Laundry Dome

For some time now we have been researching and developing a solution to a simple everyday lifestyle problem. Everyone knows that drying your laundry outside using a rotary washing line is cheaper, more environmentally friendly (and fresher!) than using an electric tumble dryer.

But what if it rains while you’re out? 

LaundryDome™ is designed to solve the problem. A new type of umbrella, it attaches to your existing rotary washing line to protect your washing from the rain. LaundryDome™ allows you to continue drying your laundry on a cloudy day and even when it rains! What’s more, it dries your washing quickly and with zero energy cost!

After several prototypes, the design now has a patent pending and is pretty much ready to launch. Designed to reduce our impact on the planet, we believe this eco-friendly device has the potential to significantly reduce your energy costs by reducing or negating the use of energy-hungry electric tumble dryers – and consequently CO2 emissions. What’s more, we believe it will also save money! Here’s a quote from Ideal Home Magazine 2024 – “An example 9kg vented tumble dryer uses 5.34 kWh for a full load cycle and approx. 636 kWh over a year (if you use your dryer around two times a week). This means that this vented tumble dryer costs £1.34 per cycle and £159 per year on average.”

 Overview

Designed by our very own “Chief Umbrollogist”, Rob McAlister, LaundryDome™ is supplied with a universal adjustable clamp that fits quickly and easily to the shaft of your existing rotary clothes airer. Made from a UV-stabilized clear transparent vented canopy cover, it also has a zip-detachable wrap-around heat-trapping side curtain. You can choose to use the umbrella without the side curtain and it will help keep the rain off your laundry.

Or you can zip on the clear wrap-around side curtain which creates a kind of micro climate, increases the temperature and speeds up the drying process further. Just like a greenhouse, it captures the energy of the sun’s rays warming the air inside. This warm air removes moisture from the wet clothes escaping through the overlapping canopy vents or condensing on the inner surface of the side curtain.

Various designs have now been prototyped and tested. The product works well and is now essentially ready to move to final design stage then on to production and be introduced to the market. We are excited about this project because we believe that LaundryDome™ is a simple, practical product that will make a difference. For the first time, you can put your washing out and not have to worry about the weather. No more stress about the rain – just “hang ’n go!”

You can save money and help save the planet by not having to use your tumble dryer. Electric tumble dryers are expensive to run and carry a high carbon footprint. This new product will enable washing to be dried outside even in the rain at zero energy cost, using the power of nature only.

How big is it? The standard LaundryDome has a rib length of approx. 160cm (open diameter span of approx. 300cm). It’s big enough to cover square shaped rotary clothes airers up to  a size of 175cm x 175cm, which accounts for the vast majority in the market. Note: if you have any doubts you should check and measure your rotary washing line before proceeding to purchase.

LaundryDome™ FAQ

1. Is it just the umbrella dome or is the whole washing line included?
2. LaundryDome™ fits to your existing rotary washing line.

1. How does purchase cost compare to cost of using a tumble dryer?
2. “An example 9kg vented tumble dryer uses 5.34 kWh for a full load cycle and approx. 636 kWh over a year (if you use your dryer around two times a week). This means that this vented tumble dryer costs £1.34 per cycle and £159 per year on average.” – Ideal Home Magazine 2024.

1. Is it meant for autumn/spring type temperatures?
2. You can use LaundryDome™ all year round. You can use it to just keep rain off – just unzip the side curtain and use with umbrella only.

1. How do you get into it when raining? Zip, Velcro? Is the curtain in sections or is it one curtain all round?
2. Just the one wrap-around side curtain, which attaches to the canopy with a zip. Zips all the way round but also has a vertical zip too for easy access.

1. How big is it?
2. The standard LaundryDome has a rib length of approx. 160cm (open diameter span of approx. 300cm). It’s big enough to cover square shaped rotary clothes airers up to  a size of 175cm x 175cm, which accounts for the vast majority in the market. Note: if you have any doubts you should check and measure your rotary washing line before proceeding to purchase.

1. How do you fit it?
2. Attach the clamp (included) by tightening the wing nuts so that the clamp’s umbrella retaining tube is above the top of your rotary washing line. Open the umbrella, unscrewing and removing its lower pole section. Insert the umbrella’s shortened pole into the clamp tube and tighten the thumbwheel to secure.

1. Where/how do you store it when not in use. Do people leave these out all year or take them in?
2. It’s up to you. We think most people will leave the clamp attached to the rotary washing line and just remove the umbrella when not in use. Store it in your garage or shed.

1. What about the wind?
2. Like all umbrellas there are limits! You shouldn’t use it if the wind is strong enough to cause it when clamped to lift your rotary washing line out of its holder.

1. How durable are they?
2. LaundryDome™ is made from strong, high-quality materials designed to last for many years.

Tests have shown that with internal temperatures inside the LaundryDome significantly higher than the outside, your laundry can dry quicker than if  left on a line or clotheshorse.
Other benefits: It should help reduce the amount of pollution, soot, pollen and other allergens that can settle on your laundry whilst drying outside – also stops bird poop! And remember, drying outside has a sanitizing effect – the sun’s ultraviolet rays will kill off germs and bacteria on your laundry.