Air drying clothes is more environmentally friendly, saves money, reduces wrinkles and creases, and increases the lifespan of your clothes. However, air-drying clothes is dependent on the weather, takes more time and requires a little more effort. Tumble drying your clothes is quick and requires minimal effort.
You can still dry your wet laundry without a tumble drier, though it may be more time consuming. To dry your clothes without a conventional dryer, you can use an extra spin cycle in your washer to wring out excess water, then hang your laundry on a clothing line or drying rack to air dry.
If you do not have any dryer, or you simply prefer the air drying, it is possible. To do so, we recommend you lay it flat on a towel in a warm area, but out of the direct sunlight. It is better that you choose a well-ventilated area, like a shady spot outdoor or an indoor area such as a laundry, for example.
Unlike air drying, where clothes dry through natural airflow, tumble drying uses heat and movement to reduce dry time and leave fabrics soft and wrinkle-free.
IS AIR DRY THE SAME AS TUMBLE DRY? Air dry is not the same as tumble dry. Some tumble dry settings use heat ranging from low to high temperatures, while air drying is a method that uses no heat. However, some dryers offer a No Heat tumble dry setting that can be used for heat-sensitive materials.
If you tumble dry a garment that doesn't belong in the dryer, you run the risk of shrinkage, fading, and pilling.
A square with a large, empty circle inside indicates tumble dry normal. A square with a large circle inside that is crossed out means do not tumble dry. A square with circle inside symbol and a single dot indicates normal machine drying on a low setting.
Clothes may dry faster with fewer items in the dryer. Smaller loads help increase airflow between the garments and allow them to fully tumble for an optimal dry.
If required, very gently squeeze out any excess water using a towel. Immediately tumble dry your down jacket on a mid to low heat setting. Every 20-30 minutes during the drying process, remove the down jacket from the dryer, give it a gentle shake and firmly pat the baffles.
The length of time it takes to air-dry clothes indoors depends on various factors, such as the type of fabric and the humidity level in the room. On average, it can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day.
The square with a circle inside is the general symbol for tumble drying. If you see it on a laundry label, your item can be tumble-dried, and it's safe to put it in the dryer. If a laundry item should not be tumble-dried, you will see the same square with a circle, but it will be crossed out.
The first option is to dry your clothes indoors on airers, which makes the task completely free. Try drying them in the kitchen, which is often the warmest room in the house thanks to residual heat from cooking, or place your airer next to a radiator. If you have a dehumidifier, this will help to dry them faster.
The Air Only cycle or Air/Fluff Only does not add heat to the dryer at any time during the cycle. Expect loads dried with the Air Only cycle or Air/Fluff Only temperature to take longer to dry. Air Only cycle or Air Only temperature can be found on the control knob or button with the other temperature selections.
Air-drying is often touted as the gentler method for clothing care. By avoiding the high heat and tumbling action of a dryer, air-drying can help to: Preserve fabric integrity: Delicate fabrics, such as wool, cashmere, and silk, are particularly susceptible to damage from machine drying.
If you want to dry clothes quickly and efficiently, a hairdryer is not your best bet. They are too hot for clothing fibres which can lead to shrinkage or colour fading. Aside from that, it could also take up a lot of time since you could only dry a portion at a time.
Disadvantages of tumble drying
One significant disadvantage is its high energy consumption, which can contribute to increased electricity bills. Also, it is essential to be mindful of potential fabric damage, as the heat can cause shrinkage or damage to delicate fabrics if not used correctly.
Air drying is only to reduce the moisture content of laundry . Unlike heater dryers, they cannot completely dry your clothes . However, by letting the wind evaporate the water contained in the clothes, you can reduce the time it takes to dry the laundry compared to when you spin the clothes and dry them immediately.
The letters A, F or P inside a circle on your garment's care tag indicates that the item should be dry cleaned and instructs the dry cleaner what type of cleaner to use. An A means they can use any solvent, an F means any solvent except Trichloroethylene and a P directs them to use petroleum solvents only.
Line drying or clothes rack drying will always be the more sustainable and cost-effective way of drying your clothes. Energy Saving Trust says that avoiding the use of your tumble dryer could potentially save you money each year.
Read the Tags
"First, check the tags. Anything that says 'line dry' or 'lay flat to dry' can't tolerate the heat or the tumbling action of the dryer—or both," she says.
Air-Drying. There are two ways to air-dry an item: Line or hang drying and laying flat to dry! To "line dry" an item means that it is hanging, whether it's draped over a line, attached to a line with clothespins, or positioned on a hanger.