Dinesh Shah and Daniel Carter from the Engineering Department at the University of Florida have reblended laundry detergent; the mix resulting in a 20% drier than usual wash. Considering that nearly 6% of all residential electricity is used on clothes dryers, the cost savings to consumers and the environment could be in the millions. For more details, read Wired Magazine’s article, Drier Laundry Through Chemistry.
My posts are skimpy ’cause I’m in the process of moving. I will -unfortunately- be otherwise engaged for the next couple weeks. Volunteers for blog posting, moving or organizing are heartily encouraged to apply. If you’re in the mood for an adventure come to El Paso; we’ll have a slumber party at the Brewhouse.
This made me think of a website I visited briefly in my efforts to research the dry cleaning industry and its history. http://www.laundrylist.org/ It appears to be a radical effort to persuade people to eschew clothes dryers altogether. I can attest to this since I, myself, have only had a dryer for a few years and, perforce, dried all my clothing on a clothesline for decades including the cloth diapers for two babies born 3 1/2 years apart; and I loved it. Do I use my dryer now? Yes, and I regret it because it was pleasant to be outside hanging up clean clothes and I loved to see the beauty of the heavily laden clothesline in the sun and the wind and especially with a full load of diapers. This also makes me think of Jean Cocteau’s film, “La Belle et La Bette,” in which a clothes line figures rather prominently in the opening scenes.
Additionally, I have discovered a movement online to persuade people to give up the electric washing machine altogether and use a hand powered washtub. hmmm.