Not everyone has the time or place to sort out clothes and hang them to dry, I understand that. But what if I were to tell you that simply reducing the load on your dryer each cycle would not only save you money, but would also ensure that your clothes would last longer while making an impact on the environment?
Keep reading and all secrets will be revealed…
Why You Should Be Air-Drying Your Clothes After Every Wash: Three Reasons to Change Your Cleaning Habits
1. Less items in the dryer, the shorter the cycle has to be.
Having the luxury of a dryer machine is definitely a plus when it comes to modern technology. But, what if instead of shoving it full of clothing items, and towels and such, we were to instead lighten the load so that you use less energy to only dry the essentials?
Here’s the TLDR: Less items to dry = Shorter dry cycle = Less money spent on electric for the dryer
The less items for the dryer to have to fully dry is best when it comes to power consumption, as well as overall use of the dryer.
I typically have two loads of laundry go through our washer each week, but because I air-dry so many clothing items I am able to only have one semi-full load of towels and undergarments go through the dryer each week.
Not only am I using less energy, I am warming my house up just a little less (keeping the thermostat accurate) , as well as saving money!
2. Saving you money in utility costs and more.
As a college student, I have found that being thrifty and frugal with my monthly living expenses has become a lifestyle now that I’ve been doing it for a few years.
And air-drying your clothes is no different. I’d rather save a few quarters at the laundromat instead!
By hanging up clothing items like shirts, jackets, pants, and certain undergarments, you’ll spend less on utility costs for running your dryer.
As stated above, the less items you put in the dryer = the less you have to run it = saved money on electricity to power it.
Think of it like this: The larger the appliance is, the more electricity it has to have in order to function.
So instead of shoving it full of items, just put the essentials! This would be items that you choose not to air-dry or wouldn’t benefit from air-drying.
In my weekly wash and dry, I put these items through the dryer (instead of air-drying): body towels, hand towels, socks, and underwear. Seriously, that’s it!
By selectively choosing what to air-dry and what to machine dry, you not only have the power to save electricity and money, but you are saving the investment of your clothing by preserving them longer!
3. To provide longevity to clothing items while preserving your initial investment.
If you want your clothing items to stay intact and vibrant for many years after the initial purchase, you’ll choose to air-dry them after every wash, and not machine dry them unless absolutely necessary!
I understand the joy of fresh clothing right out of the dryer, and the warmth it brings. But in reality, it’s not worth it if you want your clothes to last.
The #1 cause of clothing deterioration is friction, and you know what the dryer is? A friction machine!
Save your clothing from further wear by air-drying as much of it as you can! It’ll save pieces from shrinking, color fade, and the creation of flawed areas.
The items I air-dry every week are: All tops, all bottoms, and bras.
I’d rather spend the time hanging them all up to dry versus getting them shrunken or flawed in the dryer.
Here’s a helpful #eco-hack: hang the shirts on hangers that you use in your closet, so you don’t have to rehang them when they are dry!
If you are concerned about item stiffness after an air-dry, I would recommend shaking them out after they dry. Or if it’s really an issue, put them in the dryer for a 5-minute air-fluff. (But refraining from the second option is best!) I’ve had minimal issues with stiffness, so it probably won’t be a big issue for you either…
Saving your clothes and saving money shouldn’t be hard…
I know I can’t convert everyone to be as conscious about their laundry, but I hope that someone takes in this post and tries to adjust their habits, because I truly wouldn’t share this if I didn’t know that it was worth the time and effort.
If you are spending money on clothing as well as keeping said clothing items clean, wouldn’t you want to protect your investment while saving money on the maintenance?
It’s the same principle by washing your car and then letting it air-dry outside or by driving it home, if you really think about it…
How to get started with the air-drying journey:
It can be as simple as using your shower curtain rod as a hanging rack, or by purchasing a few foldable hanging items.
Make sure you have hangers that can hold wet clothing while they dry, as it makes the process much easier.
Although these are not necessary to start air-drying, these are the primary items I use to help ease the air-drying process:
A folding drying-rack and/or a rolling clothes rack
View examples below:
Honestly, anything that you can hang clothing on that has ample ventilation and circulation of air is perfect for air-drying. You don’t have to buy the fancy stuff to be eco-friendly!
I hope you have found the benefits of switching up your cleaning habits, and will take consideration to these tips and tricks next time you wash your clothes!
If you have any tips/advice/experience with air-drying that you’d want to share with everyone, we’d love to learn with you! Post it in the comments below!
