Photo: Tatevosian Yana (Shutterstock)
Mother Nature offers an inexpensive means of drying clothes without wrinkles that can also help disinfect and remove odors. It’s … the sun and its UV rays not only kill bacteria but can also lighten your whites. Plus, drying your clothes outside gives you that real fresh air smell that your detergents and fabric softeners can only mimic.
However, not all items should be dried in the same way, and there are a few considerations that can help you air dry better. Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you hang things up to dry.
Check the pollen index
Drying your clothes in the spring can be a little tricky. Which, given the more frequent rain and high pollen levels, can be difficult to find the perfect time to dry. Because yes: especially if you suffer from allergies, you should check the pollen index before you decide to dry your laundry outdoors. On the website pollen.com you can find out the current pollen levels in your area so that you can track your allergies and decide if it is the right time to dry your clothes in the sun. The last thing you want to do is bring ragweed pollen and other allergens into your home with your laundry.
Don’t put darkness in the sun
The sun is great for bleaching your whites, but it will do the same with your darks. Place the darkness in a shaded area as it dries outdoors and watch the sun change position. Otherwise, they may fade faster than if you just tossed them in the dryer.
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Do not hang sweaters or heavy clothing
Sweaters are usually woven or knitted together, and when hung on hangers or clotheslines they can stretch and warp. Instead, set up a drying rack outside and lay the sweaters flat on it so they keep their shape. Just flip them over when the top is dry.
Do not air dry blankets and pillows
Down comforters appear to be a prime candidate for air drying, but setting out the comforter out to dry is not a good idea. Your filling tends to clump together if it gets wet while washing, and air drying just keeps these clumps in the air. Worse still, as mentioned earlier, heavier items like bedding can get out of shape. Instead, toss these items in the dryer along with a few laundry balls.