20% off bath towels for a limited time
20% off bath towels for a limited time
The first days of spring have us stepping away from the clothes airer and out into the garden. These breezy days sprinkled with sunshine are perfect for drying fabrics outdoors, and there are so many benefits to putting your tumble dryer on sabbatical this season and your delicate fabrics will thank you!
A good rule of thumb when you’re thinking about drying fabrics outside is to check the grass or soil in your garden. If the ground feels dry, then you’re clothes are likely to dry too. We like to get into the habit of putting a load in the washing machine before breakfast so can go out on the line at the start of the day. If you have time, take your morning coffee out with the laundry basket and listen to the birdsong as you peg up your things.
The sun might not be making an appearance but as long as there’s a light breeze, everything on the line should dry in three to four hours. Being outdoors first thing helps wake up your body and boost your energy levels, so think of your time at the clothes line as a little act of self care! Here are some other benefits of drying laundry outdoors this spring:
Your clothes will last longer
Line-dried clothes and fabrics have been proven to have a longer lifespan than fabrics repeatedly washed in the tumble drier. The high temperatures and motion of the drier can damage the fibres in your clothes, as well as washing out bright colours. Drying gently on the line is a much kinder way to treat your clothes and bedding.
UV is a natural stain-buster
The UV rays in sunlight can act as a natural bleaching agent and tackle stains while your clothing dries. This works best for surface stains – put the dirty item on a normal wash as soon as you can and hang out on a sunny day. The UV light works on breaking down the chemical bonds in the stain and it should gently fade in two or three hours.
Enjoy the scent of air-dried sheets
The smell of sheets dried outside is pure joy; tumble dried bedding just doesn’t come close! Use a planet-friendly laundry detergent and try to hang everything out as soon as the wash is finished; the UV light kills any bacteria on the textiles and your clothes will be imbued with the fresh botanical scents of outdoors.
This spring we’re taking time to enjoy life’s everyday rituals, even on laundry days. Shop our breezy laundry collection here.
Written by Amy Tarrant.
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