The Greenest Way to Dry Your Clothes

Is It Better to Air-Dry Your Clothes?

It’s pretty clear that air-drying your clothes is better for your clothes and for the Earth. A dryer slowly destroys clothes by loosening the fabric. You see the toll drying takes on clothes every time you empty the lint trap.

You can save money with air-drying and help the environment. Your dryer typically ranks in the top four appliances that use the most energy. According to Silicon Valley Power, a dryer typically costs between 28 and 44 cents a load depending on how big a load you’re drying. Dryers also need regular cleaning to prevent lint buildup, which decreases its effectiveness.

Check out the things you never knew your dryer could do.

Outdoor Air-Drying Factors

There are some things to consider before air-drying clothes. Naturally, check the forecast to avoid rain. You also need to factor in humidity, because the more humid it is, the longer it will take clothes to dry. If it’s humid AND cold, it’s probably best to air-dry your clothes indoors. In climates where it routinely dips below freezing in the winter, stick with the dryer until the weather warms up.

Best Way to Dry Clothes Indoors

Air drying your clothes outdoors will help soften clothes and combat the crispness issue that can surface when you air-dry clothes indoors. If you plan to air-dry clothes inside, here are some tips:

• Wash clothes in the morning to maximize time for your clothes to dry.
• Space out your clothes on the drying rack so they’re not touching each other. Putting clothes on hangers helps.
• Put your drying rack in the sunniest and breeziest place of your home for faster drying results.

Air-Drying Without a Clothesline

If you don’t have a clothesline, or live somewhere where stringing one is impractical, you can still air-dry clothes. You just need to get more creative. There are several options available.

Find a Clothes Drying Rack

There are a variety of drying racks sold at retailers, like this Walmart clothes rack or this Target drying rack.

Wall-Mounted Drying Racks

You could always try adding a wall-mounted drying rack to your laundry room to save on space. Amazon has several types of wall-mounted drying racks.