Forums:

No Clothes Dryer, No problem?

T Blankinship

pollinator

Posts: 650

Location: South East Kansas

227

I like...

posted 3 weeks ago

8
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

So for the past few years I have not used my clothes dryer as a dryer. I have been using the top as table. Now I come to a point where I am thinking about selling/giving it a way/other ideas. It is a 30 year old or older gas dryer and I have ideas on what to do with the space. I know there are places on this planet that do not use dryers. There is a part of me that thinks I should keep it "just in case". The main reason I stopped using it was to save money and to stop toxic fairy dust getting on my clothing. So here are some of my ideas on what to do:

Find a "just in case" way to dry clothing.
1. Use a laundromat as a back up or friends/family dryer.
2. Find a permies way to dry clothing. Years ago my father told me about a dryer using centrifugal force to dry. Has any used one and liked it?
3. I know Paul Wheaton in Building World Backyard book or in a Podcast talked about using a dehumidifier in a room to dry clothing. And I can not forget using a Solar dehydrator as a dryer too.

This to do with the space.
1. Make more storage for things and may be an area to line dry.
2. Or since I brew turn the area into a small brewery.

Well what are your ideas?

You should never forget that every creature has its purpose in the cycle of nature and can also be very important to humans. Sepp Holzer's Permaculture

Deane Adams

Posts: 664

228

posted 3 weeks ago

9
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

If you have the space how about an outdoor line or two? That's all I use these days and a line in the basement. But I live alone and only do laundry every two weeks or so. Also I can use an indoor folding dryer rack near my new wood stove.

Peace

https://Permies.com/t/131224/donating-empire
https://Permies.com/t/267198/turnkey-permaculture-paradise-monies

T Blankinship

pollinator

Posts: 650

Location: South East Kansas

227

I like...

posted 3 weeks ago

11
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Deane Adams wrote:If you have the space how about an outdoor line or two? That's all I use these days and a line in the basement. But I live alone and only do laundry every two weeks or so. Also I can use an indoor folding dryer rack near my new wood stove.

Peace

I have an indoor folding rack and I have a rope in my den that I use to dry bed sheets and other big things. I have in the past used outdoor lines when it was 100F and in 15 minutes things were very dry. The more I think about how I can use the space that the dryer is currently using. The more fun I am having!

You should never forget that every creature has its purpose in the cycle of nature and can also be very important to humans. Sepp Holzer's Permaculture

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 17861

Location: USDA Zone 8a

4557

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

4
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I use my dryer for storage which works for me.

Harvester ants like to get on stuff hanging on the line.

I kinda fold the stuff when dry and stuff it into the dryer. Harvester ants may die ...

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Anna Miller

Posts: 6

Location: Southwest VA, zone 6b

posted 2 weeks ago

7
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I keep my dryer for my knits (t shirts, underwear, etc) that would be a pain to hang, but I line drying the rest. A while ago, I saw something called a “bathroom dryer” being used in japan. Basically, it is a bathroom vent that also heats. Last time i checked, i cannot reasonably get one here in the US, but, now when we have a week of rain, or in the winter, I hang my clothes on the shower curtain rod, turn on the vent fan, and bring in a little space heater. It works great.

I used to hang clothes in my basement, which always has a dehumidifier running, but in the winter, they would still smell moldy by the time they dried.

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 17861

Location: USDA Zone 8a

4557

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

5
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Dear hubby and I bought our first house before we got married and moved in after the wedding.

Two bedroom, one bath and no shower.

The first thing I did was buy a shower curtain rod to hang in the middle of the tub. When I washed I would land the clothes on hanger which were hung on that rod.

The next morning everything was nice and dry. I still use that method when rain is predicted. Jeans would be something else.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Jay Angler

master steward

Posts: 14055

Location: Pacific Wet Coast

8353

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

8
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I only use our dryer if I need to shrink something.

If it's really damp like today, I hang the clothes on a rack and point the output of our dehumidifier at it. We use the dehumidifier water to fill the washing machine, as our deep well has very hard water which doesn't clean as well as the dehumidifier water does.

We also have a wood stove for if it's cold, and that does a fine job of drying clothes also.

There are creative ways to upcycle the embodied energy of your old dryer if you're not going to ever use it. Most of them aren't that easy to sell, as they tend to last much longer than washing machines.

Visit Redhawk's soil series: https://permies.com/wiki/redhawk-soil
How permies.com works: https://permies.com/wiki/34193/permies-works-links-threads

oddball - sand badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by Mike Haasl

textiles - air badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by Mike Haasl

dimensional lumber woodworking - air badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by jordan barton

Food Prep and Preservation - air badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by Leigh Tate

greywater and willow feeders - air badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by Leigh Tate

Jill Dyer

pollinator

Posts: 401

Location: Oz; Centre South

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

6
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

My dryer is in the shed doing duty as a table for all sorts of small machines/tools - whatever needs a flat surface at the time. My washing machine has a very efficient spin cycle, so clothes take little time to dry. I have an expanding clothes airer in my laundry - north facing, so gets lots of sun and an outside Hills Hoist - it looks like the bones of one of those shade contraptions, but is firmly anchored onto the ground. The clothes get pegged out in squares, it takes up very little space. Outside in summer the clothes dry in about 10 minutes. In winter, inside they dry overnight. Anything a bit bulky goes over the back of a chair in front of the wood stove overnight. I can remember clothes hanging about for a week in winter in the UK, and sheets with icicles . . .

Life's too short, eat desert first! [Source of quote unknown]
You have to be warped to weave [ditto!]

Nancy Reading

steward and tree herder

Posts: 11301

Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland. Nearly 70 inches rain a year

5484

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

6
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I think if you've not used the dryer in several years then what ever you are doing instead is working well and you certainly don't seem to need it. I'd put it up for adoption and see if you get any takers, the space sounds like it will be far more useful to you now.

How Permies works: https://permies.com/wiki/34193/permies-works-links-threads
My projects on Skye: The tree field, Growing and landracing, perennial polycultures, "Don't dream it - be it! "

T Blankinship

pollinator

Posts: 650

Location: South East Kansas

227

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

5
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Nancy Reading wrote: I'd put it up for adoption and see if you get any takers, the space sounds like it will be far more useful to you now.

Ok sounds like a good idea.

So I have been looking at a all in one 10 Gallon electric brewing system. It is smaller than the dryer and I feel this would be more useful in up coming projects. Some ideas I have had is to sous vide foods, making mushroom substrate and of course brewing beer.

You should never forget that every creature has its purpose in the cycle of nature and can also be very important to humans. Sepp Holzer's Permaculture

Tereza Okava

steward & manure connoisseur

Posts: 4622

Location: South of Capricorn

2607

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

7
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Nancy Reading wrote:I think if you've not used the dryer in several years then what ever you are doing instead is working well and you certainly don't seem to need it.

I'd agree.
My question is, do you ever find yourself with clothes not drying, and need a solution in that situation? A lot of us don't use dryers, and between all of us we do it all a lot of different ways, someone may have an idea for you.

(I think brewing gear is always a great idea btw)

Rez Zircon

Posts: 352

Location: Brendansport, Sagitta IV

posted 2 weeks ago

7
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I have my grandmother's 1960s "apartment sized" dryer. Usually I just hang stuff up (mostly on a frame in the porch, so the birds don't poop on it nor the wind fairy steal it) but sometimes I need something dry a lot faster, and this dryer will do one one or two large things, if you don't mind it being HOT (it only knows HOT). I've used it more during winter than I expected, mostly when the outdoor gear is taking too long and needs some encouragement to dry out.

Since I only use it in winter, it vents into the house -- might as well keep the heat and humidity inside where it's needed!

But wait! there's more! there are three more dryers here and there (garage, other house, basement of other house, none especially in the way), and they all work! they're also old enough that they will work forever, unlike the newer appliances. That alone is a reason to keep them out of the landfill.

yet another victim of Obsessive Weeding Disorder

C. Letellier

pollinator

Posts: 1099

Location: Greybull WY north central WY zone 4 bordering on 3

329

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

4
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

1. The name for a drier that works by centrifugal force is an extractor. Don't really dry. Only experience with the little one for swim suits, Leaves stuff still feeling damp.

2. Goals here are 3 fold.

a. Greenhouse for drying
b. HRV with solar draw using the outlet to dry.
c. solar thermal storing heat up high and fan to pull it down when the drier turns on so most of the heat comes from solar.

Country oriented nerd with primary interests in alternate energy in particular solar. Dabble in gardening, trees, cob, soil building and a host of others.

Catie George

gardener

Posts: 888

Location: Ontario - Zone 6a, 4b, or 3b, depending on the day

579

I like...

posted 2 weeks ago

3
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I have a dryer, and use it occasionally, because some days things just don't dry, and my basement with the dehumidifiers often has a smell I don't want transfering to my clothing.

I lived several years without one - my trick is a hair dryer for emergency clothes drying.

Mila Leffel

Posts: 1

posted 2 weeks ago

3
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

We have a small washer that wrings out the water as best as it can.
We use the bathroom to dry the clothes that we put on hangers, including socks, and underwear.

There is over the shower door retractable metal drying rack that has helpful. Put on the dehumidifier, and it’s done with in a few hours.

Of course, the bigger or hot only items we take to the laundromat.

I miss the old days when I would think up a sinister scheme for world domination and you would show a little emotional support. So just look at this tiny ad:

The new kickstarter is now live!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/garden-cards