Dry by sunlight or dryer machine

1. 61

   Hui (蕙)posted 13 years ago

   In China, people typically hang up wet clothes out in the sun.In universities, students are encouraged to air their quilts outside to touch the sun,especially in winters,while universities may limit it to fixed areas. However,it is different in Canada where I now live. People always use dryer machines,regardless static electricity or not,because city image is more important.  So is the trend in those developed China cities,like Beijing and Shanghai. It may not be forbidden, but people around may feel awkward.
   
   Here are some questions:are natural sun-heat the same with electrical energy? To what degree can high technology replace natural beings? Is there ways to balance city appearance and the natural flavor of life? If have humans lost something they may potentially be keen on when they enjoy dwelling comfort with the increase of technology? By the way, I love where I now live. People here are so nice. All I am trying to say is the relationship between human growth and natural health.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, we lose a lot of our connection to nature and self-reliance as our technology progresses.
      
      You're talking about something as simple as sundrying versus a clothes drying machine.  Good point!
      
      My Mom hung up the clothes on an outside line for most of her life.   I've also done that sometimes.   The clothes do smell fresher that way, even versus a dryer sheet in the dryer.   But then there's also the possibility of pollen and dust and insects getting on the clothing.  Or, God forbid! (ha) even bird doo.
      
      These days I prefer the automatic dryer.  Easier and more convenient.  But it's good to know how to use clothespins and string a clothesline!  Takes patience and work.  ...Something that many in the younger generation aren't always used to.  I bet they'd be really hard put to think about washing clothing by hand or using a scrubbing board too....

      replyreport
   2. 61

      qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      ...if ya've got the time; sun dry!
      
      Qwark

      replyreport
2. 60

   SomewayOuttaHereposted 13 years ago

   ...gimme a break...drying clothes outside is not forbidden in Canada...could be where you live e.g. in an apartment if that is the case

   replyreport
3. 53

   jcalesposted 13 years ago

   some can be naturally dried while some can be electrical or gas dryed. yeah, depends on the building you live in. I had the same issue in So. America. And certain clothes feel better when dried with a machine.

   replyreport
4. 64

   prettydarkhorseposted 13 years ago

   It depends, if you live in an apartment and the rules said you can't hung the clothes for aesthetic purposes, then you are obliged to follow it. 
   
   However if you have your own house and not too busy, you can hang them at your backyard.
   
   If you are an immigrant, it is really helpful to follow rules and adapt to the culture, it will be beneficial to you in that way. Just enjoy the beauty of the new culture and make the most of it.

   replyreport
5. 61

   Hui (蕙)posted 13 years ago

   Actually, I love and enjoy the new culture, and we people learned some from it. I am here talking about health, the relationship between human and the nature, not culture. Now, in those developed China cities, there advocates this trend, because humans become growing. This is about all human beings, not just those from one specific culture. Sorry, I did not make it clear.

   replyreport
   1. 64

      prettydarkhorseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      it is ok, but when you compare how people do things differently, it is about culture. How we do things are affected by technology, how we value things - electricity and weather etc.
      
      Do you mean to say that it is more healthy if you dry your clothes using dryer or natural way? Clothes last longer when it is dried naturally perhaps. Natural drying could save electricity, but for those who are busy, dryer is a relief.

      replyreport
      1. 61

         Hui (蕙)posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         You are now totally on board what I'm trying to say: the degree human behaviour depends on technology that they themselves have created. And I do think naturally drying is more healthy. Hanging up does not take more time than putting in a dryer. That is just a thinking way!

         replyreport
6. 0

   BRIAN SLATERposted 13 years ago

   sunlight is best for me but my wife prefers the dryer, guess who wins!!

   replyreport
7. 62

   Julip Manorposted 13 years ago

   Alot of our modern technology seems to be just fancy ways of doing tasks....not time savers or money savers

   replyreport
8. 59

   TLMinutposted 13 years ago

   At the time, I have neither a washer nor a dryer but plan to buy a washer when I can. I go to my family's house. I had considered washing clothes in the huge bathtub in our back bedroom but I doubt I really ever will. One thing I WILL do is avoid the clothes dryer - costs too much and it seems ridiculous to waste so much electricity when I live in a state that's so hot and sunny.
   My issues with sun-dried clothes is that bugs get on them, I hate that! Dryers are quicker (yes, it does take much less time than hanging clothes out on a line) and the clothes come out much softer but I think it's worth hanging them out. Or in. When I lived in a much colder, not so sunny place, I'd hang clothes inside by a window and it worked fine. Saved on my electric bill too.

   replyreport
9. 88

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   I used a dryer all my married life, for convenience. It rained that much in Scotland it was a necessity. Now I have a lovely airy underbuild in my house in Spain and my clothes go there, always. They smell great AND they get dried for free.
   
   Bugs are only a problem if I leave them out overnight.

   replyreport
10. 74

    Eaglekiwiposted 13 years ago

    Sunshine is best, the sun even bleaches while it dries.
    Oh the smell of sun and wind, cant beat it ,although companies to try to replicate the fragrance.
    
    Dryers are convenient and easier, from wash to dryer,just flick a switch ,push a button.
    
    Ive lived my life both ways ,ironically I had no dryer when I was raising a busy family ( and tons of laundry every other day)now because Im in an apartment ,its dryer use only.
    
    I would love to hang clothes outside to dry in fresh ,warm air,but when bad weather hits I thank God for dryers.
    
    I think we are priviliged to have (usually) the option of both.
    
    !

    replyreport
11. 91

    melporposted 13 years ago

    I used to dry my clothes on lines outdoors all the time to keep my energy bill down, but now I use the dryer since outdoor pollen and other allergens generally get on your clothes while they are drying. This is a problem for me. The another reason I do not dry my clothes outside is because bugs, bees and spiders sometimes end up on your clothes. Please be careful by shaking your clothes before bringing them indoors.

    replyreport
12. 70

    Diane Insideposted 13 years ago

    I've heard the sunlight actually kills germs especially fungus.
    
    I've even heard doctors tell their patients to dry their shoes out in the sun, and even to sunbathe their feet to get rid of athletes foot.
    
    I always liked my quilts dried in the sun.

    replyreport
    1. 0

       Stevennix2001posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       thats very interesting. I didn't know that.  thanks for the tip, as i'll be sure to keep it in mind.

       replyreport
       1. 70

          Diane Insideposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          hehe why do you have athletes foot, or perhaps jock itch, maybe you should sunbathe that. lol
          
          Just kidding.  hey Steven hows it going?

          replyreport
          1. 60

             recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

             The benefit of sun drying is the UV radiation that, with the dry and heat, kills exactly this kind of fungus etc.
             
             Shoes, underwear etc and bedding should be exposed to the sun frequently - this reduces most of the irritating stuff.  Here in China, as Hui points out, it is common practice to hang all this stuff out on the first sunny day after any period of wet or winter or anything really.  In some areas of the big cities this is discouraged as innapropriate for tourism, along with trying to stop people wandering about in their pyjama's with slippers on when it is hot

             replyreport
    2. 88

       IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Best advice for athlete's foot is to paddle at the seaside on a sunny day. Cures it every time

       replyreport
    3. 74

       Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Yep the sunlight does kill bacteria, the natural way.

       replyreport
13. 91

    Cardisaposted 13 years ago

    Traditionally in Jamaica, we hang on the line in our backyard, but some people are too busy for this and use a machine. some people I know who use a clothes dryer are just lazy while others want to show off.
    
    Of course this is Jamaica with more sun than most other countries so I really find it unnecessary unless it's been raining a long time.

    replyreport
14. 0

    fit2dayposted 13 years ago

    There are times where I wished I didn't live in a society rich in technology. Technology has it's pros and cons. For the most part, the things that have been created to make things more convenient, have arguably made them more complicated. I must say that I haven't had clothes hang on a line since I was about 8.
    
    I think many times clothes come out better after hanging on the line, but the environmental factors definitely play a role in exactly how they will turn out.

    replyreport
15. 63

    Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

    My mother hung clothes for most of my childhood. All Winter long her hands were cracked and bleeding.  The rest of the year there were times she'd bring in a bunch of clothes with bugs or bird mess on them.  Occasionally, if she didn't see it coming, they'd be rained on.  Even after she got a dryer she had a pulley line for some laundry loads.  The sun also fades colors.
    
    I, on the other hand, have never hung clothes outside in my life.  (Scarred for life after having a blanket or two show up with earwigs on them, I guess.  )  As long as it's not hot out, if I leave my clothes in the dryer for a little while after it's done the clothes get that fresh-air smell (from the vent).  How water and bleach takes care of some germy things.  If anything is too disgusting to get clean by washing, I throw it out anyway.   Of course, there are neighborhoods where clothes hanging outside are frowned on too.
    
    Either way, I'm happy to have a dryer and don't really count dryers among the highest in technology, as far as separating people from Nature/other people go.  Another wonderful invention:  microwave ovens!   

    replyreport
16. 61

    Hui (蕙)posted 13 years ago

    Can I ask a stupid question? How did you give this big smell face? I cannot do it.

    replyreport
    1. 63

       Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       You can see how to make faces if you click on the "formatting" button and scroll down a little.   For that hideous laughing face I just did, it's  colon/lol/colon
       
       (Oh, I just remembered the "formatting" button only shows up once you click "reply" and get the window to type into.  Then it's right under the window.)

       replyreport
       1. 60

          recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Or you can type : D  but without the space and ou get
          
          It only converts to a smiley face when you post it - or you can preview it.  Others are : P    : O 

          replyreport
17. 91

    Cardisaposted 13 years ago

    Do you mean smiley face...not smelly face?
    
    When you post your reply, at the bottom of the text box see formatting for all the formulas for the smiley faces you need.

    replyreport
    1. 60

       recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I teach English to Chinese students and the small errors that come up frequently almost make the whole thing worthwhile on their own - they always seem to come from pretty girls such as  "will you put your hand on me" "Please take my cherry" which comments brighten up the day considerably, keeping a straight face can be hard though

       replyreport
       1. 61

          Hui (蕙)posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Thank you, guys. Let me try. Smiley face

          replyreport
          1. 60

             recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

             You got it !!    Now if you want a smelly face . . . .

             replyreport
    2. 61

       Hui (蕙)posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       You are right, Cardisa. Smelly means stinky. Thanks

       replyreport
18. 80

    TamCorposted 13 years ago

    I hardly ever use a dryer--I love to hang clothes, towels and sheets outside, because they smell so nice afterwards.  I don't have bug problems, thankfully, so that's not a problem for me.
    
    If it's raining and I need to do laundry, I have two clothes racks that I use inside for drying.
    
    If I'm in a hurry for something, I'll use the dryer, but I really prefer not to...

    replyreport
19. 80

    TamCorposted 13 years ago

    I meant to add that my daughter is the exact opposite--she dries everything in her dryer.  But that's because she and one of her sons have allergies, so they really can't handle wearing clothes that were outside drying...

    replyreport
20. 83

    timorousposted 13 years ago

    When I lived in a house in Toronto, I used to put the clothes outside whenever it was warm enough, and not raining.  It was always difficult to get them soft though, unless I brought them in after a half hour in the sun, and popped them in the dryer for about 10 minutes.  That uses a lot less electricity, and the clothes end up soft, but still have a bit of that 'outdoorsy' smell.

    replyreport