Everything You Need to Know About Line Drying Laundry

 

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The Pros and Cons of Line Drying Laundry

If you're looking for a simple way to reduce household expenses and make your clothes last longer, line drying your laundry might be worth considering. While clothes dryers offer convenience, they are also one of the more energy-intensive appliances in many homes. Line drying can help lower energy use, reduce wear on clothing, and lessen environmental impact. However, it isn't without drawbacks.

Here's a closer look at the benefits and challenges of hanging clothes to dry.

Benefits of Line Drying Clothes

1. Reduced Energy Consumption

One of the biggest advantages of line drying is the reduction in energy use. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that clothes dryers are significant household energy consumers, and reducing dryer use can lower household energy costs (U.S. Department of Energy, n.d.).

Research from the University of Michigan found that households can significantly reduce both energy consumption and carbon emissions by replacing some or all dryer use with line drying (University of Michigan, 2025).

2. Lower Utility Bills

Using a clothesline costs virtually nothing once it is installed. A 2025 University of Michigan study estimated that households relying entirely on line drying could save more than $2,100 over the lifetime of a dryer (University of Michigan, 2025).

Even partial line drying can provide meaningful savings over time.

3. Less Wear and Tear on Clothing

Dryers expose fabrics to heat and mechanical tumbling, both of which can contribute to fading, shrinkage, and fiber breakdown. ENERGY STAR notes that moisture-sensing dryers help reduce over-drying because excessive heat can damage fabrics (ENERGY STAR, n.d.).

By eliminating that heat exposure, line drying may help extend the life of clothing, especially delicate fabrics, athletic wear, and items containing elastic materials.

4. Environmentally Friendly

Line drying uses no electricity and produces no direct emissions. Researchers found that replacing machine drying with line drying can reduce household carbon emissions associated with laundry by more than three tons over a dryer's lifespan (University of Michigan, 2025).

For homesteaders and environmentally conscious households, this can be an easy way to reduce a home's overall environmental footprint.

5. Fresh Outdoor Scent

Many people enjoy the naturally fresh smell that comes from drying clothes outdoors. Fresh air and sunlight often leave laundry smelling clean without the need for dryer sheets or scent boosters.

Drawbacks of Line Drying Clothes

1. Weather Dependence

Unlike a dryer, a clothesline depends on favorable weather conditions. Rain, high humidity, and extended cloudy periods can significantly increase drying times.

In Florida, summer humidity can make drying slower than many people expect.

2. More Time and Effort

Line drying requires additional labor. Clothes must be hung individually and brought back inside once dry. For busy households, this extra step can be inconvenient.

3. Stiff Towels and Fabrics

One common complaint is that towels can feel rough or stiff after line drying. Some households address this by line drying most of the way and then running towels through the dryer for a few minutes to soften them.

4. Pollen and Allergens

Outdoor drying may expose clothing and bedding to pollen, dust, and other environmental allergens. This can be problematic for individuals with seasonal allergies (The Spruce, 2024).

5. Space Requirements

Not every property has space for a clothesline or drying rack. Homeowners' associations and neighborhood regulations may also restrict outdoor clotheslines in some communities.

My Line Drying Setup

Over time, I've settled on a simple setup that works well for our family. Outside, I use a retractable clothesline for larger loads, and inside I keep a folding drying rack for rainy days and delicate items. Having both gives me flexibility regardless of the weather.

My Retractable Clothesline: [Found here on Amazon]

My Folding Drying Rack: [Found here on Amazon]

Final Thoughts

Line drying isn't an all-or-nothing lifestyle choice. Even replacing a few dryer loads each week can reduce energy consumption, lower utility costs, and extend the life of your clothing.

One of the reasons I started line drying clothes was to reduce laundry costs overall. In addition to using a clothesline whenever possible, I also make my own laundry detergent. If you'd like to see the recipe I use, check out my homemade laundry detergent post.

For our family, line drying has become one of those simple homesteading habits that costs very little to start and provides benefits that add up over time. While I still use the dryer occasionally for towels and rainy weather, hanging laundry outdoors has become a practical way to save money and reduce wear on our clothes.

References

ENERGY STAR. (n.d.). Clothes dryers. https://www.energystar.gov/products/clothes_dryers

The Spruce. (2025, December 11). The best way to dry your clothes year-round to save money on laundry. https://www.thespruce.com/why-you-should-line-dry-clothes-11858382

U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Laundry. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/laundry

University of Michigan. (2025, March 10). Clothes dryers and the bottom line: Switching to air drying can save hundreds. https://news.umich.edu/clothes-dryers-and-the-bottom-line-switching-to-air-drying-can-save-hundreds/