The Benefits of Line Drying

Drying laundry on a line saves money and is kinder to the environment, but those aren’t the only plus points. There are loads of reasons to choose a clothesline over a tumble dryer, including a big boost for whites, so read on…

Line drying requires no electricity (obvs), but do you know just how much money you could save by ditching the dryer? A recent calculation by Ideal Home estimates that running a dryer costs anywhere between £72 to £178 annually on average depending on the type of dryer. It really pays not to use it.

Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home and using it to dry clothes creates a hefty carbon footprint. For a typical 40°C wash nearly 75% of the carbon footprint is due to drying – yikes!

But that’s not all. A lesser-known issue with tumble drying is that it creates micro plastics. During drying, clothes containing plastic fibres can shed small amounts which escape via the filter and are released into the atmosphere, bad news for us and the environment.

Fabric that’s been dried in the fresh air has a uniquely wonderful smell. Unless there’s something smelly nearby like a bonfire or excessive car fumes, laundry dried outside takes on a blend of sunshine and nature that is so much cleaner (and cheaper!) than any drier sheet or fabric softener.

Also – bonus – natural drying helps rid fabric of strong smells.

Want to boost the whiteness of your whites? Sunlight, or more specifically its ultra-violet rays, naturally bleach and disinfect fabric. Great news for white clothes, sheets and towels, not so much for dark colours so be sure to dry those out of direct sunlight.

Another big tick for natural drying is that it won’t shrink or damage fabrics like a tumble dryer can. It’s a gentle option that’s suitable for most fabrics. A word of caution: heavier items can stretch when hung on a line so use a flat drying rack for items like jumpers and other knits.

One of our favourite benefits is that hanging out washing can be a bit zen. Just hear us out here: taking a few minutes to peg out your laundry on a warm day provides a moment of calm and gentle activity in the fresh air. See?

• Check your line is clean. The last thing you want is a grimy mark on your freshly laundered linens, so wipe with a damp cloth to be sure
• If anyone in the household suffers from hay fever and allergies, keep an eye on the pollen count as you may want to avoid line drying when it’s high
• Hang larger items such as sheets and towels first to make best use of space
• Shake each item out before you hang it to help ease any wrinkles as this will make them easier to iron.

There’s no denying tumble dryers make towels super fluffy but with all these benefits, we think you’ll agree that line drying is the way to go!