Doing the laundry is a common task you may know too well, and have refined over the years. However, even the most seasoned laundry veterans can learn a new trick or two, and sometimes, it’s the simplest changes that make the biggest difference.
One woman shared the routine she set for hanging clothes to dry, including the lesson she learned the hard way ‘to be careful of.’
Like many, she pegged coloured T-shirts to the clothesline without a second thought—until she made a startling discovery. Newer garments were showing signs of premature ageing, not the kind that comes from repeated washing, but from something far more insidious: the sun’s bleaching effects.
The sun, while a natural and eco-friendly way to dry our clothes, can be quite a double-edged sword. It’s great for giving sheets that fresh, outdoor scent, but it can also fade and weaken the fabric of some of your favourite garments.
The woman noticed distinct stripes of lighter colour on darker fabrics, a clear sign that the sun was taking its toll. Determined to protect their wardrobe, she implemented two key changes.
The first was to start drying clothes inside out. This isn’t a new tip—it’s a tried-and-true method recommended by laundry experts to preserve the colour and print of clothes. It’s a simple switch that could be easily integrated into your routine, especially if you’re already turning clothes inside out before washing them to maintain their quality.
The second change was a bit more challenging: rearranging the clothesline. Coloured items were relegated to the back, where the shade offered some protection from the sun’s harsh rays. This required a bit of a shake-up in the laundry sorting system.
‘I have a different basket now that’s shorter but wider so I can still group things with coloured shirts, coloured pants and pyjamas together while still getting the larger items out first,’ the woman shared.
However, despite her efforts, a couple of new shirts still fell victim to the sun, sporting a telltale line of bleaching on the inside. It became clear that even the shadiest part outside wasn’t safe from the sun’s reach. The solution? Moving the drying process indoors.
To avoid bleaching, the woman eventually used a clothes airer, strategically placed to avoid direct sunlight while still benefiting from a gentle breeze. Clothes are draped over several lines to prevent peg marks and stretching.
It’s a bit more work, but it could be a small price to pay for extending the life of your clothes and reducing waste.
For those of you who might be concerned about the environmental impact of using a dryer, this indoor air-drying method is still energy-efficient and gentle on your garments. And when clothes eventually do wear out, you could repurpose them as cleaning rags, ensuring every thread is used to its fullest potential.
While line drying is still the go-to for many, these simple adjustments to your routine could be worth considering.
We’d love to hear from you, our savvy YourLifeChoices readers. Have you discovered any laundry hacks that have revolutionised your routine? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below.
Also read: Beat the rain: Brilliant hacks to dry clothes faster
