Whether you are loving tiny apartment living, escaping on the road, or if you are simply seeking ways to cut down on your carbon footprint, knowing how to dry clothes without a dryer is a timeless life skill you want to stash for a rainy day.
While there are tons of reasons to love the idea of a tumble dryer (warm fluffy clothes we are looking at you), there are some drawbacks too. A clothes dryer can be clunky and take up a ton of space and they can also use quite a lot of energy - not great for those who are trying to be more mindful of their energy consumption.
Fortunately, you don't have to live with soggy and damp t-shirts forever, there are ways to dry your wet clothes without spending hours at the laundromat or throwing out your sofa to make room for a tumble dryer.
Whether you are looking to save money or save the environment, drying your clothes without a dryer benefits everyone and we have the lowdown on how to embrace the natural drying process. From bringing back the drying rack to soaking up the sunshine, take a look at all these ways you can dry your clothes without a dryer...
Spin Fast
Getting from wet clothes to dry clothes faster all starts with your washing machine. Your aim is to select a cycle that can help you to get rid of as much water as possible. Using a faster spin cycle when doing laundry will help all that excess water spin away and means that you don't have to deal with dripping jeans at the end of your wash. Even for those who are aiming to be mindful with electricity consumption, that fast spin cycle still works out a lot less than the energy that a tumble dryer would use.
If you don't have a spin fast setting or you have been handwashing, you can roll your fabrics in a towel and press to encourage extra water absorption.
Use Drying Racks
If you don't have so much space to play with, the clothes rack is one of your best options for drying your clothing without a tumble dryer. However, don't just pile up all your clothes onto the rack. If you want your clothes to dry well you will need air flow and ventilation for your items to dry effectively. Pick a good place in your home to place your drying rack. By a radiator or heat source is best or if living in warmer climates, you can also place beneath an open window and let the breeze lend a hand.
Make sure that you leave gaps when hanging out your clothes and try to avoid overlapping. If you live in a location with good weather and have space, drying your clothes au natural on a clothesline is a tried and tested formula that works every time. Don't forget that whichever clothes hanger method you are using, you will need to rotate each garment to ensure the airflow gets to pockets, underarms, and those other hard-to-reach areas.
Random Hanging Place
If you are truly tight on room and don't have access to a clothes line or clothes drying rack, you can use what already exists in your apartment. Whether you hang your clothes over the shower curtain rod, use the back of chairs, or even use hangers in doorways, all you really need to dry your clothes is time and air flow.
Pull Out the Hair Dryer
If you need that top in t-minus five for a big date emergency, it may be time to pull out the hair dryer. Of course, a slight blast of air isn't going to work on larger items like jeans but it may just speed things up for smaller items like tops, socks, and underwear. Give it a quick blast but be sure to keep turning the item so that the warm air reaches every corner. Also, don't feel like you need to turn the heat setting all the way up, warm air will work just as well as long as you encourage the flow. Even if your item isn't a hundred percent dry after this session, your body heat can do the rest.
Turn to the Towels
There's a great trick you can try with a towel and an ironing board if you are in a hurry to get your clothes dry. Place the piece of clothing you want to dry on the ironing board and lay a thin towel over the top. Turn on your iron and press the towel using a high heat setting. This method can help your garment dry faster without causing damage as the towel provides a protective layer helping to prevent marks being left on your clothes.
FAQ About Drying Clothes Sans Dryer
How long does it take for clothes to dry without a dryer?
How long it takes your clothes to be completely dry without a dryer depends on a whole heap of circumstances. First, some fabric is sure to take longer than others to dry - thin cotton will dry much faster than thick denim. The weather and air movement will also have an impact on drying speed too. Generally, on a warm day with a light breeze and using clotheslines outside, you can expect your washing to be dry within 2-4 hours. Drying inside can take up to 24 hours or more depending on the environment.
How do you air dry clothes inside?
Hang them from the shower rod, use a clothes rack, utilize all the backs of your chairs, and even drape them over the radiator. Even if you don't have a laundry room in your apartment, you can find success with air drying. The golden rule of air drying is that your clothes will get dry, just how long it takes may be a different matter. If you want to get the best air drying results then you should be sure to space out your clothes and not to pile too many on top of each other.
Can you dry clothes in the oven?
While it may seem like a good idea (heat, racks, etc) drying your clothes in the oven is never a good idea. Not only do you run the risk of your fave dress smelling like pizza, but as the water vapor stays in the oven it could take forever for your clothes to get dry and is far from the most efficient method.
How do I stop my clothes smelling damp when drying?
If you want your clothes to shake off that damp smell make sure that you get to the drying process as soon as possible. Leaving clothes wet is sure to add to that musty damp scent. You also want to try and reduce the level of humidity in the room as this can be another reason why damp lingers as it is caused by trapped moisture. To cut down on the chances of damp you can make sure that you open a window and allow more air to flow or switch on a dehumidifier device if you have one.
What tips do you have when it comes to drying your fave wardrobe pieces? Are you a line lover or a drape over the chair connoisseur? Share all your drying ideas with us in the comments.
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