Households urged to stop drying laundry with clothes pegs this spring
The common habit could end up ruining your belongings, but there is a simple alternative.
When the weather complies, hanging your washing outside is undeniably one of handiest ways to dry laundry. It's economical, quicker than indoor drying, and leaves your clothes, bed linen and towels with a wonderfully fresh fragrance.
Nevertheless, there's a common mistake that numerous people make during this routine. According to clothing experts at Superdry, this error could potentially ruin your favourite pieces. The team has compiled some practical guidance on superior garment care to prolong their life, whilst identifying surprising factors that may be causing damage.
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When it comes to drying laundry, one essential technique is to 'harness the power of nature' by taking them outdoors - though perhaps abandon the clothes pegs and position your drying rack outside instead.
The specialists explained: "This helps extend the lifespan of your clothing by minimizing wear and tear caused by heat exposure. Sunlight offers natural antimicrobial properties and acts as a gentle whitening agent for fabrics.
"Take caution when using clothes pegs, as they can leave unsightly and potentially permanent pressure marks on delicate fabrics. To protect delicate items, avoid using clothes pegs altogether, and be careful not to leave items outside in the wind, as they could be blown away.
"Additionally, you can enhance the whitening effect further by lightly spritzing clothes with white vinegar before hanging them outdoors, helping the sun to keep your whites looking fresh.
"However, some fabrics will become stiff if dried in this way, especially those made from natural fibres like cotton. To avoid this, trying partly drying outside and finish off with a few minutes in the tumble dryer."
You can also gently pull garments into shape to remove creases before hanging out or placing on the drying rack — and you'll reduce the amount of ironing needed, which is always handy.
This guidance was reinforced by the laundry specialists at Vileda, who have taken it a step further and revealed precisely how to hang particular items of clothing so that they don't get damaged on the line.
- Trousers - The best way to hang trousers is to fold them over the clothesline at the waistband. This helps to reduce creasing.
- Jumpers - Avoid hanging jumpers by the shoulders, as this can cause stretching and misshaping. Instead, fold your jumper lengthwise and drape both sides evenly over the line.
- Dresses - You can fold the dress in half lengthwise and hang it over the line like a pair of trousers.
- Sweatshirts - Treat sweaters the same way as jumpers, folding them in half lengthwise and draping them over the line.
