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Drying Methods And Techniques For Laundry

Our customers say they aren’t keen on undertaking the laundry task themselves for a variety of reasons and that’s why they come to us. Even more off-putting for some is the task of ‘drying’ the washed items, particularly, during the winter months, which can be even more problematic than the initial washing task itself. Then, of course, there is the additional matter of folding the dried items, once washed, ready for ironing! But that’s a whole separate discussion. There are a variety of different drying techniques out there that can help with the drying process for laundry. We will walk you through some of them below to see how they measure up and offer our views on them.

TUMBLE DRY

Tumble drying is perhaps the most envisaged drying method that springs to mind when thinking of laundry drying. It is an alternative for drying clothes on a clothesline or clothes rack. It is a relatively simple technique that requires a tumble drying machine. But before attempting this technique, we suggest a few considerations be taken into account before freely loading the machine. It is always advisable to follow the instructions on the care label of garments and other items as a matter of good practice. Make sure the garments and items selected for drying are tumble dry safe. Be sure to select the correct cycle and temperature setting to avoid potential problems. Let’s be honest, we’ve all experienced tumble dryer disasters: our favourite jumper reduced to doll size; our shirts over-dried and impossible to iron; transfers and embossed prints on our tee-shirts melting during the tumble cycle. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! To make this process easier, check all labels and match these up with your tumble dryer symbols. Tumble dryer settings typically include a:

• Refresh cycle that uses no heat;
• Low Dry that is ideal for delicates;
• Synthetic Cycle;
• Cotton Cycle.

OUR VIEW:

The process of tumble drying is undoubtedly a quick and effective method of laundry drying. But purchasing a tumble dryer can often be costly, although if you shop around it may be possible to source a cheaper re-conditioned model, which may help with budgets. However, it’s important to know that not all garments respond well to this technique of drying and can end up causing considerable damage to some garments, particularly with prolonged use over time and continued exposure to heat. It is also an expensive method of drying owing to the high levels of energy consumption required. It, therefore, might be worth exploring alternative techniques.

FLAT DRYING

Not all clothes can be placed in a tumble dryer, these typically include clothes made from natural fibres such as hemp, wool, linen and silk. Check the care label and look for the ‘flat-dry’ symbol before washing and drying items. Take care to avoid tumble drying any items with this symbol. For these items, the method of flat drying is simple. Lay the items on a flat surface throughout the entire drying process. Some garments will dry better if a towel is placed underneath them as this will absorb excess water. It may also be necessary to reshape wet garments to the required shape and size after washing, and before flat drying, to avoid shrinkage and mis-shapen garments.

OUR VIEW:

Flat drying is ideal for garments that cannot be tumble dried and for clothes made from natural fibres, particularly, woollens, knitwear, and other delicate items that may be prone to shrinkage and damage. This technique, however, is very slow and is not a method we would advise for drying bedding owing to the sheer volume of material involved.

DRYING RACK

This drying technique is very easy and most of us probably have a clothes rack/horse tucked away somewhere in the utility room or garage. It takes seconds to set up and can be placed almost anywhere. Clothes can be neatly placed on this steady structure; usually made from tubular metal, to enable air to circulate. How much laundry can be placed on the rack to dry, will depend on the size and quality of it. It is also advisable to spread items out to allow the air circulate. It is a false economy to cram as much laundry onto the rack as this will hamper the drying process and can lead to musty smelling clothing, which is not a good drying outcome.

OUR VIEW:

This is a relatively cheap and cheerful drying technique. It can be used both indoors and outdoors. An initial purchase of a clothes rack will be necessary, which can be easily sourced from most general shops such as Lakeland, Dunelm, B&M Stores or online. Prices may vary but in general it is an affordable item, which can be stored away easily. The issue tends to be around drying time. Typically, this method is a long dry technique, particularly if used in the home during winter months. Whilst putting the heating on will speed this process up, this could prove costly. It’s also worth bearing in mind that drying clothes in the home produces condensation and so all that excess water has to go somewhere. It’s, therefore, best to ensure rooms are well ventilated. A simple way to do this is to open a window or two, although be aware that this may not be desirable during the cold winter months.

LINE DRY

This technique continues to be an effective drying method. Relatively simple in its design, which requires setting up a clothesline outside. This can typically be achieved by stretching a nylon rope between two wooden or metal posts. There are other options on the market to look out for such a retractable clotheslines, freestanding rotary clotheslines, and pulley clotheslines, to name but a few. A pulley clothesline can be erected indoors as well! This was a popular technique developed by our ancestors that was used regularly in the drying of laundry; typically assembled above coal fires in rooms within the home to dry clothes and bedlinen.

Following washing, clothes and other items can be taken out of the washing machine and placed in a washing basket and taken outside to hang on a clothesline with pegs to secure items. Before hanging clothes on the line with pegs, it’s essential to ensure the clothesline is clean before anything is placed on it. This requires a simple process of loading a clean, damp cloth with a cleaning product and running the cloth serveral times back and forth the length of the clothesline being sure to remove any dirt and grime.

OUR VIEW:

Setting aside the inital cost of erecting a clothesline outside, this drying technique is free and can last a long time with minimum maintenance. Clothes and garment damage is kept to a minimum, and wrinkles are also kept to a minimum apart from the dreaded peg marks. Clothes and bedlinen are dried naturally in the fresh air and smell and feel amazingly crisp and fresh when dry. The major downside to this method is that it is entirely weather dependent. This method is not suitable for certain fabrics such as woollens, silk, and lace, which we suggest should be flat dried.

DEHUMIDIFIERS

When the weather takes a turn for the worse in the winter months, there are various drying options available such as tumble dry, flat drying, clothes rack and clothesline, as we have discussed. Currently, we are all faced with a cost of living dilemma which includes a rise in energy costs, which have soared. As tumble dryers have high running costs, this is, undoubtedly, an expensive option.

When drying laundry in rooms within our home using flat and rack drying, we need to be mindful and aware of the amount of condensation created from such methods. There is the potential for the growth of mould, mildew, and other nasties that can impart on our health as a result of this condensation. The dehumidifier has seen a rise in popularity in recent times for this very reason. There are a range of dehumidifiers on the market; some are designed for the specific purpose of drying laundry. We advise you do your research and check out make, model, design and function to ensure you are purchasing the correct dehumidifier for the specific intended purpose. Whilst the initial outlay for a dehumidifier can be costly, the running costs are relating cost efficient and low.

OUR VIEW:

Using a dehumidifier designed for laundry drying is more cost effective than using a tumble dryer, although it cannot match the drying speed. This drying method leaves clothing, bedding etc. relatively crease free, and in pristine condition with no damage caused during the process, which can therefore prolong the life of such fabrics and materials. Importantly, a dehumidifier can reduce the amount of condensation significantly within rooms by pulling out excess water out of the air. This is particularly useful for minimsing the risk of damp, mould, and mildew on walls. The quicker the excess water is drawn out the air in rooms, the less likelihood of damp patches and mould forming to become a problem in our homes, and to become a problem to our health and wellbeing. Additionally, the heat that may be generated by a dehumidifier on a laundry setting can add warmth to a room, which is another added bonus during the winter months.

CONCLUSION:

Having tried and tested all of the above drying techniques and methods over time, we have found there to be pros and cons of each, while all serving as valuable drying methods. Whilst we feel that each method has a valued place in laundry drying; and we certainly wouldn’t rule any one method out, the dehumidifier comes top on our list as a our preferred drying method. It is a very effective drying technique, particularly during the winter months. It is, however, a relatively slow drying method, and has an inital high purchase cost, but leaves clothes and other items in good condition, leaving them relatively wrinkle free, therefore, reducing ironing time. It significantly reduces the damage to clothing over the short and longer term as there is no heat involved. It has relatively low running costs, which is a bonus during soaring energy costs. The downside of drying laundry inside the home, as we all know, is the the amount of condensation it produces. A dehumidifier deals with this problem by extracting excess water from the air in rooms that causes condensation. Therefore, this helps to keep at bay, and in check, the formation and spread of mould and mildew within our homes.

 At Pressed not Stressed we have designated drying rooms dedicated to dehumidifying drying methods and techniques.