Benefits of hang drying clothes
Hang drying laundry is gentler on your clothes than the heat from a clothes dryer. Although it's not as convenient as tossing clothes into the dryer, hang drying helps your clothes maintain their shape and prolongs their lifespan.
Plus, did you know that a dryer uses more energy per use than any other home appliance? By hang drying laundry when you can, you can save energy and save money on your electricity bill.
Hang dry outside if possible
The best place to hang dry laundry is outside. But before you do, check with your municipality and/or strata. Many have restrictions on outdoor clothes lines or racks. If these don't apply to you, then hang dry outside during warm, dry days.
Tips for hang drying laundry indoors
If you're hanging laundry to dry indoors – especially during the winter – be mindful that it can create moisture and condensation, similar to when you’re showering or cooking. The best way to remove any moisture is with a fan that ventilates to the outdoors, like a bathroom or kitchen fan.
Follow these tips to create optimal hang drying conditions indoors.
- Choose the best ventilated place in your home. During fall and winter, this will be near a ventilation fan, most likely in your bathroom. In spring and summer, hang it right by a window (ideally a sunny one) that can be opened slightly.
- Avoid enclosed and unventilated rooms. Don't hang dry laundry in enclosed an enclosed room, like a bedroom, or areas without ventilation, like closets.
- Wash earlier in the day. Do your laundry first thing in the morning so that your clothes can dry during the day when most homes are warmer.
- Be strategic. Large or bulky items like sheets and quilt covers are often going to be too big to hang indoors. These are better to be hung outdoors, or go in the dryer.
- Make plenty of room. Leave plenty of space between items to allow air to flow between items, and help them dry quicker.
- Don't hang laundry on your heater or radiators. Hanging clothes on or near heaters or radiators creates humid air that will condense on your walls.
- Use coat hangers. Putting as many items as possible on coat hangers will help air to circulate around both sides of the fabric, prevent creases, and make it a breeze to hang them back in the closet when they're dry.
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