The surprising benefits of line drying your laundry.

Line drying might seem a little old-school, but there’s a reason our grandparents swore by the washing line. Actually… there are several reasons. And they’re not just about saving energy and money (although, yes, tumble dryers are absolute power-guzzlers).

Turns out, pegging out your washing comes with a few hidden wins that even science is now catching up with:

1. Fresh-air fragrance.

Laundry dried outdoors simply smells better and it’s NOT your imagination.

Research shows that when damp fabric meets UV light from the sun and open air, it sparks chemical reactions that create brand new, naturally fragrant molecules.

• Pentanal (cardamom-like)
• Octanal (zesty citrus)
• Nonanal (light rose notes)
  

These fragrance molecules don’t form in tumble-dried clothes. No wonder fragrance labs spend years trying to copy it.

2. Free disinfectant.

UV rays don’t just brighten whites, they also help kill bacteria and viruses that might still be lingering on fabrics. It’s nature’s antibacterial and it’s completely free.

3. Kinder to clothes.

Line drying doesn’t involve the extreme heats of a tumble dryer and there’s also no endless tumbling required. Just a gentle breeze. Line drying helps:

• Stop shrinkage
• Protect prints and embroidery
• Keep elastics stretchy
• Slow down fibre breakdown.
  

In other words… it can add years to the life of your clothes.

4. Zero energy, zero cost.

A typical tumble dryer uses around 3 kWh per cycle¹ depending on the model and settings used, but that means even a few loads each week can quickly rack up energy and cost.

Line drying? It’s free.

So even if you only manage to switch just a few loads a month to the line, it all adds up, for your wallet and the planet.

5. Wellbeing wins.

Pegging out your laundry might not count as a gym HIT session, but it does get you moving and gets you outside.

Studies² show that fresh air and daylight boost mood and help regulate our sleep cycles. So remember that, next time you’re dangling your socks on the line.

6. Peace and quiet.

Let’s be honest: tumble dryers are loud. But the washing line is silent. Except for maybe the soothing sound of flapping cotton sheets in the breeze. Which we’ll take happily.

¹ EnergySage. Average dryer (used 3x per week) consumes 468 kWh/year, which +to 3 kWh per load.

² UK Biobank daylight exposure study 2022 Journal of Affective Disorders.