Electric

by Deona Woods

Created on: November 28, 2009   Last Updated: November 29, 2009

Fresh air, the scent of the outdoors infusing the towels and sheets is a pleasant vision, but not always practical. Line drying is a task for those with a compatible climate, but also time, energy, and allergic insensitivities. Nature provides the means to line dry, meted out according to weather and season. The electric dryer saves individuals from being tied to the clothesline. No "weather eye" is needed. The dryer protects your clothing from the dangers of the outdoors: smog, pollen, rain, dust, and creatures.

Most people live in states where the prospect of placing clothing outside is viable but a few months out of the year. There is rain, fog, sleet, snow, or just the lasting cold for several months of the year. There is high humidity, which leaves the clothes on the line for a long time before they dry. Line drying requires vigilant interfacing with the weather, so is best suited for those who work in their home. Leaving the clothes on the line while you go to work becomes more an act of faith. Moreover, unless one has a large enough space and lines outside to dry recurring weekly loads, doing multiple loads of laundry can be either an all day event or a daily one. With the electric dryer, clothes can finish in time for the next load coming out of the washer.

Consider also this fun fact from the California Energy Commission: Some homeowners' associations and cities, however, have local CC&Rs that restrict the use of clothes lines in planned communities. So, check the convenants, codes and restrictions covering your property before putting up a clothes line. (http://www.consumere nergycenter.org/home /appliances/dryers.h tml)

Over sixteen million households live in apartments, according to the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC). For these people, there is seldom another option: electric is available; It is quick and convenient. There is no worry about stringing line from the window and losing clothing to the harsh weather or unethical neighbors. Apartments are primarily in larger population areas, where smog becomes a significant factor against drying clothes outside. For the city dweller, whether in an apartment or not, the electric dryer is the smarter choice for health and time management.

Allergies may be the primary reason for using an electric dryer instead of line drying. The major sources of allergies that are tracked and rated daily are smog, pollen, and dust. When you place your wet clothes on the line, they are perfectly suited to collect all three of these allergens. The bitter comes with the sweet: The chance to smell flowers on the pillow is also the possibility of waking in a sneezing fit from the dust or pollen in the middle of the night. However, people without allergies are also taking risks. Despite the potential for sweet outdoor aromas lingering on your sheets, towels, and clothing, every item on the clothesline may also attract the pollution from every car that drives down your street or alley, the smells from the neighborhood fireplaces, smokers, and gardeners. Gardeners may plant flowers, but they also use pesticides, fertilizers, and gas-powered lawn mowers. In short, you collect the residue of the outside world on the clothesline and bring it into intimate contact with your life.

The electric dryer has earned a poor historical reputation as a strong contributor to electric bills. Modern washer and dryer designs have found many ways to streamline the financial effects of using the electric dryer. The never high efficiency (HE) washers are capable of wringing significantly more water out of clothes. This drastically shortens the drying time. However, you do not need to pay for HE dryers. Many front and top loading washers are significantly better at wringing out water. Many available dryers are energy efficient. If you purchase a newer model dryer that is rated energy efficient or high efficiency the drying times are reduced which means the cost for drying may be reduced.

The remaining advantages for electric dryers are numerous: Ease of use; convenience; independence from weather; isolation from smog or other contaminants; more secure method of drying clothing; and compatible with apartment or home living. In addition, newer dryers are sensitive to the customers' use of newer fabrics and cleaning possibilities. For example, there are steam options with some dryers that allow you to touch up small batches of clothing instead of washing them. Steaming can also remove wrinkles to save or eliminate ironing time. In the end, the electric dryer is safer, more versatile than the clothesline, and more available to meet your personal needs.

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