B2 Washing clothes and bedding
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 uses a large amount of energy.
Design and specification
Ensure:
- there is an outdoor clothes drying area that is easily accessible from the house.
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 clothes lines in 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 moving parts
- providing a slip resistant concrete path or paving to, and around, the clothes line to prevent ground erosion and improve access to the line
- providing lighting to the path and to the drying area
- 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.
Quality control
During construction and before making the final payment, check that:
- the clothes line is installed where specified
- the clothes line is securely fixed in the ground or to a wall
- the paths to and around the clothes line are accessible
- the clothes lines have been tensioned.
Maintenance
As part of cyclical maintenance:
- check that clothes lines are functioning
- tighten loose lines
- replace rusted or broken lines
- repair or clean path to clothes line.
| Drying clothes and bedding | Percentage of houses | Total houses surveyed |
|---|---|---|
| Area available and secure for drying clothes | ||
| No fenced yard | 31% | 3,661 |
| Yard area at least 900 square metres | 37% | 3,661 |
| Yard area less than 900 square metres | 33% | 3661 |
| Functional yard fence and gates | 41% | 2,952 |
| Weather conditions suitable for drying clothes at time of survey | ||
| Fine and sunny | 69% | 3,660 |
| Cloudy or rain | 26% | 3,660 |
| Strong winds | 2% | 3,660 |
| Areas around the house able to be used for drying clothes | ||
| No verandah | 16% | 3,661 |
| Verandah on one side of the house | 30% | 3,661 |
| Verandah on two sides of the house | 35% | 3,661 |
| Verandah on three sides of the house | 10% | 3,661 |
| Verandah on four sides of the house | 8% | 3,661 |
Note: This data focuses on access to drying areas that are currently available in the surveyed houses; there are no survey data on the availability of clothes lines.
Standards and references
Pholeros, P 1991, AP Design Guide, Building for Health on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands, Nganampa Health Council Inc., Alice Springs, p. 35.