With spring sunshine arriving, now is the perfect time to dry laundry outdoors and save money on energy bills. One simple step before hanging clothes outside can cut drying time dramatically
With spring’s arrival bringing sunnier days, I’ve been capitalising on the improved weather for my laundry routine. Unless rain threatens, I’m dedicated to abandoning cluttered indoor clothes airers and dehumidifiers in favour of letting my washing dry naturally outside.
Beyond helping reduce energy bills, I’ve discovered that outdoor drying also enhances freshness. Hanging garments outside enables them to absorb fresh air and sunshine, producing clothes that smell naturally clean and revitalised.
The gentle breeze eliminates odours from fabrics, leaving laundry smelling crisp and renewed without requiring numerous scent boosters in wash loads.
To accelerate the drying process, there’s one step I consistently take without exception, and it begins with the washing machine.
When drying clothes and other laundry items, I’ve found they typically require about 5 to 6 hours outside in spring sunshine, and possibly slightly longer if temperatures drop.
However, there’s one technique I use to shorten drying time that involves a straightforward task once your initial wash cycle completes.
After the clothes have been washed, I run them through a spin and drain cycle, which should take just 10 minutes.
Rather than additional water being introduced to the drum, this cycle’s effect is precisely the reverse. The additional spin you’re incorporating operates by rotating the drum at extremely high speeds, which removes moisture from the material through sheer force.
Essentially, the longer and faster the spin cycle, the more water will be expelled from your garments.
As there’s now reduced moisture in the clothing, these items will dry considerably faster when placed outside. This clever technique helps me conserve substantial time throughout the year.
When hanging my washing, I ensure it’s hung at full extension, as this allows air to circulate freely through the fabric, helping it dry more rapidly.
After placing the laundry outdoors to dry during favourable weather earlier in the week, my garments were completely dry in merely three hours, which is two hours quicker than usual.
While you needn’t limit your washing to bright days, it’s sensible to check the weather forecast for the day when organising your laundry, as there’s little benefit in hanging your items out during torrential rain.
