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Line-dry clothes outdoors

Dry your laundry outside in the fresh air instead of in the tumbler and use the natural energy of sunshine & wind.  If possible, plan your laundry washing for sunny or breezy days. With rotary clothes dryers (STEWI), your laundry dries in no time and with a wonderfully fresh scent.

What can you do?

  • Dry clothes in the fresh air instead of in a clothes dryer
  • Dispensing with the tumbler not only saves energy, but also protects clothes, as fabrics are damaged quicker by tumbling.
  • Select the extra spin setting on the washing machine
  • In winter dry laundry in your apartment. However, make sure the area is well ventilated (intermittent ventilation) to prevent mold growth

Additional information

Swiss households consume 800 GWh of electrical power annually for clothes drying.

Today, more than 80% of Swiss households have a tumbler, even though these have long been considered «energy eaters». In recent years, thanks to a technological leap and the installation of heat pumps, the energy consumption of tumblers was reduced by 50%. Nevertheless, the substantial amount of energy tumblers consume is actually unnecessary, as all textiles can just as well be line dried. Furthermore, sportswear and other synthetic clothes ought not to be tumble dried as hot air damages microfibers.

If you still choose tumble drying:  In the calculations by TopTen, electricity consumption between old and new tumblers are compared.

Outdoors in the sun

Hanging laundry outdoors to dry is clearly the best option for the environment and your wallet. That is why for apartment buildings especially, we recommend creating outdoor spaces: Sun and wind dry laundry quickly; no electricity is required, only clotheslines, hooks or stands.

In the flat

Drying laundry inside the apartment is suitable for small quantities, as long as the air doesn’t  become too damp. If the moisture level is too high, mold can form.  However, apartments that are too dry in winter, would not require humidifiers.

In the basement

Line-drying clothes in the basement is usually more difficult and less environmentally friendly than thought. Basements are often heated and their tilted windows opened while laundry dries – as moisture needs to escape and heat is required to dry. This method is not advisable, because much heating energy is wasted. An interior air drying system is required in the basement. Basically, these air dryers require a similar amount of energy as tumblers. Windows and doors must be closed when drying, otherwise the adjacent areas also affected.

Further information and tips on heating can be found on the website of SwissEnergy, TopTen and energy experts.

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