Amish Winter Laundry Hack: Freeze-Dry Your Clothes!

Amish communities demonstrate sustainable laundry practices by utilizing outdoor clotheslines throughout the year, including winter. This method relies on freeze-drying, where ice transforms directly from solid to vapor, effectively drying clothes even in freezing temperatures. Once brought indoors, the stiff, frozen garments naturally thaw and soften.

Adaptations for winter include stretching clotheslines across basements, which can increase room humidity, or positioning them near wood stoves for added warmth, with caution advised to prevent fires. Some families also construct elevated platforms above stoves for drying smaller items like socks and shoes.

Adopting these methods can lead to substantial savings on energy bills, as clothes dryers are highly energy-intensive. Beyond financial benefits, line-drying reduces clothing wear, extends garment lifespan, and shrinks the carbon footprint associated with laundry. It also minimizes household plastic waste by avoiding commercial dryer sheets and plastic-wrapped products.