Let’s face it – doing laundry isn’t exactly the most exciting chore, but how you dry your clothes can make a big difference!
Tumble dryers are convenient, but they come with quite a few downsides too. However, air-drying your laundry is one of those simple swaps you can make that’s better for your clothes, your wallet, and even the planet.
Whether you hang your laundry outside on a washing line on a sunny day or use an airer indoors, drying your clothes without a tumble dryer is an easy, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly chore that comes with a tonne of benefits.
In this post, we’ll help you do your laundry like a pro! We’ll break down all the benefits of air-drying your laundry, explore different ways to dry your clothes indoors and outdoors, and share tips to make it as hassle-free as possible. Plus, if you’re interested in how to dry clothes fast, we share our top five tips to help you speed through your laundry.
Benefits of air-drying clothes
Air-drying your laundry offers numerous benefits for your wardrobe, wallet, and the environment. Here are the key advantages as to why you should air-dry your clothes:
1. Energy and cost savings
Air-drying your laundry eliminates the energy consumed by tumble dryers, which also helps to reduce your utility bills. Air-drying also reduces wear and tear on your tumble dryer, as you’ll use it less often, which can help to extend its lifespan.
2. Environmental impact
Using your tumble dryer less reduces your household energy consumption, meaning fewer greenhouse gas emissions. and helps you contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. This is especially important in areas where electricity is generated from non-renewable sources.
3. Prolongs clothing life
Heat and tumbling in dryers can weaken the fibres in your clothes, causing shrinkage, fading, and wear. Air-drying helps to maintain the original fit, structure and condition of your clothes – particularly for delicate or stretchy items.
4. Enhances freshness
Did you know that sunlight helps kill bacteria and eliminates odors naturally? Clothes dried outdoors often have a pleasant, fresh smell due to exposure to open air and sunshine.
5. Reduces wrinkles
Hanging clothes properly can reduce the need for ironing, since gravity pulls out any wrinkles during drying. Tumble dryers, on the other hand, often add wrinkles into your clothes through the combination of heat and movement.
6. Prevents static cling
Without the artificial heat and movement of a tumble dryer, clothes are less likely to develop static electricity. Static cling is known to stick clothes together and damage delicate fabrics.
7. Health benefits
Drying your clothes naturally can have numerous health benefits, including fewer allergens and less chemical usage. Sunlight’s UV rays can kill dust mites and mold spores, making air-drying ideal for people with allergies, and natural drying removes the need for dryer sheets or fabric softeners that may contain harmful chemicals.
8. Quiet and low-maintenance
Air-drying your laundry doesn’t involve noisy machinery or constant attention, making it a peaceful and low-maintenance alternative to tumble drying.
9. Versatility
Air-drying can be done indoors or outdoors, making it adaptable to various living situations and space constraints – meaning everyone can do it, with the right tools.
How to dry clothes outdoors
Curious about all the different ways you can dry your clothes outside? Here’s three different ways you can reap the benefits of air-drying your laundry outside:
1. Traditional washing lines
The most common way to dry your clothes outdoors is by using a traditional washing line. A traditional washing line is simply a fixed line, often a PVC washing line or one made from natural rope, such as cotton or jute, that stays outside all year-round.
Not sure on natural vs washing lines? Don’t worry, we have you covered.
Traditional washing lines are cost-effective, great for large loads of laundry, and require no additional equipment. The only downside to traditional washing lines is that they generally take up a large portion of your outdoor space, when in use.
Tips for using a traditional washing line
- Install the washing line at a height that ensures clothes don’t touch the ground.
- Consider line tension to prevent the washing line from sagging – we have a whole post on how to keep your washing line tight, if you need advice.
- Use quality clothes pegs to avoid your laundry slipping from the line.
- Invest in a line prop, to help you raise and drop the washing line when needed.
2. Retractable washing lines
Retractable washing lines are the modernised version of their traditional counterpart – a compact and flexible washing line that can be extended when needed, and retracted when not in use.
Retractable washing lines are ideal for small outdoor spaces or balconies, as they save space and are incredibly easy to install. However, retractable lines often have a limited load capacity, compared to traditional ones.
Tips for using a retractable washing line
- Choose a sturdy, weather-resistant model for outdoor use.
- Mount it securely to avoid the line sagging under heavier loads.
- Use quality clothes pegs to avoid your laundry slipping from the line.
3. Rotary clothes lines
A rotary clothes line is a circular structure that has lines across different sections, attached to a rotating pole. The structure is often a one-time investment, and you purchase replacement rotary lines when needed – we have a guide on how to string a rotary washing line, if you need it.
Rotary clothes lines are great for accommodating large loads of laundry in a compact space, as they rotate for easy access and dry your clothes evenly. Rotary lines are a permanent structure in your garden though, requiring a decent amount of your outdoor space.
Tips for using a rotary clothes line
- Anchor the structure securely to the ground for stability.
- Consider foldable models for easier storage when not in use.
- Line tension should be considered to prevent the lines from sagging over time.
- Use quality clothes pegs to avoid your laundry slipping from the line.
How to dry clothes indoors
If you don’t have the outdoor space, or dependable weather, to dry your clothes outside then fear not! Drying laundry indoors is incredibly easy to do – without a tumble dryer. Here are six ways you can avoid using the dryer and dry your laundry inside:
1. Victorian ceiling airers
Victorian ceiling airers are ceiling-mounted systems with pulley lines that allow clothes to be raised and lowered for drying indoors.
These systems are ideal for homes with high ceilings, especially in colder or wetter climates, as they maximise vertical space and are incredibly effective in well-ventilated areas. However, they are a permanent installation in your home and can be finicky to install.
Tips for using a Victorian ceiling airer
- Position your airer near a heat source, dehumidifier or in a breezy area for faster drying.
- Use lightweight clothes for quicker drying times.
- Avoid overcrowding the airer or putting too much weight onto it.
2. Concertina clothes airers
A concertina clothes airer, also known as a clothes horse or maiden, is a foldable rack with multiple levels for drying clothes indoors (though they can be placed outdoors, too).
Concertina clothes airers are ideal for small homes or apartments with limited indoor or outdoor drying space, as they’re portable, collapsible and easy to store. However, this also means that they do have smaller drying capacity.
Tips for using a concertina clothes airer
- Position your airer near a heat source, dehumidifier or in a breezy area for faster drying.
- Use lightweight clothes for quicker drying times.
- Avoid overcrowding the airer or putting too much weight onto it.
3. Heated clothes airers
A heated clothes airer is a modernised version of the concertina – a compact drying rack equipped with heated bars or panels that gently warm your clothes to speed up the drying process.
Like concertina airers, heated clothes airers are portable, collapsible and easy to store – making them perfect for small spaces – along with being far more energy-efficient than tumble dryers. They can, however, be quite an expensive purchase and could increase your electricity costs to use them, along with having limited drying space.
Tips for using a heated clothes airer
- Position your airer in a well-ventilated space or near a dehumidifier, to prevent moisture build up.
- Use a cover to trap the heat and accelerate drying time.
- Monitor drying time to prevent over-usage and overheating.
- Use lightweight clothes for quicker drying times.
- Avoid overcrowding the airer or putting too much weight onto it.
4. Radiator drying rails
Radiator drying rails are small, attachable racks designed to hang over a radiator, utilising the heat it emits to dry clothes quickly.
These rails are compact, portable, and easy to install, making them a convenient option for drying smaller laundry loads indoors when space is limited for other options – especially during the colder months when your radiators are already on. The downside to radiator drying rails, though, is that they can only handle small loads at a time and can block heat from spreading around your home.
Tips for using radiator drying rails
- Position your dehumidifier near the radiator or open your windows, to prevent moisture build up.
- Place a cloth or towel in between your radiator and laundry to minimise direct heat exposure.
- Use low to moderate heat to prevent overheating and potential fabric damage.
- Avoid overcrowding the rail to ensure even drying.
- Use lightweight clothes for quicker drying times.
5. Over-the-door drying racks
Over-the-door drying racks are foldable or fixed racks that hang on the top of a door, providing a convenient and compact space for air-drying clothes indoors.
These racks are ideal in small spaces where floor space is limited, utilising vertical space, and can be portable or incredibly easy to install. However, over-the-door drying racks can only accommodate very small loads, may dry clothes more slowly, and can damage your doors.
Tips for using over-the-door drying racks
- Protect the door, by using padding or rubber protectors on the hooks, to prevent scratches or dents.
- Test whether the door can open and close smoothly before loading the rack.
- Position your rack in a well-ventilated room or near a dehumidifier, to prevent moisture build up and speed up drying.
- Use lightweight clothes for quicker drying times and less risk of door damage.
- Avoid overcrowding the rack to ensure even drying.
6. Hang drying
Hang drying is an easy way to air-dry your laundry. Leave it on a clothes hanger – simple!
Hang drying can be done indoors and outdoors, and is incredibly gentle on your clothes. However, you are limited by how much hanging space you have, and how many clothes hangers you have.
Tips for hang drying
- Shake out the clothes before hanging, to reduce wrinkles.
- Use quality clothes hangers to prevent your laundry from slipping off.
- Position your clothes in a well-ventilated room or near a dehumidifier, to prevent moisture build-up and speed up drying.
- Protect surfaces you are hanging on by using padding or rubber protectors.
How to dry clothes fast
Need to dry your laundry fast? Here are our top five tips for speeding up your drying process:
- If drying indoors, use well-ventilated areas or a dehumidifier.
- If drying outdoors, make the most of sunny, windy days.
- Avoid overloading your airers or washing lines.
- Combine different methods to get through laundry faster.
- Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water.
When it comes to washing lines, we truly know our stuff. In fact, James Lever pioneered the introduction of PVC washing lines to the UK in the 1960s, and our Everlasto range has been the leading brand ever since. Want to learn more about our products? Get in touch with our friendly team or check out additional resources on our blog.