Published

1 year ago

December 24, 2024

Alice Rush

Air-drying clothes in the summer is quite simple, hanging shirts and linens on picturesque laundry lines in the dry, warm air. When winter comes with its cold, wet days, it’s hard to imagine the line full of laundry in the backyard — but winter weather doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to start tumble-drying again.

Drying clothes in a dryer adds to the environmental impact of your laundry, as machine-drying makes up 75% of the total carbon footprint of laundry. Running the dryer also costs money — depending on the efficiency of the model and number of loads, it can cost a household between $100 and $200 a year.

While the warm summer sun might make it easier to line-dry clothes, laundry can still be line-dried in the winter, both inside and outdoors. Here’s how.

Line-Dry Clothes Outdoors

Yes, even in the coldest months of the winter, you can dry your clothes outside.

It’s possible because of a process called sublimation, whereby water turns from a solid to a gas without having a liquid phase. Essentially, it evaporates without turning to water first. Think of the way ice cubes get smaller in the freezer over time. It’s the same basic process as freeze-drying.

*Clothes hanging out to dry on a winter day on Prince Edward Island, Canada. OliverChilds / iStock / Getty Images Plus*

It’s best to dry outdoors on dry, sunny days if you can, and a little wind helps a lot. Even if the clothes don’t dry off completely outside, you can always finish off the process in the machine for a few minutes.

Your clothes might come off the line rather stiff, though. To prevent this, add about half a cup of vinegar near the end of the wash cycle, which cuts through the chemical residue from the detergent that makes dry clothes stiff.

Dry Indoors

Clothes drying on a rack indoors in New Westminster, British Columbia. Dennis Sylvester Hurd / Flickr

Drying clothes indoors can happen year-round with pretty minimal effort. It’s best if you have some drying rack or airer to hang clothes on — one that folds up, or one built into the wall. Some have multiple tiers, or additional sections that fold out to give you more space. You can also use lines that can be taken down after you’re finished.

Reduce Laundry Loads

As tempting as it might be to reduce the number of loads, don’t overfill the machine. The spin cycle will be more effective and remove more water from the clothes when there’s more space. Your clothes will be less damp when removed, putting them in a better position to dry quicker.

Take It for Another Spin

Another way to make sure that laundry is less wet when coming out of the washing machine: give it a second spin. Another spin cycle can get rid of excess moisture, and the extra energy to do that is negligible compared to a whole dryer cycle. While it sounds counterintuitive, you don’t necessarily want to set the spinner to a faster setting — a slower spin might actually work better to dry off clothes. After the last spin cycle, give the tub a good shake and a spin to get any excess water off.

Towel Them Off

Yes, with an actual towel. Wrap clothes up in the towel to absorb excess moisture before hanging them up. Lay the towel out flat, then lay a piece of clothing on top. Roll it up tightly, squeezing as you go, then roll it back out. This won’t remove all the water, of course, but especially for heavy items like sweaters or jeans, it’ll cut back on air-drying time

Spread Clothes Out

*Clothes drying outside in winter at an Amish house in Indiana. David Arment / iStock / Getty Images Plus*

Hang things up right away to avoid giving them that damp, mildewy smells — and give them space on the drying rack or clothes line. They won’t dry as well if they’re overlapping, so leave an inch of room between each item if you can. If there isn’t enough space, hang items on hangers instead. You can suspend them from curtain rods or other places around the house — maybe from a tension rod in the frame of a seldom-used door. Some drying racks even have small holes on the sides to allow for hangers.

Use Other Heat to Dry

Even without the drying machine, other, less energy-intensive heat can be used to dry clothes. A heated clothes airer uses less energy than a tumble dryer, and can be folded up and put away. It also leaves clothes less wrinkled, so it’s good for those items that might need to be ironed after drying anyway.

For homes with radiators, you basically have a built-in heated clothes airer! Place your drying rack close to the radiator so it can take advantage of that heat, and your clothes will dry in a fraction of the time. If the radiator has a cover, lay items directly on top, flipping them after some time.

*Clothes hanging to dry near a radiator. Tommaso Barbanti / iStock / Getty Images Plus*

Keep in Rooms That Aren’t Humid

The last thing your drying laundry needs is more moisture. Avoid hanging clothes in damp basements, in a steamy bathroom, or the kitchen where the air can get moist from boiling water — unless there are efficient fans or other ventilation in those rooms. In humid seasons, a dehumidifier can remove excess moisture from the air. In a closed-off room with the machine running, clothes can dry pretty quickly.

Place Near a Window

Good ventilation and air flow is key. Leave the window open for a bit if you can on warmer winter days, or place the drying rack in a room that you don’t use much during the day. An open window is even more effective when paired with a fan to circulate air. Fans use much less energy than a dryer — the standard electricity usage is 33 watts, while clothes dryers are in the thousands.

*Clothes drying on a metal rack by an open window. Wirestock / iStock / Getty Images Plus*

Use Dryers Correctly

When you do use the dryer, use it as efficiently as possible to avoid wasting any energy. Clean the filter after every use to remove lint — even just a little impacts drying time. Once a year, clean the vents too, following the specific cleaning directions for your model.

To dry clothes faster, put a dry towel in with wet clothes during the first few minutes, then remove and hang it up to air-dry. Dryer balls can reduce drying times too by keeping clothes from sticking to each other, allowing air to circulate around them more easily.

The post Air-Drying Clothes in Winter? Yes, It’s Possible appeared first on EcoWatch.

https://www.ecowatch.com/air-drying-clothes-winter.html

Green Living

Earth911 Inspiration: There’s No Free Lunch in Nature

Published

3 days ago

January 30, 2026

Alice Rush

Earth911 inspirations. Print them, post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day.

Editor’s Note: This poster was originally published on May 10, 2019. Yes, we recycle good ideas!

The post Earth911 Inspiration: There’s No Free Lunch in Nature appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/living-well-being/earth911-inspiration-no-free-lunch-in-nature/

Green Living

Guest Idea: 7 Solutions to Give Your Old Sunglasses a Second Life

Published

4 days ago

January 29, 2026

Alice Rush

In recent years, many of us have learned that “recyclable” isn’t as simple as we once thought. The single-use coffee cup is the classic example: its paper shell is fused with a thin plastic liner, rendering it un-recyclable in most facilities. It’s a “composite material,” a mix of things that are too difficult to separate.

A surprisingly similar, and often-overlooked, challenge is sitting in our homes: old sunglasses.

Just like that coffee cup, eyewear is a complex fusion of materials. Metal hinges are screwed into polymer frames, which hold chemically-coated lenses. This mix of metals, plastics, and coatings means standard sorting machines cannot process them. As a result, they are rejected as contamination and sent directly to landfills, where they contribute to non-biodegradable waste. Unlike a disposable paper cup, however, a pair of sunglasses is built for durability. Its high-quality components make it a perfect candidate for repair, reuse, or reinvention.

This guide provides 7 actionable alternatives to the landfill, designed to turn this difficult-to-recycle item into a valuable, circular resource.

1. The Most Impactful Fix: Replace the Lenses

For the most common issue—scratched or damaged lenses—the most sustainable answer is also the simplest. The frame, which is the most resource-intensive part to produce, is often in perfect condition. By focusing on a “repair, don’t replace” model, you can save an entire item from the landfill.

Action: This process is now easier than ever. Specialist companies like mine, The Sunglass Fix, allow you to order high-quality, precision-cut replacement lenses for thousands of models online. You can effectively restore your sunglasses to brand-new condition for a fraction of the cost—and with significantly less waste.

Swapping out scratched lenses is a simple, DIY repair that instantly restores your frames to like-new condition, extending their lifespan by years. Image Credit: The Sunglass Fix.

2. The Charitable Solution: Donate for Global Reuse

If your sunglasses are still in good shape, don’t let them go to waste. Just because you don’t wear them anymore doesn’t mean they are finished. By donating them, you give them a second life. There are millions of people who need eye protection but can’t easily buy it. Your old pair could end up helping someone see better and protect their eyes every day.”

Action: There are great groups ready to take them:

Lions Clubs International: The most famous option. Look for their yellow collection boxes in libraries and local vision centers.
OneSight: They run clinics to bring eyewear directly to communities that need it most.
ReSpectacle: An easy website that matches your specific glasses to a person who needs them.

3. The DIY Solution: Simple Home Maintenance

Before giving up on a pair, inspect it closely. Many “broken” sunglasses are merely suffering from minor, fixable issues. A wobbly arm or a missing nose pad might seem like a fatal flaw, but a simple home repair can often make them perfectly wearable again, saving you money and preventing waste.

Action: Most common issues can be solved with a basic eyeglass repair kit.

Tighten Loose Screws: This is the most common issue. Using a precision screwdriver, gently tighten the hinge screws until the arms feel secure again. If a screw is lost, most repair kits come with standard replacements.
Adjust Bent Frames: If your glasses sit crooked on your face, place them on a flat table to see which side is lifted. Metal frames can be gently bent back into shape with your fingers. Plastic frames should be warmed slightly (with warm water) before you gently twist them back to alignment.
Replace Old Nose Pads: If the pads are yellowing, uncomfortable, or missing, don’t toss the glasses. You can buy standard silicone replacements online. They either snap in or screw in, instantly making the glasses feel cleaner and more comfortable.
Fix Stiff Hinges: If the arms are hard to open or make a grinding sound, the hinge is likely clogged with dirt. Wash the frame with warm soapy water to flush out the grit. Once dry, a tiny drop of baby oil or lubricant on the hinge will make it move smoothly again.
Restore Faded Plastic: If your plastic frames have turned white or cloudy, they aren’t ruined; they are just oxidized. You can buff this white layer off using a soft microfiber cloth and a little friction (or a tiny dab of non-abrasive car wax) to reveal the shiny, fresh plastic underneath.

4. The Upcycling Solution: Create Unique Decor

Even when lenses are damaged beyond repair or frames are no longer wearable, the components themselves can be valuable materials for DIY home décor. Instead of sitting in a landfill for centuries, these plastic and metal parts can be upcycled into unique art pieces, giving new purpose to materials that would otherwise decompose.

Action: Re-frame your perspective and use the components for home decor. Multiple pairs can be combined to create a unique mirror frame, a 3D collage, or other decorative wall art, as highlighted by various home design blogs.

5. The Craft Solution: Fashion Custom Jewelry

The trend of upcycling fashion accessories is growing, and sunglasses offer endless possibilities. The colorful or mirrored lenses, in particular, can be transformed into new items. This craft-based approach turns a waste product into a one-of-a-kind wearable statement of sustainability.

Action: Gently pop the lenses out of the frames. They can be incorporated into unique DIY projects. Craft blogs demonstrate how to fashion them into pendants or one-of-a-kind earrings, completely upcycling the component.

6. The Garden Solution: Repurpose Components Outdoors

Even the most shattered parts can find a new purpose outdoors. The sturdy plastic or metal arms of a frame, for example, make surprisingly durable and waterproof plant markers for a garden or herb pot. Other broken pieces can be used for mosaics or small sculptures, offering a quirky way to bring sustainability to your backyard.

Action: Remove the sturdy plastic or metal arms from the frame. By writing on them with a permanent marker, you can create durable, waterproof, and quirky plant markers for an herb garden or seed-starting trays.

7. The Final Step: Responsible Material Separation

If the sunglasses are beyond saving and none of the above methods apply, you must handle the final disposal process manually. Recycling plants are designed to handle simple items like bottles or cans, not complex “mixed material” objects like eyewear. If you throw a whole pair of sunglasses into the mix, it is treated as contamination and sent to the landfill. If you want the materials to live on, you have to do the separation work that the machines can’t.

Action: Break the frame down into these four categories to ensure they get recycled:

Pop the Lenses Out: Press firmly on the back of the lens to snap it out of the frame. Even if the lens itself cannot be recycled locally, removing it is the essential first step to preparing the rest of the frame.
Strip the Hardware: Use a precision screwdriver to remove the arms, hinges, and any nose pads. You need to fully separate every piece of metal from the plastic components.
Consolidate the Metal: The tiny screws and hinges are valuable scrap, but they are too small for machines to catch. Place them inside a larger steel food can (like a soup can) and pinch the top closed so they are trapped inside and can be processed safely.
Mail the Frames: The stripped plastic frames are now ready for a specialist. Since standard curbside trucks typically reject rigid eyewear plastics, mail these specific parts to dedicated programs like Terracycle or Banish that can shred and repurpose them.

Redefining “Waste” in Your Wardrobe

A single-use coffee cup is a symbol of a disposable mindset—a product designed for a single use. In contrast, an old pair of sunglasses, once destined for the landfill, is a collection of durable materials and untapped potential.

By shifting how we view worn or damaged items, we can begin to see them not as waste, but as resources waiting for renewal. Moving beyond the linear “take-make-waste” model unlocks that value. Whether you choose to remanufacture your favorite frames, donate them, or upcycle them into a new project, each action contributes to a more sustainable future.

Small changes, repeated by millions, can make a measurable difference. Just as we’ve learned to carry a reusable mug, we can learn to repair our most-loved items. The next time you reach for that scratched pair, remember—repairing or reimagining them isn’t just creative; it’s part of building a more circular world.

About the Author

This sponsored article was contributed by Craig Anderson, founder of The Sunglass Fix. A problem-solver by nature, he left his corporate IT career after discovering the immense scale of waste in the eyewear industry. He is now a passionate advocate for the circular economy and a pioneer in the “remanufacturing” space, building a business dedicated to the simple, sustainable idea: repair, don’t replace.

The post Guest Idea: 7 Solutions to Give Your Old Sunglasses a Second Life appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/how-to-recycle/guest-idea-7-solutions-to-give-your-old-sunglasses-a-second-life/

Green Living

Best of SIYE: Culligan CEO Scott Clawson Maps The Future Of Water

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

Alice Rush

Read a transcript of this episode. Subscribe to receive transcripts.

Turn on any faucet in America, and chances are the water meets federal safety standards. Yet Americans buy 50 billion single-use plastic water bottles annually—enough to circle the Earth 200 times if laid end to end. The bottles take 450 years to decompose, and recent research found that a single liter of bottled water can shed up to 240,000 pieces of microplastic that we ultimately consume. Meanwhile, 37% of global drinking water remains contaminated, with PFAS “forever chemicals” and lead appearing even in neighboring homes on the same street. Meet Scott Clawson, Chairman and CEO of Culligan International, the nearly 90-year-old company that’s become the global leader in water services by making filtered water more accessible than single-use plastic. Under Clawson’s leadership, Culligan serves 170 million people worldwide, and the company’s filtration systems have helped avoid the use of 45 billion plastic bottles annually.

Scott Clawson, CEO of Culligan International, is our guest on *Sustainability In Your Ear*.

The company has set ambitious targets: achieving net positive water impact by 2050 and cutting scope one and two emissions intensity by 40% before 2035. After completing WAVE water stewardship verification, Culligan discovered that even testing filtration equipment was wasteful, leading the company to develop dry-testing methods that eliminate water waste before machines reach consumers. The company has electrified 25% of its fleet and donated 9 million liters of water to communities in need in 2024 alone. Clawson’s approach to sustainability isn’t just operational—it’s personal. A decade ago, while vacationing in the Bahamas, he encountered a beach covered in plastic waste. “That’s when my inner balance was sparked to make sure we do more than just use our planet to make money, but let’s use our planet to help it be a better place to live,” he recalls. As water scarcity intensifies globally, Clawson believes the consumer holds the power: “Every time you pick something up off the shelf, you are voting. You’re sending a signal to a company.” His message is clear—test your water, understand what’s in it, and invest in point-of-use filtration rather than contributing to the plastic crisis. You can learn more about Culligan International at culliganinternational.com.