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Solar Clothes Dryer
By Solar energy | May 20, 2009
Solar Clothes Dryer
Our grandmothers naturally lived in sync with the seasons and took advantage of solar energy long before anyone referred to sunshine as solar energy. Solar energy dried laundry for centuries. It still can.
Today I gently washed a cherished crocheted bedspread and laid it flat on the grass in the sunshine to dry. It is one of those rare days in our part of south Texas when the air is cool, clear, and fairly dry.
Another perk sun drying offers is the bleaching without harsh chemicals. Did you know that? Sunshine is an excellent whitener. So our slightly yellowed, crocheted cotton heirloom bedspread is clean and white again. (I took the picture after shade covered the lawn.)
Truth is, I have waited for the right day to wash this bedspread. With our clothes washing and drying technologies, we wash and dry clothes any day of the year, any time of the day or night. We have no need to pay attention to the seasons as our grandparents once did.
But no modern industrial wonders could work as well as the sunshine did for me today.
So how about starting a new energy conservation habit this summer? At least once per week, use the sun to dry your clothes rather than your clothes dryer.
Topics: Reducing energy use | No Comments »