Should you be air-drying your clothes?
When it comes to saving money with washing and drying, a tip I often encounter is to air-dry clothes. Supposedly it saves boatloads of cash. If you completely skip running your dryer, then maybe it’s true.
Let’s find out.
The math
Say you run your dryer 3 to 4 hours a week, and that the cost is $0.12 a kWh. And say you have a dryer that uses 3000 watts. You’d spend about $5 a month, or around $66 a year to run your dryer.
So. If you’re not running your dryer, you’re effectively saving $66 a year. At least. I say at least because if you air-dry during the summer, you’re also removing a heat source, which means you’ll run your AC less. And, you won’t have to buy dryer sheets, another cost. Others have claimed to save over $100 annually by switching to air-drying.
Cons
You’ll have to use up yard space to hang up a clothesline, or purchase a drying rack if you don’t have a yard.
It will take longer to get through a load (and time is money).
Your clothes may end up more wrinkled than usual.
Pros
No more dryer sheets (and a lot less static).
Air-drying is better for your clothes.
And, of course, monetary savings.
Some might even say the extra exercise is a pro. That depends on what kind of person you are.
End result
Air-drying your clothes isn’t the end all be all of savings. But, it is a start. The best savings opportunity arises if you air-dry year round (using an indoor drying rack) rather than just in the summer time.
To air-dry or not to air-dry; that is the question. And the answer is: do whatever you want. I can’t stop you. You’re an adult (or else why are you reading this?).
