6. when drying

Air-drying—on a rack, towel, or clothesline—is easier on clothes and saves energy. See page 138 for drying on a clothesline. If you do tumble-dry your clothes, there are ways to minimize the wear and tear:

• Clean the lint filter before each load. Every so often, use a long-bristled brush that’s designed just for the dryer to get past the machine’s filter and remove excess lint.
• Don’t overload the dryer, which promotes wrinkles and causes more wear and tear (especially on more delicate fabrics).
• Use the lowest temperature suitable for the material, as indicated by the care label; when in doubt, stick with low heat settings.
• Don’t overdry; use your machine’s moisture sensor, if it has one, to stop the dryer at the desired setting.
• Fold or hang items right away (or make beds with sheets) to prevent wrinkles.

Tip

Save energy when using the dryer by doing back-to-back loads, so the drum needn’t heat up each time (a big part of a dryer’s energy usage).

Martha Must

I prefer not to tumble-dry clothing such as lingerie, cotton T-shirts, and workout wear. Instead, I hang them on wooden drying racks, which fold up for easy storage; they can be found at tag sales and flea markets.