The Great Debate: Air Drying vs. Electric Drying

3 min readMar 26, 2021

Introduction

What is air drying? Do people still do it?

Air drying your clothes takes a far less toll on your clothes and is more energy-efficient. Also, air-drying your clothes is easier on fabrics and won’t set stains when you air dry them. Air drying avoids static cleaning and eliminating the need for dryer balls and sheets.

According to Statista, 80% of U.S. households use an electric dryer. What are the benefits of using an electric dryer compared to air-drying your clothes and vice versa? Let’s have a dry conversation about laundry.

Pro Tip: If you choose to air dry your clothes be smart on how you dry them. A chunky knit or stretchy material should never be hung on an outdoor clothesline with a clothespin because it could distort or turn the fabric. Instead, lay the material on top of a clothes drying rack. Turn garments over once or twice as they dry to speed up the process and maintain even drying, as moisture tends to settle at the bottom of the heavy fabrics.

Tips for Air Drying

Do hang laundry properly

Hanging wet laundry properly helps it to dry as quickly and wrinkle-free as possible.

Pants: Line up the inner seams and then pin them to the clothesline or drying rack by the hems, not the waistband. As the slightly heavier waistband hangs down, it will exert a bit of tension on the fabric, helping pull away wrinkles.

Knits: Pin knit tee shirts, skirts, etc. upside down as the thicker fabric of the hem isn’t as likely to sag or show clip marks as the shoulders.

Woven shirts: Ideally, you’d dry these on hangers, but if using clothespins, clip the shirts by the bottom hems and cuffs.

Small garments: Socks, underwear, babies or children’s clothing and swimsuits aren’t generally heavy enough to sag when damp, so hang them in whatever position makes most effective use of your drying rack or clothesline space.

Sheets: Fold in half and then pin to the clothesline by the corners. Add an extra clip or two in the middle for better security on breezy days. Flip the sheets halfway through the drying process to release moisture that’s gathered at the bottom of the fabric.

Towels: Pin by the corners for a clothesline or fold evenly over a drying rack. Either way, they will dry faster if you flip them once the top feels dry, but the bottom is still damp.

Don’t forget a fan if air-drying indoors

A gentle breeze is perfect for air-drying clothing, as it whisks away moisture quickly and evenly, and creates good airflow around the wet laundry. Simulate a breeze for an indoor clothesline or rack by turning on a ceiling fan or portable fan in the same room as your laundry, or opening the windows.

Don’t air-dry down garments

When wet, down tends to form into clumps. Dry your down-filled jackets, vests, and comforters in the dryer, preferably with some clean tennis balls as the tumbling actions helps restore down to a fully fluffy state. Air-drying these types of garments can leave them lumpy or misshapen.

Conclusion

If you’re ready to give air-drying a try, first check local ordinances (neighborhoods with homeowner associations may forbid the practice). The choice to air dry or electrically dry your clothes can impact your health, lifestyle, and wallet, so choose wisely.