3 Benefits of Drying Your Laundry on a Clothesline

source: bestlifeonline.com

Although I do love technology, I still believe that our lives can go on perfectly fine without many of the electronic appliances and gadgets we use on a daily basis. Especially, when nature already provides us with a free, eco-friendly alternative to the same things. Case in point – dryers.

Dryers have become a ubiquitous part of Australian households over the years, despite their downsides like being energy-draining and the tendency to cause fires. But being accustomed to having an instant solution for most of our problems, many people simply don’t have the patience to hang their laundry on a clothesline and wait for it to dry out naturally. So often, dryers are the preferred option.

But as they say, good things take time. And despite seeming like hard work, leaving your clothes out to dry with the help of the sun does have great advantages. Plus, the choices in clotheslines have grown recently and you can find many attractive options that can be a beautiful addition to your outdoor space. Or you can simply opt for an indoor collapsible folding rack if you want to keep your laundry away from your neighbours’ sight. In any case, here are the 3 greatest benefits of drying laundry naturally that may prompt you to visit a clothesline shop.

1. It Saves Money & Energy

source: lifestyleclotheslines.com.au

In the average household, the dryer is the second-most energy-consuming appliance, right after the refrigerator. But while we can’t argue the need for a refrigerator, using a dryer isn’t really all that essential. So, if you want to reduce your energy bills and your home’s carbon footprint, ditching the dryer is a good place to start.

Just to illustrate. It’s estimated that an electric clothes dryer makes up for almost 6% of a households annual electricity consumption. While that may not seem like a lot initially, when you do your maths, you’ll notice just how much extra you’re paying. According to Sustainability Victoria, the standard 6kg electrical dryer costs around $120 to run a year. And considering how the average annual electricity bill in Victoria is $1490, that’s almost a month’s worth of electricity.

On the other hand, buying even the fanciest option at a clothesline shop isn’t nearly as expensive. And then, you get to use your clothesline or rack indefinitely, as these are often durable structures. So, simply by switching to line drying your laundry, you get to save considerable amounts of money and energy.

2. It’s a Lot More Gentle on Your Laundry

source: ounousa.com

All that tossing and tumbling in the dryer causes wear and strain on the fabric, which leads to clothes and other types of laundry deteriorating much faster. Plus, dryers use high heat which can cause irreversible damage and ruin some fabrics. In addition, the dryer is also known to some clothing items to stretch and lose their perfect fit.

On the other hand, line drying your laundry is much gentler on the fabrics. Clothes that are hung out to dry are less likely to stretch or shrink. Taking this into account, we can draw a conclusion that air drying helps clothes and other fabric items last longer. And this is yet another way that investing in a clothes line can save you money.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Line drying your clothes is a great way to reduce or prevent wrinkles. This is perhaps some of the best news as it means that you might be lucky and not have to iron certain items. And if you’re like many of us, you probably dread ironing. By hanging your clothes on a line, they are weighted down by the water. So, they stretch out naturally to their original form, and this helps to prevent wrinkles that tend to appear when the clothes are all piled up in a dryer.

3. It Enhances Freshness and Cleanliness

source: thespruce.com

Clothes that are tumble dried tend to have a certain, musty smell about them. And this smell can only be prevented by using harsh chemical laundry fresheners like dryer sheets. However, some people are sensitive to the perfumes used in dryer products or can develop skin allergies. So, if you don’t want to expose yourself to these chemicals or have to wear clothes that smell musty – air drying is the best option.

Drying clothes out in the fresh air allows the humidity to evaporate completely. This leaves no bad smells in the clothes. Additionally, the UV rays in sunlight help to whiten and disinfect laundry. In fact, even if you use foldable clotheslines inside, opening up your blinds to let some sunlight in can help disinfect your laundry and the rest of your home to a certain degree. But if you’re worried about UV rays damaging certain clothing pieces, you can get a washing line with an added protective cover, so you can air dry them outside even if you don’t have a shaded spot to install a line.