Here’s Why You Should Air Dry Your Clothes
Doing the laundry isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but everyone has to do it. And while you are at it, you might as well do it properly. And even though using the dryer is undoubtedly easier, there are many reasons why air drying your clothes is the better option. This extra effort, as well as time, which come with drying your clothes hanging on clotheslines, comes with a lot of benefits.
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The Elements Will Protect Your Clothes
Most of us choose what we add to our wardrobe carefully. And for most of us, it isn’t only about style. The two other very important features that we look for are quality and comfort, which often come together. So, naturally, when you invest in quality clothes, which are often more expensive, it makes sense to want to keep them in good shape for as long as you want to wear them, or as long as possible. And aside from washing them properly, following instructions and with good quality detergent, air drying will also contribute to that.
While dryers have come a long way, putting your clothes in a machine can never be as gentle for them, as hanging them outside. What this means is that, if you air-dry your clothes, rather than dry them in a dryer, you are essentially prolonging their life, because exposure to the heat of the machine damages them slowly, or in some cases, it may ruin them quite fast.
However, it’s worth noting that there are certain clothes that shouldn’t be hang dried because they can stretch and lose their shape – like clothes made of heavy and stretchy materials like wool. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t air dry them but, instead of hanging them, you should lay them on a flat surface.
When you hang your clothes on washing lines, there are two things that help them dry – gravity and the weather, or more precisely the temperature, the wind and the sun. Shortly, because of gravity some of the water drips down, and because of the elements, the rest of the water evaporates thanks to the sun, and, when it distances sooner, thanks to the wind. This leaves your clothes dry and fresh. But there are several other reasons why the elements are good for your clothes.
When you use outdoor washing lines to hang your clothes, they will be exposed to the sun. In addition to drying them, the sun rays also disinfect the clothes. In fact, if you are a parent, you may have noticed that it is generally recommended to dry baby clothes in the sun, and this is one of the most important reasons why. All of this is important for a very simple reason – by disinfecting the clothes, you are protecting your baby’s gentle skin. And while children’s skin may be more sensitive than most adults’, disinfection is an important reason to start air drying. Moreover, white clothes that are drying in the sun are bleached out. In fact, in some cases, the sun helps you remove stains from the textile.
Other Reasons to Air Dry
Environmentally Friendlier
One of the most obvious reasons why you should stop using the dryer is that by air-drying your clothes you are helping the environment. This will not only help you reduce your carbon footprint, but it will also reduce textile waste – by making your clothes last longer. If you want to be even more environmentally responsible in regards to your clothes, you should buy clothes from responsible manufacturers and retailers, and you can also start using non-toxic detergents.
Save Money
Reducing the cost of doing the laundry can also be a good incentive to start air-drying your clothes. Namely, it eliminates the electricity costs and it keeps your clothes in good shape, which means that you won’t have to spend as much money on clothes.
Save Effort and Time
Another good thing about air drying is that, because there isn’t any tossing and tumbling, and because of the weight of the water and gravity, your clothes won’t have as many wrinkles, or they may even dry wrinkle-free. This means less ironing, which can save you a lot of time, as well as reduce the electricity bill.
Outdoor vs. Indoor Air Drying
Even though in some cases you may have to air dry your clothes indoors, there are many reasons why you should have outdoor washing lines. Not only will clothes dry faster, and get all the benefits from the elements, but outdoors hang drying is also better for your health. Namely, the vapour that comes out of your wet clothes, can cause health issues, such as respiratory problems and allergic reactions. Mould, bacteria, fungi and viruses can all thrive in humid environments.
In fact, fungal spores and mould can have a negative effect on people with weakened immune systems, as well as people with asthma, and dampness and mould are even considered to be linked to not only infections and allergies, but also even childhood asthma.
If, however, you have to hang dry your clothes indoors, make sure to do that in a well-ventilated room. Also, you should pick a room with low humidity and warm temperature, and preferably one exposed to light. Aside from the health concerns, cold, damp, unventilated rooms will only make for slower drying, as well as bed odours.
Moreover, if you can, avoid drying your clothes in the room where you are spending a lot of time, or the room where you are sleeping. If you don’t have a laundry room or an extra room, where you can add a clothesline, you may want to avoid indoor hang drying altogether.
