Air Drying Clothes vs. Tumble Drying

Whether you air drying or tumble drying clothes is better all boils down to what it says on the label as well as your personal preferences. Since everyone has their own opinion regarding this matter, let’s check out a comparison of these two drying solutions to see which one you should use. 

 

Air Drying Clothes vs. Tumble Drying

Ideally, it’s best to air dry clothes than to machine dry them. Air drying will save money while decreasing the wear-and-tear of clothes from tumble drying. It’ll ease any concerns about ruining your garments. 

Additionally, air-drying your clothes outside is better for your health and the environment. 

But if you don’t have the time or space to dry your clothes or the weather is bad, then tumble drying can be the perfect solution. 

Both methods are efficient and are great for drying clothes but in the end, it will all come down to your convenience and what’s best for your needs. 

To know more about these two drying methods, we’ll share the pros and cons of both air and tumble drying. 

 

Pros and Cons of Tumble Drying

For a lot of people, a big factor in the debate between tumble and air drying is time. There is no doubt that tumble drying lessens the amount of time for clothing to dry compared to air drying, unless it’s a blisteringly hot day.

Additionally, tumble drying speeds up your laundry process by removing the need to iron your clothing. That’s because the heat from your dryer usually removes the fabric’s creases. 

While tumble drying is easy and more convenient, it comes with a couple of drawbacks that you should consider.

First, tumbler dryers can be pricy to buy and with continuous use, your energy bills will get higher. Also, dryers eventually require maintenance, so that’s another expense to consider. 

There is also the chance of damaging clothes due to the intense heat. Many fabrics shouldn’t be tumble dried due to the chance of their shrinkage or damage. The bottom line? If your goal or main concern is finishing your laundry as soon as possible, then go for tumble drying.

 

Pros and Cons of Air Drying

Air drying takes longer compared to tumble drying. However, there are a couple of benefits when you opt for this method. 

When you air-dry your clothes, the fibres of your garments hold up longer because your clothes dry over the whole day or via sunlight. Additionally, air-drying clothes is free. You won’t have any machines to maintain or an increased electricity bill. 

Like tumble drying, air drying has its cons too. Since it takes more time to dry clothes, you’ll need to consider this because it can be limiting. 

Air drying will also fill your garden with full clotheslines which won’t be too appealing or alternatively you’ll have an inside drying rack which takes up a lot of space.

There are issues with drying clothes inside too as drying clothes in poorly-ventilated rooms can increase moisture in the air. In turn, it will create an adequate condition for mould spores to grow. That being said, this can also be a problem for condenser dryer machines.

 

Tips on Proper Tumble Drying

If you aren’t familiar with tumble drying or are trying it out for the first time, here are some useful tips:

• After washing your clothes in the washing machine, don’t forget to run a spin cycle. It’s worth noting that many standard washing machine cycles end with a spin cycle. 
• Perform regular maintenance on your dryer by cleaning its lint and fluff filter after every load. Doing so will guarantee its best performance for a longer period. 
• We highly recommend reading the labels on your clothing. Find out if these are ideal for tumble drying, as well as which temperature is suited for the material. 
• Remember to always use the right settings for various types of fabric to avoid ruining delicate garments. 

 

The Final Verdict

Which is better? Well, there is no right answer. To best protect your clothes, air drying is the winner. For speed, a tumble dryer wins. There are also other factors to consider such as convenience, cost, space and fabric. 

For many people who own a tumble dryer, they like to take a split approach of air-drying when you either need to dry delicate garments or have plenty of time. They then use a tumble dryer when you need to dry a lot of washing or need it dried quickly. 

It’s a great idea to have both options in your home, especially in those winter months when it feels like your clothes are forever damp when placed on a drying rack. The right solution changes from one person to the next but hopefully by now you have a clear idea of the right drying method for you.