Chores aren’t fun, and it sucks even more when they cost us energy and money.
Laundry is one such chore.
Clothes dryers take up around 3% of an American family’s energy budget. That’s about six times the amount washers use. And collectively, dryers cost more than $7 billion to power per year in the U.S.
Ditching the dryer and swapping to 100% line drying could save a household upward of $2,100 over the lifetime of a dryer, according to a study by researchers at the University of Michigan that was recently published in the academic journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling.
Some people hang-dry their clothes on a line, a rack or even just on a hanger and their shower rod. Whatever the method, the results aren’t minuscule.
The savings depend on the type of dryer a household uses, such as gas or electric, and whether the machine is Energy Star certified. Households that use non-Energy Star electric dryers have the potential to save the most, the researchers note.
Skipping the dryer isn’t revolutionary, either. While about 80% of American households have a dryer, less than 30% of households in South Korea, about 40% in Germany and just under 60% of households in the United Kingdom have a dryer, according to the researchers.
Hanging up your clothes to dry doesn’t just save you energy — it also saves your clothes. Past research shows dryers degrade cotton fabrics and wool faster.
For those concerned that they live in a region with a climate that’s not conducive to line drying, there are simple remedies. As long as you have a room that’s not too cold or humid, you can line dry indoors.
You can also give certain textiles a quick spin in the dryer before line drying to lessen stiffness.
If you’re looking for another benefit of ditching the dryer, consider the environment.
Making the switch to 100% line drying can cut back on carbon dioxide emissions by more than three tons per household over the lifetime of a drying machine, according to the researchers.
Even switching to a combination of using a dryer and line drying has a positive impact on both your wallet and the environment. According to the analysis, that was the second-most eco-friendly and economical option.
Not ready to fully let go of your dryer? Check out “6 Things You May Not Realize a Clothes Dryer Can Do” and “6 Things You Really Shouldn’t Put in a Clothes Dryer.”
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