Ah, parting is such sweet sorrow… but at last we found you! And all the glory goes to Alice, a visitor who was on the hunt for Smart Dryer and didn’t give up.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I’ll refresh your memory. Not too long ago, I blogged about the Balcony Clothes Dryer Rack that was once available at Gaiam. I had planned on listing it on the site, but by the time I got there they’d stopped selling it.

Then, I planned on contacting them and asking them about who supplied it but I ended up forgetting due to a large load of work and then kept getting sidetracked.

Ultimately, Alice wrote in and told me she found it at Sears (Canada) but she wouldn’t be getting it in time. So she wanted to find it elsewhere. I told her I hadn’t searched for it in awhile due to shifting my focus with other things on the site. However, after that I did start searching again, but to no avail. Then Alice wrote me today with the good news. She’d found the Smart Dryer! So, I’m paying it forward by letting you know where you can get it.

But before I get into that, I’d like to shout out a quick thanks…

Thank you so much Alice! We really appreciate all the hard work you put into finding it since I was basically useless and couldn’t figure out where the heck the darn thing was!

So here is where you can get it…

If you live in Canada, you can purchase it here it at Sears (Canada), Canadian Tire or Xcentrik.

If you live in the U.S. try Camping World.

I hope that helps!

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Good News! We found the Balcony Clothes Dryer Rack. Check out this post on places to get it: Balcony Clothes Dryer Rack: Smart Dryer… We Found You at Last!

Last night I was repaired to recommend this balcony clothes dryer rack, until I got to the Gaiam website and it was no longer there. Very annoying.

This was one of those products I was sure would be useful to someone out there. And honestly, I’m actually surprised there aren’t more of them like it on the internet. Maybe there are and I just can’t find them? I’ve looked everyone I could think of to try and find this elsewhere but haven’t been able to locate it.

If you’ve come across something like this please drop me an email and let me know where you found it.

It’s really just one of those great ideas that hurts to let go of because it’s a really cool idea! And there are so many of us that live in apartments that would love to use this on our balconies. What also made it great was that it not only attached to a balcony but to a wall as well.

I’ve made a point to contact Gaiam to see if they will let me know if the product will be up for sale on their site again or if they can point me to the manufacturer if they themselves didn’t have it manufactured. I’m guessing since they removed it it might be gone forever. I hope not… I really want to recommend this product.

It was a best selling product from what I can recall. No surprise, right? It really is a cool concept that would meet a lot of demand out there. I’m sure you agree with me on that.

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Obviously you have the option of going for something quite compact, such as your portable clothes dryers which tend to dry only a small portion of clothes or you could go with a combo alternative like your washer and dryer combo or stackable washer and dryer. And lastly, if an actual dryer of any sort is out of the question, you could go with manual labor by hanging your wet clothes on a drying rack.

The drying racks available range from ceiling mounted to balcony mounted. If drying racks are your thing, you won’t be disappointed with the choices available.

1. Portable Clothes Dryers Portable clothes dryers substitute basic tumble dryers up to a point. They are great for drying a small amount of clothes at a time. They work great in dorms, studio apartments and lofts. As implied above their limitations lie in the fact that they can only dry a certain amount of clothes at a time which makes them great for traveling, emergency situations or simply drying clothes that are considered primary wear. Great for singles and students.
   



2. Wall Clothes Dryers This unit mounts on the wall, allowing you to save floor space. However, the benefit of this product also results in the con of having to deal with your clothes being dried at a much slower rate. Yet, if you can deal with that then this may be the dryer for you. Great for singles and couples.
   



3. Washer/Dryer Combos A unit which washes and dries clothes. Often great for small apartments because it doesn’t require venting. Also, it saves a lot of space because it is a two-in-one unit and eliminates the need to take up extra space with both a washer and dryer. Great for couples or small families.
   



4. Stackable Washers/Dryers This is exactly what it sounds like. A set in which the dryer sits on top of the washer. Since a washer and dryer generally sit side-by-side this option saves you quite a bit of floor space since it makes use of vertical space (up and down space). Great for couples or small families.
   



5. Small Clothes Drying Racks Drying racks take the place of your basic tumble dryers. However they can work in combination with spin dryers or wringers which simply remove excess water from clothes, thereby allowing you to air dry your clothes using drying racks. You save space with drying racks because they are often collapsible and can be easily stored away. Also because, as stated above, they replace a basic tumble dryer which would use much needed space. Great for singles and students.
   

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This is the fifth alternative in the series on finding space saving alternatives to clothes dryers. You can find the first post, which is the entire tip list, here.

With small clothes drying racks, the opportunities are abound. You’ve got a selection that it sure to suit you in spite of the fact that your space may be fairly small.

The obvious option is your basic drying rack, if made small enough works great in bathtubs so that you may place your wet clothes on it and let them drip-dry overnight. Larger version, however may not work in a bathtub if your tub is of average size, so you may have to consider placing it elsewhere (laundry rooms, etc).

Next, you may consider wall drying racks. The advantage with wall drying racks is that they save floor space, but beware that the indoor wooden wall drying rack may not take as much weight as a sturdy framed outdoor wall drying rack which tends to be made out of pre-coated rust resistant metal tubing.

Further down the line, you can even choose to use a ceiling mounted drying rack if you want to take advantage of the space above. Two worth considering are the Air Dry Ceiling Rack and the Suspended Ceiling Clothes Drying Rack by Joyful Spin Cycle. Both can be hung in your bathroom above your bathtub so that clothes may drip-dry with no difficulty.

And lastly if you’re looking for something that’s the best of both worlds, then there’s also the D-Rack Clothes Drying Rack which can fold flat against the wall, serve as a wall drying rack or as a free-standing drying rack.

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Portable Clothes Dryers

This is the first alternative in the series on finding space saving alternatives to clothes dryers. You can find the first post, which is the entire tip list, here.

Portable Clothes Dryers are your best friend if you need something small and, of course portable, to take care of your occasional drying needs. They’re great if you live in a studio apartment, dorm room or even a one bedroom. Basically Portable Clothes Dryers are great in any place in which space is limited.

You’ll find them convenient if you only need to dry a few clothes at a time. Also be aware that often with portable items such as this what it doesn’t take up in space it takes up in time. That is, be prepared to deal with it taking longer to dry your clothes versus a basic clothes dryers, such as a tumble dryer.

And in some cases Portable Clothes Dryers may not dry your clothes fully. If you’re not familiar with dryers that basically take the place of the wring cycle in a washing machine, they’re called spin dryers. What they do is simply spin out the excess water in your clothes so they will air dry quickly. They typically go hand in hand with portable washing machines which do not have a wringing cycle.

However, in a situation in which you are using a portable washing machine, there’s nothing stopping you from combining all three alternatives together. If you have a portable washing machine and need to get excess water out (besides dripping drying) you could get a spin dryer and during times in which you can’t afford to wait for your clothes to air dry you could use an (over the door) electric portable clothes dryer to dry them.

You gotta be inventive in times like these, right?

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Wall Mounted Clothes Dryers

This is the second alternative in the series on finding space saving alternatives to clothes dryers. You can find the first post, which is the entire tip list, here.

If you’re looking for a space saving alternative, a wall-mounted clothes dryer might interest you. The ability to save floor space in a small home can make the idea of owning a wall-mounted clothes dryer very appealing.

However, the downside is that there are very few on the market. In fact, when I say very few… I mean one–at least there’s only one that I know of. And that’s the Haier Wall Mounted Clothes Dryer. Weighing in at only 50 lbs, you can look forward to it heating your clothes at 1100 watts.

Comparing it to an average dryer, it’s said to take quite a bit longer to get your clothes dry. So you should have the patience to deal with the unavoidable lengthy drying times. However, if you’re sick of frequent trips to the laundry mat this might be just a small inconvenience to you.

It’ll plug into a standard outlet and the dimensions of the dryer are 2.2′H x 2′W x 1.4′D. So this makes the Wall Mounted Clothes Dryer great for small apartment use. Pair it up with a portable washer and the combination will allow you to relax at home while your clothes are being washed and dried versus dealing with the inconvenience of frequent trips and heavy clothes basket hauling to the laundry mat.

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When money is low, you may like the idea of using a pedestal fan to dry your clothes. Obviously, there’s the option of air-drying–which I generally do. But there are times when you want to speed the process up (from a day to a couple of hours). This is when a pedestal fan can be your best friend.

Simply hang your clothes up. If you don’t have a wringer, spin dryer or a washing machine that wrings out the extra water, try to get out all of the extra water yourself. The less water, the quicker your clothes will dry.

But if you can’t get it all out and some of your clothes need to drip-dry, just put them on a clothes drying rack in the bathtub and when they are done dripping, transfer them to the shower curtain rod so they will start a-dryin’.

When hanging the clothes up, try and space them out nicely, so there’s some space between them. Place your fan in position, turn it on the highest setting. Generally I don’t have the fan oscillate (but if you need yours to, hit the oscillating button). Then point it and close the door.

I usually put the fan in my bathroom and do this, particularly since my clothes drip-dry and even if I wring out as much water as possible, they’re still a bit more damp than clothes that go through the wringing process.

Check on the clothes here and there to make sure everything’s getting dry. Pull clothes down as they get dry and move clothes that are still damp in the line of fire (so to speak) until everything is dry and ready to be put away.

You should also know that the basic pedestal fan is usually performs best. Tower fans will work but not as well–particularly since they don’t adjust as well and the scope of air they blow isn’t as well directed. So you’ll likely want a basic pedestal fan to do this type of job and will only want to use a tower fan if you have no other alternative.

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The average washing machine uses 150 liters of water as it goes through its various cycles, at the end of which all the wasted water flows away down the drain. That is a lot of water to waste, a situation that WashUp is intended to resolve.

It makes perfect sense to recycle the water left over from a wash cycle to flush the toilet. Water is stored in the toilet flush tank until needed to flush the toilet. The actual washing unit is attached to the wall above the toilet – dare I say, flush to the wall?

The sitting of the WashUp has its own advantage and one which would be of considerable benefit to people who have mobility problems and find it painful or difficult to bend down: the washing machine is actually set at eye level.

This ingenious concept that Sevin Coskun designed is simple to operate via two flushing buttons and three semi-spherical control units. The WashUp is a practical, space-saving and eco-friendly solution to small space living and one that might well catch on in the future.

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You can go for something very small or something compact, like a top-loading washing machine.

I’ve compiled a small list of choices from the most space saving to the least space saving method.

Also keep in mind that what saves you space in the end, is what works best for you personally.

1. Small Washing Machines These are generally countertop versions, do not connect to the kitchen sink and don’t have a spin cycle. The basic idea is to fill them up like a bucket, the set the washing machine to go. They also do not usually have a spin cycle. However, you can create your own rinse cycle using them a second time around with clean non-detergent water. Best for singles, college students–dorms and studio apartments.



2. Compact Portable Washing Machines Also considered medium-sized washing machines in this discussion. These are generally top-load washers that connect to the kitchen sink. Often they are “portable” due to their wheels, which will allow them to roll around the house when you need to transport them from one place to another. However, note that it will likely save you less space than the Washer/Dryer Combo (below) if you pair it up with a basic dryer. Great for couples or singles without children.



3. Washer/Dryer Combos A unit which washes and dries clothes. Often great for small apartments because it doesn’t require venting. Also, it saves a lot of space because it is a two-in-one unit and eliminates the need to take up extra space with both a washer and dryer. Great for couples or small families.



4. Stackable Washers/Dryers This is exactly what it sounds like. A set in which the dryer sits on top of the washer. Since a washer and dryer generally sit side-by-side this option saves you quite a bit of floor space since it makes use of vertical space (up and down space). Great for couples or small families.
   

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Stackable Washer and Dryer

This is the fourth alternative in the series on finding space saving alternatives to washing machines and clothes dryers. You can find the first post, which is the entire tip list, here for washing machines and here for clothes dryers.

If you have the vertical space–that is, if you have the space to store a washer and dryer from floor to ceiling, but not side by side, a stackable washer and dryer set might be what you need.

The gist of it is that the dryer generally stacks on top of the washer, so although you have two units, it’s a lot like having one. Both the washer and dryer of are, of course, front-loading.

A serious con you risk facing with front-loading washing machines are odor, mold and mildew issues, which can be sidestepped by leaving the front door of the washer open so it may dry.

However, beware that sometimes this doesn’t always work so, as a precaution I’d recommend checking out the comments and suggestions that others have had to solve this problem if you are dead set on getting a front-loading washing machine.

Pros that come with the stackable washer and dryer are relatively obvious, you don’t sacrifice function. For example, like with the small countertop washing machines which do not include a spin cycle or the washer and dryer combo which has a slower drying time.

As for what to get… you can either get washers and dryers that say they are stackable or you can get a stacking kit which will help you turn other unobvious washers and dryers into a stackable units.

So, in short you can turn any front-loading machine into a stackable unit as long as there’s a stacking kit out there that will allow you to do it for that make and model.

Just remember, it must be a front-loading washer and dryer, otherwise you won’t be able to open it up. The stacking kits usually also have to be the same brand as the washer and dryer and sometimes a specific model. Usually in the product description of the stacking kit, will explain which front-loading washing machine model it will work with.

For example, this stacking kit is said to work with all LG brand washers and dryers. Whereas, this stacking kit says it will only work with models LG WM0532HW for the washer and DLE2532W or DLG2532W for the dryer.

So, I would recommend doing a search for stacking kits first and then deciding which models you like that work with the stacking kits. Then you can fall back on units that say they are stackable if you don’t like what units the stacking kits work with and if the stacking kits don’t lead you to them already.

As for what stacking kits area available I have compiled a small example list below. Just beware that this isn’t all that’s out there…

• LG Stacking Kits
• Frigidaire Stacking Kits
• Bosch Stacking Kits

Lastly, as for washers and dryers that say they are already stackable, you can choose from Frigidaire, Ariston and there’s some LG machines as well.

Having done a fair amount of searching, I’d be cautious about Frigidaire’s stackable units. The consumer reviews weren’t too good. One large complaint was loud buzzer noises (at least on one of the units). As for Ariston, there wasn’t enough information to be certain, but LG faired out pretty good compared to the other two.

So, between all three I would recommend starting your search there first–in all cases, with units that say they are stackable and with stacking kits.

Then after that you might want to venture out into other brands if you don’t like the sound of LG units. You may want to consider the LG WM2233H stackable washer and dryer. It seemed like a fair portion of people were pretty happy with it.

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