You Are Probably Air-Drying Your Clothes Incorrectly.
Mother Nature offers economical wrinkle-free clothes dryers that can also help disinfect and remove odors. It’s … the sun, and its ultraviolet rays not only kill bacteria, but can also brighten your proteins. Plus, if you dry your clothes outside, you will smell the real smell of fresh air that you can only hope to emulate your laundry detergent and fabric softeners.
But not all items should be dried equally, and there are a few guidelines to help you air dry better . Here’s what to keep in mind the next time you hang things up to dry.
Check the pollen index
Drying clothes in the spring can be tricky; that with more frequent rain and high pollen levels, it can be difficult to find the perfect time to hang to dry. Because yes: especially if you are allergic, you should check your pollen index before drying your laundry outside. At pollen.com, you can check the current pollen levels in your area so you can track your allergies and decide if it’s time to dry your clothes in the sun. The last thing you want to do is track ragweed pollen and other allergens in your home, along with your laundry.
Don’t put darkness in the sun
The sun is great for whitening your whites, but it will also do the same for your dark ones. When drying outdoors, place dark items in a shaded area and watch the sun as it changes position; otherwise, they may tarnish faster than if you simply tossed them in the dryer.
Do not hang sweaters or heavy clothing.
Sweaters are usually woven or tied together, and hanging from hangers or clotheslines can cause them to stretch and warp. Instead, place the dryer outside and place your sweaters on top to keep them in shape. Just flip them over when the top side is dry.
Do not air dry blankets or pillows.
A duvet may seem like the best candidate for air drying, but laying the duvet to dry isn’t the best option. Their filling tends to clump when it gets wet during washing, and air drying only keeps those clumps in place. Worse, if you hang heavier items such as linen, they can become out of shape. Instead, throw these items into the dryer along with a few laundry balls.