Clothes Dryers – A Modern Convenience
From the time of cave dwellers to the modern age, people have had to find a way to dry their clothing. As far back as the Middle Ages, people would hang their clothing in the sun and wind to help dry them. Clothespins, invented in 1853, certainly helped.
The Invention of the Clothes Dryer
The first electric clothes dryer was invented in the late 1800s, though it wasn’t until the early 1920s that the first electric models were available for the home. The earliest models were called rotary electric clothes dryers, and functioned in much the same way as modern electric dryers.
The first gas dryer was also available in the 1920s. It used a gas burner to heat a drum, much like modern electric dryers use electricity to heat a drum. These dryers were expensive and not very energy efficient.
Modern Clothes Dryers
Modern day clothes dryers have been improved and have various features.
- Energy Efficiency: The latest models on the market are much more energy efficient, meaning that they use less electricity and gas, as well as emit less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Heat Settings: Heat settings have been improved in newer models, enabling the user to choose a higher temperature for items that require more heat for drying, such as bedding and towels.
- Cycle Lengths: The cycle lengths for clothes dryers allow users to dry multiple loads of laundry in one go, which can be very convenient.
- Delay Start: Many newer models offer a delay start feature that allows the user to set a time for the dryer to begin its cycle, allowing them to fit their drying needs into their schedule.
Modern day clothes dryers are a great convenience, saving both time and money for their owners.