Awhile back I wrote a post about dryers and how to minimize the energy used to run them. If you missed that post, you can read it here. The post also includes an excellent comment from Marion about drying racks and how they can be used (I'm going to look for one and give it a try). What I especially liked about her comment was how the wet clothes on a drying rack could be used to humidify a room in winter.
A friend in Seattle, Washington, sent me another tip on using dryers: Clean the filter. Cleaning the filter will reduce the amount of energy used and extend the life of a dryer. But did you know that if you use fabric softener (especially the sheet variety), the filter gets clogged? Yep ... the wire mesh gets clogged. You can test it out ... just run to your dryer, pull out the filter and take it to the sink. Now, fill the "U" shape with water. Does it run through or ... has the filter turned into a bucket? If it's a bucket, it definitely needs soap and water to turn it back into a filter.
A clean filter will dry the clothes more efficiently, saving time and energy. It'll also extend the life of the dryer. And ... it could save a life. Yep ... a dirty filter can lead to fire.
So ... every few months, check it out ... and wash it out.
As always, I would love to hear your ideas for reducing, reusing and recycling. Just click on the comments link, located at the bottom of each post, and let me know what you think and how you conserve.