Advice About Wrinkled Clothes

Hey Mr. Green,
I recently got an Energy Star washing machine. To make the switch complete, I also put up a solar dryer (i.e., a clothesline). But now my work shirts look all wrinkled, and I feel compelled to iron them--which I never did after pulling them out of the electric dryer. What is the greenest solution: ironing or using the dryer just for that load of shirts? --Ramona in Crownsville, Maryland

Before addressing your pressing needs, let me congratulate you on having an Energy Star washing machine. Those babies save lots of money, energy, and water. You'll net up to $550 in operating costs over its life at today's utility rates. They're at least 40 percent more energy efficient than other washers. And while conventional machines use up to 40 gallons of water per load, Energy Stars cut it down to 25; smaller models whittle it to a measly 10. The EPA's Energy Star program, by the way, represents your tax dollars working to save energy sources instead of fighting wars over them.
Two other tips about being green while getting your clothes clean: (1) Use the warm or hot setting only for heavily soiled items--most people don't know that up to 90 percent of a typical washer's energy consumption is dedicated to heating water. (2) Front-loading washers don't use as much water.
Now as for those wrinkles, unless you are very slow or inept, the iron takes less energy than the dryer. A dryer's typical 45-minute cycle takes 3.3 kilowatt-hours. An iron that's been on for 60 minutes uses about 1.2 kilowatt- hours. So even if you squandered a whole hour ironing, you'd still consume less energy than if you ran the dryer.
Some readers claim to achieve Botox-level erasure of clothesline-induced wrinkles by letting clothes get almost dry on the line, then flipping them in the dryer for just a few minutes. As a hypercasual (some would say slovenly) creature who rarely dons anything unrumpled, I can't personally vouch for this technique, so I'll leave the env-iron-mental R&D to you.

Comments

[Laura in NJ]

Thanks for answering this question. I have been wondering about the same thing myself. Now I just have to get a clothesline. I must confess, though, that since I started using cold water in the washer, stain removal is not as effective. So now I am seeking a balance, using warm water when the load is particularly dirty but using cold water for other loads.

[Environmentally Safe Rick]

Everything is changing on earth at an alarming rate. An environmentally safe home is now a must have if we are to survive in this world that we live in.

My wife has switched over to the "GREEN" products to do the wash; and that includes the dishwasher. The amazing part is that the "GREEN" products seem to go farther. To coin a phrase; "Using Green Saves The Machines."

[Jan]

Here is a good trick to take out the wrinkles in clothes. When the clothes are dry, but still hanging on the clothes line,
spray the wrinkles with water from a spray
bottle. When the clothes dry the second time, they will be wrinkle-free. And no energy was used!

[Stephanie F.]

If you DO choose to iron, watch our for the energy use of the iron. Irons run HOT, and all that heats comes from a ton of electricity usage. I think you'd be floored.

If you plan to iron a lot, consider a more efficient iron.

[Jackie Baugh]

Try popping those clothes into the dryer for 10 minutes. Quickly remove while still warm and damp, put on hangers (carefully fold slacks to maintain a crease), run your fingers over any rumpled seam areas or plackets, and air dry. It is rare that I have to touch up anything with an iron (altho most of our clothes are casual). The 10 minutes in the dryer seems to tumble out most of the wrinkles.

[Bonnie C.]

Years ago I found that if I folded the wet clothes, directly out of the washer, and let them sit in the basket while the next load washed, the weight of the water took out virtually all of the wrinkles, and left sharp creases where you wanted them. I had to be careful when folding the clothing, so that I didn't get creases where I didn't want them. Then I hung them on the line. For some shirts, I used clothes hangers (like what you use to hang the clothes in the closet), instead of clothespins, so that I didn't get the pinch marks on each item of clothing.

[CTP]

buy steven alan shirts... they're supposed to look wrinkled! www.stevenalan.com

[Workwear Supplier]

Well written article, very informative. I'll be interested to find out any updates.

[Zach Smith]

There are now front load washers with wrinkle guard or wrinkle-free features. This will definitely save you more on energy consumption. But if you are not yet ready to buy a new washer, why not try making the most out of your current washer? Do not overstuff your washer's drum because your clothes will get tangled and wrinkly. They should have enough room to move around. Cut back your drying time to half the usual time, remove your clothes from your dryer and then give it a bit of shake to remove creases and then hang it somewhere sunny to dry completely. Using fabric conditioner also helps immensely.

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