residue, and your dryer will not run efficiently.

There is too much evidence of petroleum products causing cancer and the like, so I stay away from fabric softener dryer sheets.