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The Benefits of Air Drying Clothes
Imagine a world where your clothes are preserved for far longer, your energy bills are lower, and you contribute to a greener planet.
This dream can become a reality with a simple change in your laundry routine: by simply air drying your clothes.
From preserving fabric quality and appearance -- even improving your health.
The list of pros definitely outweigh the cons!
Short Summary
Air drying clothes offers numerous environmental and energy benefits, as well as economic savings.
It can help maintain fabric quality and appearance while reducing chemical exposure for a healthier lifestyle.
Sunlight has natural sanitising properties which make air drying an effective choice for cleanliness.
Topics in This Article:
Environmental and Energy Advantages of Air Drying
As the everyone becomes more conscious of their environmental impact, air drying clothes emerges as an eco-friendly and energy-efficient alternative to using a clothes dryer.
By line drying your garments, you significantly reduce energy consumption, decrease carbon emissions, and preserve valuable resources.
Plus, who wouldn't enjoy the fresh, natural scent that comes with air-dried clothes?
Reducing Energy Consumption
Did you know that air drying clothes can yield considerable energy savings compared to using a clothes dryer?
Many households of Aussies have a gas or electric dryer, the simple act of hanging your clothes to dry can save energy and money on your energy bills.
By opting for line drying, you're not only being kind to your wallet, but also to the environment.
Lower Carbon Footprint and Conserving Resources
Air drying clothes can significantly reduce the average household's carbon footprint by a staggering 1,088 kilograms a year.
Factors such as location, weather conditions, and fabric type can influence the carbon footprint of air drying clothes.
Clothes dryers can account for up to 6% of a household's total energy consumption -- making hanging clean laundry a more sustainable option.
Extended Clothing Lifespan
Air drying clothing can help extend their lifespan by reducing wear and tear caused by machine drying and preserving clothing fibres.
According to research, after only 20 cycles of washing and tumble drying clothes, the fabric already loses about 50 percent of its tensile strength!
By opting for air drying, you're not only saving money on your energy bills, but also protecting your wardrobe investments.
Preserving Fabric Quality and Appearance
The benefits of air drying garments don't stop at just the environment and your wallet.
Air drying can also help preserve the quality and appearance of your clothes by preventing shrinkage, fading, wear and tear, etc.
Have you tried cleaning out your dryer's lint filter? Now imagine how much fibre gets removed from your garments with every drying cycle.
So, the next time you think about tossing your favorite outfit into the dryer, consider the advantages of air drying instead.
Preventing Shrinkage
We've all experienced the disappointment of finding our favorite shirt or pair of jeans shrunk after a tumble in the dryer.
Air drying clothes can help to avoid shrinkage in a tumble dryer which is mainly caused by high heat exposure.
To minimise shrinkage, it's recommended by most manufacturers to to air dry clothing constructed of cotton or other natural fabrics.
Adhering to the washing instructions on the care labels, and hanging garments on a clothesline or drying rack in a well-ventilated space will help you avoid this issue.
Avoiding Fading
Air drying clothes does not always result in fading, however, exposing clothes to sunlight just to eek out every bit of excess moisture could potentially cause fading of fabrics.
To preserve colour when air drying clothes, avoid direct sunlight and use a clothesline that is in the shade or at least indoors to keep the pigments from being bombarded with UV rays.
Using a color-safe detergent and washing clothes in cold water can help you in the long run.
Maximising Space and Efficiency with Indoor Drying Racks
Indoor drying racks can be a game-changer when it comes to indoor clothes drying.
They offer enhanced space utilisation and efficiency as well as adequate air flow for air drying indoors.
From choosing the right rack to maximising space and ensuring proper air circulation, let's dive into how you can make the most of indoor drying racks.
Choosing the Right Clothes Drying Rack
Selecting the right indoor drying rack involves considering factors such as size, portability, material, drop-down height, and the amount of laundry to be processed.
Whether you opt for a metal, wood, or plastic rack, it's essential to choose a clothing rack that suits your needs and space constraints.
A shower curtain rod will work if you are living alone but for a couple or those of your starting a family, you need a lot more than that.
Maximising Space
To maximise space when air drying clothes, use hangers to dry delicate pieces and hang clothes vertically to avoid wrinkles.
For stretchy garments like sweaters or leggings, laying them flat on a drying rack can help maintain their shape.
If you have plenty of laundry to dry, lay sweaters over two rods instead of the whole top of the rack, do the same for towels and other delicate items so they dry faster.
Ensuring Proper Air Circulation
Proper air circulation is key to effectively air drying clothes, use the dry air from outdoors to your advantage if possible.
To achieve maximum airflow, hang laundry in a manner that allows for maximum air circulation, such as in a single layer or in a way that facilitates air to pass through.
When air drying clothes with a fan or dehumidifier, position them near the clothes to facilitate air circulation and decrease humidity level in the laundry room.
Our Most Recommended Clothes Drying Racks
Below are some of the most popular and highly-rated clothes drying racks you can find in Australia.
We've included only the best-rated ones with the highest possible reliability ratings.
These are also the top picks of our clothesline experts, have a look at them below to find out which ones will perfectly suit your needs!
Portable Clothes Drying Racks:
Sunchaser Mobile Airer
A portable behemoth you can use anywhere. Large enough for big families and can rival the capacity of wall mounted clotheslines.
EcoDry Portable
The ultimate portable clothes drying rack.
101% Aussie made, lightweight, built to last and was engineered for ease of use.
Hills Portable 170
Made by the legendary brand, Hills, this heavy-duty portable drying rack has plenty of room and designed with reliability in mind.
Fold Down Clothes Drying Racks:
Eco 300
The purely Aussie engineered and built Eco brand is not to be trifled with when it comes to durability and value.
Austral Addaline 35
Proudly designed and built in Australia, the Addaline 35 has a reputation for both being reliable and economical.
Hills Double
Another Hills heavyweight champion, this variable-capacity fold down clothesline saves space yet roomy enough for all your needs.
Outdoor Clothesline Tips and Techniques
Outdoor clotheslines can be a great addition to your air drying routine, but there are some tips and techniques to consider for optimal results when hanging clothes on a sunny day.
From setting up a clothesline to hanging clothes for optimal drying and considering weather conditions, let's explore how you can make the most of your outdoor clothesline.
Hanging Clothes for Optimal Drying
To ensure optimal drying of clothes on an outdoor clothesline, leave a one-inch gap between items for proper airflow.
Shake out items prior to hanging to remove excess water and prevent wrinkles; hang clothes in an area that provides ample air circulation.
By hanging your wet laundry properly, you'll enjoy fresh, dry clothes in no time.
Weather Considerations
Capitalise on sunny and windy days by hanging clothes out early in the day to ensure they have ample time to dry before sundown.
If the climate is humid, use a dehumidifier or electric fan to promote air circulation when you dry laundry indoors.
It's a good idea to use hyperlocal, minute-by-minute weather forecasts to guarantee that you won't end up with rain-drenched clothes in case you go out for errands or fall asleep.
Overcoming Common Challenges of Air Drying
Air drying clothes can come with its fair share of challenges, but they can be easily overcome with a few simple strategies.
In this section, we'll explore how to deal with stiffness and manage wrinkles.
We'll also help you handle humidity and dampness so you can confidently air dry your laundry without worry.
Stiffness can be a common issue when air drying clothes.
To combat this, you can add a fabric softener to the rinse cycle or use a fabric softener sheet in the dryer.
But if you want a natural and eco-friendly way to soften clothes while making them look brighter, we recommend distilled white vinegar.
Dealing with Stiffness
Stiffness in air-dried clothes can be prevented by shaking the fabric fresh out of the washing machine to fluff up its fibers and keep it from clinging to itself.
Additionally, using a low-sudsing detergent and setting the dryer to a low heat setting can help reduce stiffness.
As mentioned, using white vinegar in the rinse cycle can also facilitate the softening of fabrics and decrease their stiffness.
It may also be caused by hard water, if you notice hard water stains on your dishes or bathroom, maybe it's time to consider getting a water softening system.
Handling Humidity and Dampness
Managing humidity and dampness when air drying clothes involves selecting a space with good air circulation or utilising a dehumidifier.
Choosing a well-ventilated area or utilising a dehumidifier can help reduce humidity and dampness in the air, thus preventing the formation of mold and mildew on clothes.
By taking these steps, you can ensure your air-dried clothes remain fresh and free from dampness and prevents mould growth inside your home.
The Health Benefits of Air Drying Clothes
Air drying your clothes isn't just good for your wallet, the environment, and your wardrobe – it's also beneficial for your health.
Reduced chemical exposure and the natural sanitising effects of sunlight are just some of the health advantages of air drying your laundry.
Let's explore these benefits in more detail.
Natural Sanitising Effects of Sunlight
Sunlight possesses natural sanitising effects on clothes, as the UV rays and infrared heat in sunlight can effectively eliminate bacteria and reduce microbial loads.
Sunlight also helps whiten your laundry without having to deal with harsh chemicals like bleach or chlorine.
So, not only does air drying your clothes save energy and protect your garments, but it also helps keep them clean and sanitary.
Less Potential Allergens Indoors
Omitting tumble drying from the equation means less unwanted fibres, dander, and dust in the air.
This results in your indoor space being a lot cleaner and safe for those of your suffering from allergies.
It also means less costly servicing required on your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Words
In conclusion, air drying clothes offers a wealth of benefits for you, your clothes, and the environment.
From reducing energy consumption and lowering your carbon footprint to preserving fabric quality and appearance -- even improving your health.
The advantages of air drying are clear and the extra time required to do this process far outweighs the cons of using anelectric dryer.
So, the next time you're faced with a load of laundry, consider giving your clothes dryer a break!
Embrace the simple, eco-friendly, and cost-effective practice of air drying clothes!
If you wanna find out about the best and most recommended clothes drying racks, please check out this article.
