Drying clothes and bedding - Housing for Health

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B2.2 Drying clothes and bedding

Some houses do not have a place to dry clothes, bedding or towels. Drying in sunlight is preferable as the ultraviolet light can sterilise clothes and bedding and is also cost-free, unlike an electric clothes dryer that will use a large amount of energy.

Survey data indicates that 70% of houses have a clothes line and an adequate place for clothes drying. The clothesline could dry clothes in tropical areas during rain, and allowed sun to dry the clothes to reduce dust-mites. There was a drying area adequate for the family size and safe and protected from the street.

Data show over 70% of houses had some defined yard area (and 47% of those houses had secure fences and gates) to help accommodate a clothes drying area.

At the time of survey, fine and sunny weather conditions at 71% of the houses favoured outdoor air-drying. Air-drying costs nothing and takes advantage of sunlight’s ultra violet light to further sterilise clothes.

Whilst 87% of houses surveyed had at least one verandah, 55% of houses had a verandah on more than one side of the house. This would allow one verandah to be used as a general living area and still allow a covered place for drying clothes on another of the house’s verandahs.

Real world examples of problems

Design and Specification

Ensure

B2.2.1.
there is an outdoor clothes drying area that is easily accessible from the house
B2.2.2.
that in areas with high rainfall, clothes lines are located in covered, ventilated areas
B2.2.3.
where clothes lines are in yard areas, a slip resistant concrete path or paving to, and around, the clothes line is made to prevent ground erosion and improve access to the clothes line
B2.2.4.
that in flats or apartments there is an secure outside area for tenants to dry clothes and bedding

Consider

installing robust clothes lines around the edge of the house or in the yard where it is accessible from the laundry and gets sunlight and breezes, but is not in full view from the street
locating the clothes line in a private, screened area
in areas with high rainfall, locating a second clothes line in a covered, ventilated areas such as a verandah, and providing clear roof sheeting over part of this area to help with drying
using a fixed clothes line rather than a rotary or folding clothes line to avoid failure of moving parts
providing lighting to the drying area and any access pathway
designing the path to provide access for people using a wheelchair or mobility frame
installing a lower level clothes line, or a line that can be lowered, for use by people with disabilities.

Real world examples of Solutions

Fence line clothes drying

Quality control

the clothes linehas been designed, located and installed where specified

When: SKETCH DESIGN
COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
DURING CONSTRUCTION
AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
the clothes line is securely fixed into the ground or to a wall

When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
the paths to and around the clothes line are accessible

When: SKETCH DESIGN
COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
DURING CONSTRUCTION
AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
the clothes lines are tensioned.

When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
TRADE TEST

Maintenance

As part of cyclical maintenance:

check that clothes lines are functioning and replace or repair main support structure

Who : Local Maintenance Team
When : 12 Months
tighten loose clothes lines and replace rusted or broken lines

Who : Local Maintenance Team
When : 12 Months
repair or clean any path to the clothes line, to avoid slip or trip hazards

Who : Local Maintenance Team
When : 12 Months