5 Pro Tips For Air-Drying Your Laundry
Air drying is beneficial for various reasons. It is effective, cheap, great for preserving the quality of clothes, and, by far, the best option for the environment. According to American Two Shot, sun exposure kills the germs in your clothes and bleaches them naturally, which is excellent for your whites. It is also undeniably pleasant to hang up freshly washed clothes on a clothesline and bring them back in after they've been gently dried by sunshine and air.
Per the expert laundry site, it can take anywhere between a few hours and a day to completely air-dry clothes, depending on their material and if you're drying them in or outside the house. To get the best results, you need to know how to treat your different items and the best way to air-dry them. Ready to ditch your dryer? Here are five pro tips for air-drying your laundry to guide you through the whole process.
1. Plan your wash day
When you do laundry with a washing machine and a dryer, it can be wash day pretty much any day and any time. However, wash day needs to be more intentional if you'll be air-drying outside. According to American Two Shot, you need to consider factors such as the size of your load, the weather, and the types of fabrics you have.
It's important to take note of the number of items you're washing because your articles should have more than enough space while drying on the line. Small loads, especially when drying indoors, are best so that the line or rack isn't overcrowded. This also connects to the weather because you don't want to dry your whole closet for days during a cold season. When you're ready to wash, check the weather first to see if it will be wise to have clothes out, says American Two Shot.
2. Hang them the right way
Hang up your clothes strategically to preserve their quality as much as possible. Instead of folding everything over the line, hang them the other way from how they are worn to prevent denting from the clothespins and the line, advises The 104 Homestead. Dresses and tops should be hung from the bottom hem, while pants should be hung from the waistband.
Another tip for hanging clothes correctly is to turn them inside out. In The Wash recommends doing this because it protects them from the sun's UV rays, which can cause the colors to fade. This is especially necessary for dark-colored items. Are you air-drying indoors? Your clothes, especially the thick or stretchy knits, will dry faster and maintain their quality when spread out on a flat surface with enough space between pieces, via Rinse. Hanging them near a fan, air conditioner, or window will help clothes dry quickly and prevent mold.
3. Use hangers
Another pro-tip for air-drying your laundry is to use hangers on the clothesline for special items. Tops or delicate pieces like undershirts can be put on hangers so they can dry without wrinkles and lines. A sock drying rack functions similarly to a hanger and can be used to dry not only socks but underwear and other small items. This helps to keep things organized because they won't get lost as easily. If you're drying clothes inside, hangers help thick items like jeans dry better because air can pass through easily when they're not folded over. via wikiHow.
Using hangers is also a great way to save room. When you have many things to dry, hangers will help you maximize the limited horizontal space that the line has. Hangers make it easy to take advantage of all the indoor spots, like the shower rod and the curtain rod.
4. Get the right tools
In addition to hangers, there are various tools that will completely transform your air-drying process for the better. Cotton clotheslines, for example, won't retain dirt like those made of plastic or nylon, so you can opt for that material to make it easier to clean the lines, via The 104 Homestead. Wooden clothespins or pegs are better than plastic ones because they can hold more weight — solid maple hardwood pins with non-rusting wires are the best kind. If you want an alternative to wood, opt for stainless steel because it won't rust, per Garden Gate Review.
If you're air-drying inside, items like a retractable clothesline or a drying rack that can be mounted on the wall will help you save space. Portable racks hanging on doors and other rods in the house will also go a long way. You're saving a lot on utility bills and avoiding other problems by not using a dryer, so invest in quality tools that will improve your air-drying experience!
5. Keep everything clean
This is an excellent pro-tip for air-drying your laundry because it's common to get stains on freshly washed clothes from a dirty line or pegs. To avoid this, wipe the line properly before hanging up your clothes. The Organised Housewife recommends wiping with a dry cloth first and then with a sponge soaked in warm water and detergent.
The clothespins leave all sorts of marks on your clothes because they usually sit outside exposed to the elements. Wipe them down regularly and make sure they are clean whenever it's time to use them. A better hack is to stop leaving them outdoors and keep them in a container when they aren't being used. This is especially good for wooden pins because they can rot if left outside for too long. The 104 Homestead recommends an apron with pockets to hold the pegs so they can easily be carried around.