TIME TO DRY

TIME TO DRY

These clothespins resist winds up to 100 kilometres per hour!

Place a bucket beneath this clip-happy octopus so any closet can become a clothes dryer. Pressa hanging dryer, $6, ikea.ca. Lessen the Load on Your Dryer

Dryers have always been the power-hungry half of the laundry pair. In fact, electric dryers account for more of our household energy use than any other appliance. Although this spring sees the launch of Canada’s first Energy Star–rated dryer (see page 77), air-drying remains the most economical—and environmentally friendly—option. Here are three innovative air-dryers that will make you think twice before hitting the on switch.

Tired of fussing with clothespins? This clever clothesline automatically clips and unclips garments as you reel them out. Cord-o-Clip 50-foot clothesline, $130,

canadiantire.ca.

Perfect for a pint-size condo, this sturdy rack folds flat for easy storage. For Living clothes dryer with hanging bar, $70, canadiantire.ca.

HELP! I’VE ALREADY LAUNDERED A SHIRT WITH A STAIN!

Don’t panic. “If you find a stain after it has gone through the dryer, all it means is that it will be tougher to remove,” says stain-removal expert Michael Vercelletto of OxiClean. “You’ll want to pretreat it with a stain remover and give it a long presoak.” If a stain just won’t come out, don’t fight it. Instead, hide it.

1. Tie-dye cotton T-shirts. 2. Apply a colourful iron-on patch.

3. Upcycle pants with stained knees by cutting the fabric just above the stain. Voilà: shorts!

HAVE A BALL

They may not look like much, but these pure-wool balls are the best thing that’s ever happened to your dryer. Designed to last for years, they slash drying time and energy usage by absorbing moisture and serve as an effective substitute for fabric softener. You may never need to buy dryer sheets again. Über Cool wool dryer balls, $29 per pair, williams-sonoma.com.