Washing Series, Drying

This Topic covers drying, starting with versions of "line" drying and working to machine drying.

There are some great gadgets for line drying in your home. This is especially helpful for damp climates such as our local Pacific Northwest rainy climate allowing you to line dry year round. I have provided some links to several examples with hopes they will inspire you to either make your own or try one of these or another variety.

Warning you can likely find things cheaper or local, I have provided the following links for examples of types of drying utensils only. I am not advocating any brands or guaranteeing their quality or price. Once you figure out what type you want you will have to do that research for yourself.

Here is a nifty wall mounted accordion style, it would fold away nicely when not in use.
https://www.lehmans.com/p-2635-accordion-wall-clothes-dryer.aspx

Here is a floor style, this is what we use in our home. It has been my experience that they are fairly cheaply made (not this brand er say just this style). I like that they are portable and you can move them around allowing you to hang diapers to dry in the sun in good weather, or the heat of a fire in winter. They fold up nicely and you can easily move them about with no permanent commitment of space. The bad thing is they break easily, like really easily, one good gust of wind and snap.
https://www.lehmans.com/p-3039-premium-floor-clothes-dryers.aspx

Here are some umbrella style outdoor lines. I have had these for years as well, but one met it's fate at the end of a lawn mower the other to a load of unexpected snow. They are wonderfully efficient out door lines and if you treat them with care they are hard to beat.
https://www.lehmans.com/p-4628-large-spinning-clothes-dryer.aspx

Here is a folding, wall mounted, towel rack kind. These are really great for very small spaces like laundry rooms and bathrooms, best for hanging only a couple items at a time. These would be perfect for hand washing diapers immediately and hanging them to dry right after a change. This would work great for a small stash.
https://www.lehmans.com/p-1906-solid-oak-towel-rack.aspx

Here is another great one for small spaces. This is a hanging version designed to hold 16 items. You could use one of these to turn a shower rack into a space efficient drying space with 3 of these. Or you could hang these from your eves to get a little sun time even in an apartment.
 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80189663/

Here is a simple fold away that you could fit a ton of diapers on and could use either indoors or outdoors.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40244831/

Here is another portable one that could hold a lot. Very adjustable and usable inside and out.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40233154/

Here is another portable to offer you many drying choices.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20219658/

Here is another fold up, wall mounted dry rack, again great for small spaces.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10225645/

Another version of the floor variety. These look higher quality than the ones I have.
http://www.organize.com/drying-rack-mesh-top-3-tier.html

Here is yet another portable floor version.
http://www.organize.com/expandable-dryer-antique-bronze-whitney-design.html

Here is a fold up dry rack that is really compact when folded.
http://www.organize.com/foldable-drying-rack-brabantia-reg.html

And yet another foldable, portable rack that could fit several diapers.
http://www.organize.com/heavyduty-gullwing-drying-rack.html

Here is an over head version that would be great hung above heaters for winter drying that is out of way and doesn't take up floor space.
http://www.organize.com/lofti-trade-clothes-drying-rack-45-white.html

Here is an umbrella version for inside your home.
http://www.organize.com/wallfix-wall-mounted-rotary-brabantia-reg.html

Here is an indoor clothes line.
http://www.clotheslineshop.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=C&Product_Code=H-8&Category_Code=IC6

Here is another nifty ceiling version.
http://blog.ecowashinglines.co.uk/tag/indoor-ceiling-clothes-airer/

Here is info on stringing an indoor clothes line for cost and space efficient drying!
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/04/string-an-indoor-clothes-line-for-cheap-and-space-efficient-drying/

Here is another great idea for indoor clothes lines and space along with cost efficient drying.
http://spartanandhannah.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/our-custom-indoor-built-in-clothes-line-drying-system/

Here are a couple idea for how to turn an old crib into a dry rack. Along with some other pretty nifty ideas on what to do with old cribs.
http://www.encorebabyregistry.com/blog/repurposed-crib-projects-upcycle-your-old-crib-out-of-the-landfill/

And here is an idea for using an old ladder for drying clothes.
http://blog.amerifirst.com/amerifirst-blog/bid/86472/DIY-Home-Improvement-Drying-Rack-for-Jeans

And don;t forget the age old, traditional out door clothes line. These can range between super simple and super complex!

And truth be told the internet is full I mean really FULL of clothes drying gadgets and ideas!!! A quick google search will turn up more options than you can shake a stick at!

When drying diapers outside remember the sun works as a natural bleaching agent, so it's great for removing stains from inserts, prefolds, fitteds and flats, but it can fade and even damage fabrics on covers. Things like silk liners and anything wool should never be dried in direct sun. Please find a nice shady spot for more sensitive fibers to ensure a long life and best performance.

Now for the dryer

So what can and what should you dry in the dryer verses on the line?

Silk and wool should NEVER be dried in the dryer!!! Please always, yes always dry silk and wool on the line, no matter what your set up! That is right not even in the dryer on low!

For longest life and greatest performance always dry your wet bags and covers on the line as well. This will prolong the life of your PUL (the water proof laminate on your items). I also suggest line drying All In Ones (AIO) and Two in Ones (2IO) as they also have PUL layers. But due to their absorbent layers they will take longer to dry on the line than your pockets and covers will.

You might be able to get away with tumble drying your AIO and 2IO in your dryer if you have an air only setting. I personally don;t trust the low setting it is hard to know if it is truly low enough heat and cool enough until something is ruined.

So what can you dry in your dryer safely? Cotton, hemp and bamboo prefolds, fitteds,  flats and inserts can all be safely be dried in the dryer even on high. Machine drying can change the texture of Micro Fiber (MF), so I suggest using caution when drying MF and blends that contain MF inners. The heat can melt and warp MF fibers, but if you have a low heat setting your MF should be safe in the dryer. The heats affects on on MF do not appear to affect their performance, only their looks. So drying your MF will come down to persona preference and if them looking new is more important or if fast drying is more important.

Even if you line dry your items you may find you want to air fluff your "fluff" for softest, cuddliest results. The other option for softer fluff against delicate skin is simply to rub items together. Once they are dry just scrub the fibers together until they feel soft to touch. Be gentle, and focus on things actually touching skin. Prefolds, fitteds and flats. Covers shouldn't need this nor should pockets. AIO and 2IO will be dependant on if they have a stay dry liner, use judgment, be gentle with your fluff and see what your skin tells you.

What else do you need to know about drying your diaper fluff? Never, ever, ever use fabric softeners or dryer sheets. Wool dryer balls are perfectly safe, just use caution adding any oils to your wool dryer balls. So why not with the smelly essential oils, dryer sheets and fabric softeners? These "softening agents" will deposit oils and repelling agents to your cloth reducing or preventing absorbency. The end result will be water beading up and rolling off of your diapers instead of soaking in and wicking away. This will cause severe leaking issues. No this will not "ruin" them, but it will make for lots of extra work and requier striping to remove the products from your fluff.

Please see our document on stripping for information on what to do if an accident happens or some one helpfully "softens" your fluff for you.