zlacker

>>taraka+(OP)
For the entirety of my life, we've hung or clothes to dry inside. No dryer. No, they don't smell bad. Yes, even with small kids in the household. No, there is no problem with mold. No, it doesn't take forever, I'd estimate twelve hours most of the year, depending on how fast you spun them (typically 1200+ rpm).

Yes, the evaporating cools down the room, though I can't say I ever noticed it. In terms of energy efficiency compared to a dryer, it's much better in summer, and not much better in winter, though you get a humidifier as a freeby.

Yes, it's a chore, a full load takes about ten minutes to hang, and it's real boring work.

>>morsch+13
> Yes, the evaporating cools down the room, though I can't say I ever noticed it.

How does adding latent heat reduce the sensible heat? Are the clothes washed in very cold water?

>>hn_go_+3e
Water evaporating absorbs energy - the transition from liquid to gas takes more energy than changing the temperature of the water, so drying the clothes is a net reduction of energy in the surrounding air.

It relies on the air not being saturated (and for real effectiveness, requires relatively low humidity). It's quite popular in dry climates in the form of a "swamp cooler".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporative_cooler