How to sustainably dry laundry
Laundry, specifically drying clothes, can be a sustainable routine. We can consider the long-term when selecting ways to sustainably dry clothes and nappies.
Hang clothes to dry. Ideally choose pegs that are more sustainable than these. Image: Unsplash.
It sounds simple, right? Air-dry clothes instead of using the dryer. There is a bit more of a decision. Not much. Just a bit.
I wash lots of laundry. My parenting life includes regular laundry loads of cloth nappies, linen and clothes. I hang everything on indoor airer hangers if the weather is unpredictable. In enough hot weather, I might hang the laundry outside. If a garment could fade in the sun, I turn it inside-out and try not to leave it outside too long.
Anyway, what’s the small decision that can impact the environment? Pegs. I used all the major sorts by now. I had plastic pegs. Who doesn’t have old ones around from pre-eco days? Then I wanted extra pegs and preferred to consider the planet when shopping. I also didn’t want to spend much money. I now have lots of wooden pegs. Then there was rain. And even more rain. I recently went into the back yard to find soggy wood-based pegs on the ground (they shouldn’t have been on the lawn, but they were). These pegs were yuck. Weird. Not ok. They were not so old either.
That experience taught me a couple of lessons. Yes, the first lesson is to avoid leaving pegs on the ground outside in wet weather. But the other lesson is to invest in durable pegs that should last longer. I am gradually building up my collection of stainless-steel pegs.
Better quality pegs should last a long time. Biome, a lovely eco-store, has “Marine Grade 316” stainless steel wire pegs that “will never ruse nor break” even in “harsh weather” or around the salty beach-side air. That’s amazing. Whether you live near the coast or often enjoy travelling to the experience the waves, this is the better option. Other pegs just might not cope. Frankly, this top-level set of pegs are also best for disorganised people (myself included). Sometimes things get left outside, especially when kids are involved. How good is this peace-of-mind?
Long-lasting items reduce waste. When other products become obsolete or damaged beyond repair, they could end up thrown into the garbage. If you can afford the durable option, it’s better for all.
Get your laundry neat and dry. Image: Unsplash.
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