While a lot of Europeans have washers in home, many do not have dryers. Instead, you'll notice many use clothes lines or drying racks to get the job done.
In Europe it's still very common to dry laundry in the open air; on rooftops, from balconies or just from open windows, across narrow streets or along the façade of a building, cheerful strings of clothing offer a decorative touch to many a dreary Monday.
The main difference between American and European dryers is the type of heat they use. American dryers generally use gas or electric heat, while European dryers often use a heat pump system. Heat pump dryers are more energy-efficient but can take longer to dry clothes.
Growing up, dryer sheets were a laundry room staple in my house, but somewhere along the way, I stopped using them. They seemed unnecessary and kind of wasteful, and they aren't widely available in the U.K.
Bedding without a flat sheet is a long-standing norm in Europe, most notably in Sweden. When done with organic cotton sheets and duvet covers made of the same material, the comfort level is greatly enhanced through quality and simplicity, and there is less clutter to arrange, tangle with and wash.
The right spinal support is the key to a good night's rest, and European-designed mattresses offer exactly that. Furthermore, it offers: Relief of pressure points on the joints and the spine. The ability to align the spine appropriately throughout the night.
In the Scandinavian sleep method, couples use two separate duvets to lessen sleep disruption. Partners can still share a bed but have individual single-size comforters or duvets. Each partner can personalize their sleep to fit their individual preferences and minimize disturbing one another.
One compelling reason to stop using dryer sheets is the potential for skin irritation caused by the chemicals found in these products. Dryer sheets often contain a mixture of fragrances, softening agents, and other chemical compounds that can leave a residue on clothing.
As of 2009, nearly 80% of households in the United States had a mechanical clothes dryer. Consequently, fabric softeners are primarily used there to impart anti-static properties and fragrance to laundry.
Distilled White Vinegar Rinse
Adding one cup of distilled white vinegar to the final rinse cycle can give your clothes and linens the softness you desire without using dryer sheets. The mild acetic acid in the vinegar cuts through any detergent residue left in the fibers that makes the fabric feel scratchy.
Plenty of people don't even have electric dryers. I put towels in the dryer to keep them soft and fluffy but try to hang everything else outside–again, it's better for your clothes, better for the environment and it's free. Sheets definitely go outside.
Ventless dryers are the preferred choice in most European homes, or anywhere the size and age of the architecture are unsuitable to accommodate a traditional vented dryer.
Always Bring an Adapter
Even with a converter or dual voltage hair dryer, you will still need a plug adapter to fit the American-style plug into the European power outlets. All of Europe operates on the same two round-pronged outlets (Type C).
Air Dry (Don't Machine-Dry) Delicate Clothing
Instead, in an apartment, her mother-in-law would hoist clothes on a drying rack up to the ceiling, or in nice weather, on a clothesline outside. Not only is the dryer a waste of electricity and money, but it wreaks havoc on clothing.
Among the reasons she mentioned over email correspondence with BI were that European kitchens and bathrooms are often smaller, so a washer can fit, but not a dryer. She also said that as the housing stock in Europe is typically much older, it's sometimes difficult to vent a dryer to the outside.
In Italy, hanging laundry to air-dry outside is the norm.
While a lot of Europeans have washers in home, many do not have dryers. Instead, you'll notice many use clothes lines or drying racks to get the job done.
Wool dryer balls are made of all-natural products, last longer than dryer sheets, and are compostable when they're no longer being used in your laundry routine. They cut down on the amount of electricity you'll be using and don't contain harmful additives or single-use packaging.
Overall, air drying your linen will keep it in better condition for longer. This is because air-drying is a gentler option than a tumble drying and ultimately extends the lifetime of the fabric by reducing the wear and tear that dryers can sometimes cause.
It can also decrease static. But that residue isn't only on your clothes—it builds up in your dryer, too. As such, Rich counsels against relying on dryer sheets. “Dryer sheets may be better than liquid softener, but they can leave a residue on the dryer moisture sensor reducing its effectiveness,” he says.
Dryer balls can be safely used in both gas and electric dryers. However, make sure not to overload your dryer with laundry as this can prevent proper drying and extend drying times.
“When a French baby cries in the night, the parents go in, pause, and observe for a few minutes,” Druckerman explains. “They know that babies' sleep patterns include movements, noises, and two-hour sleep cycles, in between which the baby might cry. Left alone it might 'self-soothe' and go back to sleep.”
However, a German trend could inspire you to open the windows and let in some cold winter air for better sleep. This practice is called lüften, which quite literally translates from German as to ventilate or air out.
The Scandinavian sleep method is a sleep strategy where couples use separate comforters, duvets or blankets rather than sharing a single cover. This allows each partner in bed to have personalized bedding preferences for optimal sleep.