Line-drying laundry may seem like a tedious task, but it is worth the effort for all the benefits that come with it. Especially in warm climates, drying laundry outdoors is a greener and more cost-effective option than relying on an electric dryer.
Not only does line-drying reduce your electricity bill, but it also reduces wear and tear on clothes because they are not exposed to the harsh temperatures of indoor dryers. Backyard clotheslines are certainly worth considering as an eco-friendly way to dry your laundry effectively.
In this article, we will go over all the benefits you and your clothing can experience by skipping a dry cycle!
Saves Money
Investing in a clothesline rather than an automatic utility-powered tumble clothes dryer can be a great way for households to save on their energy bills. Clotheslines are much more affordable to purchase and operate than electric dryers, and they offer various advantages, such as improved air quality and reduced energy consumption.
The average household could save up to $100 annually by using a clothesline instead of an electric dryer. By switching from an automatic tumble clothes dryer to a more eco-friendly option such as a clothesline, households can make a positive step towards reducing their carbon footprint while also saving money on their monthly utility bills.
Promotes Energy Conservation
Line-drying laundry is a simple yet highly effective way to help the environment. In addition to conserving energy, this practice preserves fossil fuels, essential for energy production and transportation.
Air-drying clothes can reduce a household's carbon dioxide output by a whopping 2,400 pounds annually - amounting to 4.3 percent of Canada’s total residential CO2 emissions when everyone does it for half a year. While the effort might be small, it produces big results when everyone takes part in line drying their laundry!
Enhances Freshness and Helps Remove Strong Odors
Line drying clothes is the preferred method for naturally eliminating odors without relying on chemical laundry fresheners like dryer sheets and fabric softeners. The benefit of air-drying rather than tumble-drying is that it eliminates any potential perfumes or dyes used in detergents and dryer products, making it an ideal choice for people with sensitivities to these products.
Another benefit of line drying is that the sun's UV rays can help naturally disinfect and remove bacteria from fabrics. Additionally, since there are no high temperatures associated with line drying, fabrics come out softer and less wrinkled than if they had been put through a dryer cycle.
Gentler on Clothing
Tossing and tumbling clothing in a dryer can cause long-term damage to the fabrics, as the strain on seams and snags from zippers and buttons can lead to wear and tear, while also putting fabrics under immense stress.
In addition, dryer temperatures that are too high can ruin some fabrics entirely and leave them irreparable. The safest approach is line drying, which is more gentle to fibers than a dryer. This is especially true for delicate knitted sweaters and other garments that should be dried flat to prevent stretching or misshaping.
One way to make sure fabric does not suffer in the dryer is by removing items from it promptly after cycle completion so as not to subject them to any extra heat or tumbling motions.
Helps To Whiten Laundry
Ultraviolet rays from the sun are an effective way to disinfect and whiten whites, such as sheets, towels and cloth diapers. As they are exposed to the sun's rays, the harmful bacteria that causes odors and stains can be eliminated. The bleaching effect of the ultraviolet light also works to brighten fabric color.
However, exposure to intense sunlight should be avoided with darker fabrics due to the risk of fading. While laundering with bleach may help keep dark colors vibrant, they should still be shielded from direct sunlight if possible in order to prevent damage from UV light exposure.
One Small Step in Making a Difference
Line-drying laundry is an easy and cost-effective way to reduce your carbon footprint while saving money. Utilizing the sun’s natural energy can help conserve electricity and lower your monthly electric bill.
Line drying also helps protect the environment by not using dryers that require large amounts of energy to operate. Not only does line drying help save money, but it also helps preserve fabrics and clothes from heat damage caused by conventional dryers. The gentle nature of air-drying helps extend the life of clothing, bedding, towels, and other items, making them last longer than if they were dried in a machine.
This method is especially beneficial for those living in areas with warm climates, where temperatures are mild enough for long periods of time for laundry to dry on a clothesline or rack outside. This is not only an environmentally friendly choice; it's also a healthier option since it eliminates the need for chemical fabric softeners and reduces lint accumulation in the home.
Extends the Life of Clothes
Using a clothesline to dry your clothes instead of a dryer can help them last much longer. This is because the friction caused by tumbling in a dryer can damage the fibers in fabric and cause it to wear out more quickly. When you use a clothesline, gravity helps naturally spread out the weight of the fabric, eliminating any rubbing or tugging on the fibers that could cause damage.
