Dry Your Clothes Green

After a reading a few comments on my post called Saving Green by Going Green, I thought that the topic of clothes drying could use a little more attention. So, this week I am going to focus in on a few different issues about living green and drying our clothes that I believe everyone can benefit from.

First of all, it was brought to my attention that the dryer balls I referred to in my original post were, indeed, made of PVC, which is obviously not a green material. With that said, I was assured by distributors of these balls that they are made with safe practices, but let’s face it, any way we can avoid PVC (especially heating it) is probably a good idea.

So, I have found a wonderful alternative: felted wool dryer balls! Best of all, there is more than one green benefit to using these little balls!

Not only do they prevent you from having to put chemical-laden dryer sheets in with your freshly clean cloths to reduce static, but they also quicken drying times as they further agitate and separate garments. These balls can easily be found in a quick search on sites such as Hyenacart.com or Etsy.com, or, better yet, you can make them yourself with scraps of old wool yarn (a very green way to reuse!). Simple instructions to make these balls can be found all over the internet, but here is a quick and easy tutorial that I recently put together on my personal blog, Mama Kenz Studio.

Alright, so we have the static issue taken care of, now what about those of you who just can’t part yourselves from the scent that dryer sheets leave behind on your clothes?

Why not try adding a small sachet filled with your favorite herbs or flowers? Pop a little lavender or dried rose buds in such a sachet while your clothes tumble and when they are done a subtle but refreshing fragrance will be all that is left behind!

Now let’s talk about your dryer itself. When was the last time that you cleaned out your dryer vent?

I am not just talking about removing the lint from your lint collection screen, but actually cleaning out the whole vent that leads to outside. Not only is this a significant fire danger to your home, but it also lengthens drying times leading to more energy usage (and money on your part!). An affordable and easy to use dryer vent cleaning system can be found on FlyLady.net if you don’t feel like pulling your whole machine away from the wall to accomplish this task. It is also a good idea to actually scrub your lint collection screen with soapy water and a toothbrush if you have been using dryer sheets, as the oils from these sheets build up on the screen, restricting airflow and also posing a fire hazard.

Lastly, as the temperature begins to slowly make it’s way back up the thermometer, why not try hanging your clothes outside this spring and summer? A simple outdoor laundry line can save you pennies, prevent unnecessary energy usage, and the sun can do wonders on bleaching out old stains. Why not give it a whirl?

If nothing else, you can impress your neighbors with just how green you are becoming and maybe even inspire them to go a little green as well! Happy drying!

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. Follow the rest of MacKenzie’s musings on being a birth and postpartum doula while pregnant, totschooling her son, and still finding time to knit, at Mama Kenz Studio.

And remember, the Bummas Giveaway is going on until Sunday March 1st at 7pm EST, and all you have to do to enter is comment on the giveaway post with a valid email address; if you haven’t entered yet, what are you waiting for?