How To Dry Clothes Without A Dryer

There are reasons you may want to dry clothes without a dryer, and I recently had the pleasure of figuring those reasons out when my dryer had the audacity to stop working. These days, we’ve become accustomed to having the modern convenience of throwing our wet laundry in the dryer and having it ready in about an hour.

When our electric dryer broke the other day, I had a quick day-dream moment of myself hanging laundry on a line, in the sun, on a beautiful day way back in time. After I snapped back to reality, I set out to see if the dryer was really necessary and ultimately figure out how to dry clothes without a dryer. Shocking: What I learned is that my clothes dry in about the same amount of time, with way less wear and tear.

Ultimately, I have learned that having a clothes dryer is a luxury that is expensive to run, but considered “normal” in mainstream society. I’m trying to drop out of mainstream society, and maybe you are too. Can we be friends? If you are looking to simplify your life, drop off the face of the grid, or save money on electricity (or gas), or just have freshly air dried laundry; I have compiled a few ways you can accomplish this.

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If you are thinking about totally ditching a clothes drier, I have some motivation for you. Drying clothes inside a heated machine that relies on electricity is a relatively new invention (only about 100 years ago). It depended on the invention of electricity and then electricity being mainstreamed into homes. This wasn’t accomplished until the early 1900’s and wasn’t mainstreamed until after the second World War (1940’s).

In other words, there is a very long history of this method working just fine. In modern history we love for things to be faster and easier…and well…novel. We do love our “things”. Air drying clothes isn’t exactly a broken system which is why most Europeans still air dry clothes without a dryer, in windows or on terraces.

1. Air Drying Indoors

This is my favorite way to dry clothes without a dryer right now. I have a double garment rack and I hang the clothes and arrange an inexpensive fan to blow directly on the hanging clothes. There are a few drawbacks to hanging the clothes outside. The two big ones for me are allergens like pollen, ragweed, and mold spores settling on the clothes, and UV light from the sun fading the colors.

• Clothesline or Drying Rack: Set up a clothesline or drying rack in a well-ventilated room. Place your clothes evenly spaced to allow airflow between items.
• Hang on Hangers: Hang individual pieces of clothing on hangers and place them on a shower rod, curtain rod, or wardrobe to dry. This is especially useful for delicate garments like shirts or dresses.
• Ceiling Rack: If space is limited, a ceiling drying rack that can be lowered or raised is a great way to air dry clothes indoors without taking up floor space.
• Tip: Turn pants inside out so that the pockets can dry effectively.
• Data: On a double garment rack, it took an hour and half to dry 8 cotton t-shirts, 2 collared dress shirts (cotton), 2 pairs of socks, and one pillowcase in a room that was approximately 72 degrees F. Heavy sweatpants were dried overnight.

2. Outdoor Line Drying

There are advantages and disadvantages of using this method to dry clothes without a dryer. On warm breezy days, the laundry will dry quickly. On cool, still, days, it will take much longer. While it’s nice to imagine fresh air permeating your laundry, keep in mind that allergens like pollen, ragweed, and mold spores will co-mingle with the fresh air, and also permeate your clothes while they are drying on the clothesline or portable clothes drying rack.

• Clothesline: String up a clothesline in your yard or between two sturdy posts. Outdoors, the sun and wind can dry clothes quickly and give them a fresh smell.
• Portable Clothes Drying Rack: Use a portable outdoor drying rack, which can be placed in the sun and folded away when not in use.
• Clothespins: Secure clothes to the line with clothespins to prevent them from blowing away or falling. Position them in the sun for faster drying.

3. Towel Method for Faster Drying

This is a great method for pre-drying your laundry. Don’t forget to remove the laundry when you are done to prevent mold from forming.

• Roll with a Towel: Lay a clean, dry towel flat, and place your wet clothing on top. Roll the towel up with the clothing inside and press down to absorb excess water. You can also step on the towel roll to squeeze out even more water.
• Press and Release: Once you’ve absorbed the moisture, hang the clothing on a drying rack or clothesline.

4. Using Fans or Heaters Indoors

My favorite method is just to hang the laundry on a double garment rack with a fan blowing directly on them. I use this fan in all bedrooms in my house.

• Fan: Place a fan near your drying rack or hanging clothes to speed up the drying process. The airflow helps evaporate moisture more quickly.
• Heater: If it’s cold, placing clothes near a space heater or radiator can help them dry faster. Just make sure to keep clothes at a safe distance from the heat source to prevent fire hazards.

5. Drying Clothes on a Flat Surface

This method works really well for large blankets and towels that are large and need to be spread out evenly. For the best results, point a fan directly toward them.

• Flat Drying for Delicates: For delicate items like sweaters, lay them flat on a clean towel or mesh drying rack. This prevents stretching and maintains the garment’s shape.
• Flip and Rotate: To ensure even drying, flip the clothes over and rotate them occasionally.

6. Sun Drying Your Laundry for Maximum Efficiency

Sun drying your laundry on a beautiful, breezy day can potentially be the fastest way to dry clothes without a dryer. Keep in mind the level of allergens outdoors and hang your colors inside out in the shade to keep them from fading in the sun.

• Maximize Sun Exposure: On a sunny day, hang clothes outside to take advantage of the sun’s warmth and UV rays. Sun drying can also help naturally bleach white fabrics and eliminate odors.
• Flip Dark Clothes Inside Out: To prevent color fading, turn dark clothes inside out when drying them in direct sunlight.

7. Ironing or Steaming Damp Clothes

This isn’t the most efficient use of your time, and won’t save you money on your electric bill, but can help with pre-drying.

• Iron While Damp: If you need clothes to dry quickly, lightly iron them while they are still damp. This helps remove moisture and wrinkles at the same time.
• Don’t Use a Clothes Steamer: A steamer can add moisture to the clothing.

8. Drying Clothes in a Vehicle

The most interesting way to dry clothes without a dryer! This may work in a pinch in the hot summer months when it can reach into the 100’s in a parked car!

• Car Drying: If you’re in a pinch, you can place clothes inside a car parked in the sun. The car’s warm interior will help dry the clothes faster.

Key Tips for Efficient Air Drying:

• Space Clothing Apart: Make sure to leave space between clothes so air can circulate. Clothes that are bunched together will take longer to dry.
• Use the Wind: If possible, hang clothes outside or in front of a fan on a windy day to speed up the drying process.
• Choose the Right Time: Dry clothes during the day when the sun is strongest, or inside during dry, breezy weather.
• Avoid Humidity: If drying indoors, make sure the room has good air circulation. Humid environments will slow the drying process.

Drying your clothes naturally without an electric dryer not only saves energy and money but can also extend the life of your clothes by avoiding high heat that can cause fabric damage. It can feel a little bit like you’re living slower too, and that is one of my favorite perks. If you are trying to turn back time and live a slower lifestyle without the use of much electricity, any of these methods will do the trick to dry clothes without a dryer!