The Pros and Cons of Air Drying Your Clothes
Pro: When you do not use a dryer, you save money in electricity
According to consumerenergycenter.org, after the refrigerator, the dryer can be the second largest electric consuming appliance in your home. Depending on how many times you load your dryer, you can spend quite a bit of money over the lifetime of the appliance. Fresh air is free, so if you have the opportunity, you might want to take advantage of it.
Con: Your towels can get stiff...maybe
After washing some towels, I noticed that some felt stiff and rough against my skin while others were still soft. The newer towels, of different brands, stayed softer than the older ones. If you are going to air dry your towels, you may want to try it with new ones as opposed to your older ones to see if they can stay almost as fluffy as if you put them in the dryer.
Pro: Your clothes can stay in better condition
The lint that comes out of the dryer is debris and fibers from your clothing. All of that tumbling can also create wear on your clothes, especially if you are putting certain items in your dryer frequently. Letting the clothes air dry can increase the chances that the clothing is going to stay in better condition for longer.
Con: If you need the item right away, you are out of luck
The weather outside, even on the hottest days, will not dry your clothes right away. If you need the clothes immediately, you either have to bring it to a laundromat or find something else to wear. If you have a day where you want to wear a specific outfit, plan ahead of time so you give your clothes plenty of time to dry.
Pro: The smell of air-dried clothes is wonderful
I much prefer to go to sleep in clothes and on sheets that have dried in the fresh air than in and on those that have a fake smell. After my clothes go through the dryer there always seems to be an unnatural smell to them no matter what fabric softener I use.
Con: It takes more effort to air dry the clothes
Instead of getting the clothes out of the washer and tossing them in the dryer, I have to carry them outside and pin them onto the line. If you have little to no spare time, you may find yourself doing laundry much less. Instead of it taking two minutes, you may find yourself spending about fifteen to thirty minutes to set your clothes up to dry.
I much prefer to let the sun dry my clothes than to pay for a dryer to do it. Not only am I using up less electricity and doing some good for the environment, but my clothes smell fresher. Despite the cons, I plan on sticking with air-drying my laundry for the foreseeable future
Source: http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/dryers.html
Personal experience
Published by Lauren Romano - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Lauren is a freelance writer that predominantly writes about dating & relationships, celebrities, NYC, pets, decorating, crafts and fashion. She volunteers with animals and is grateful to have a job she... View profile
- 10 Tips Regarding the Pros and Cons of Being Your Own Boss10 Tips Regarding The Pros and Cons of Being Your Own Boss
Self-Defense Weapons: Pros and ConsThinking about a self-defense weapon? Before you buy one, make sure you know the pros and cons.
The Pros and Cons of Being Treated at a Teaching HospitalA teaching hospital is a hospital that affiliated with a university medical school and provides the clinical training of the medical students of that university. What follows ar...
The Pros and Cons of Print-On-Demand (POD) PublishingThe pros and cons of Print-On-Demand publishing depend on your mindset from the very beginning. If you are adverse to the idea of paying someone else to publish your book, it is...
Line Drying Your Clothes Enjoy the environmental benefits of drying laundry outside while also gaining a bit of solidarity, a tranquil moment all to yourself!
- The Pros and Cons of Getting A Gym Membership
- Quit Using the Dryer - Save Money by Airdrying Clothes
- Hybrid Car Pros and Cons
- Pros and Cons of Working as a Freelancer or Independent Consultant
- The Pros and Cons of Globalization
- Pros and Cons of Starting a Business with a Friend or Family Member
- Buying a Franchise: Pros and Cons
11 Comments
Post a CommentBy no choice of my own, I hung my clothes out for years. It wore them out, the towels got stringy, my jeans faded and my clothes were hard and wrinkled. Now, that once again I have a dryer,( going on 12 years now) my towels remain soft and cuddly, my t-shirts are soft and don't need ironing and all my clothes retain their color! I hate air dried clothes! They do smell good, but so do my soft dryer dried clothes, sheets and towels! So the myth of hanging your clothes out is just that, a romantic myth! I will gladly pay for the electric bill and not feel a bit guilty about it!
You could air dry your clothes indoors throughout the year, even if you think you don't have space for a drying rack.
Take a look at the unique Ceiling Drying Rack at http://www.airdry.org
AirDry does not need any floor space. It comprises of six rods that can be individually raised or lowered, and can accommodate a full load of laundry. Imagine how simple it will be to lower the rods and hang your damp laundry right out of the washing machine. Raise each rod and let the warm air trapped near the ceiling finish off the drying.
Nicely Written :)
I always use the clothes line. Clothes go right onto hangers and out the door. I love rough towels too Patricia, and air dried clothes smell great! Good topic choice LR, thanks:)
Actually, rough towels get you dryer and exfoliate. Another drawback to hanging out laundry, and I do it the very first day it's warm enough to, is that occasionally I bring in bugs. I have learned to shake the clothes out as I take them off the line.
'No dryer' is becoming a more popular lifestyle choice today. I've been a 'no dryer' for years.
I use my clothes line year round ~ the secret definitely is to plan ahead since it can day several days for clothes to dry in the winter. Nice pros and cons :)
This takes me back to the times as a kid when I helped my mother take clothes out to the line, and then back outside a few hours later to help her take them down. I think drying clothes outside, especially bed linens and towels, is a great idea. Thanks for covering a topic that is sure to aid others.
I actually enjoy using my "solar dryer," getting outside, standing in one place, looking around me. One thing I wonder about: is there a problem with the sun fading clothes? Of course, you give reasons that line-dried clothes would stay in better condition. Thanks for a thorough report.
I think that in today's economy, you're going to be seeing more and more old-fashioned clotheslines in backyards as people go back to basics. Great article - right on the money.