How to Line Dry Laundry Indoors

How to Line Dry Clothing Indoors

1. Select the Best Drying Rack for Your Home

   The best type of drying rack for your home depends on the space you have available, the amount of laundry you handle, and even the type of laundry you plan to dry. A collapsible rack is best for most homes, as it can be easily put away when not in use. For large loads, the weight capacity of a clothes-drying rack is important to research to determine how much wet laundry it can hold at one time.

   If you plan to dry sweaters, you need a rack that has a ventilated horizontal surface so the sweaters can dry flat. For lingerie, a retractable clothesline in the shower may be all you need. A wall or ceiling-mounted rack in the laundry room is convenient for small loads.

   Tip

   If you have the space in your laundry room, consider installing a hanging rod from the ceiling so wet clothes can be placed on hangers to air dry. Or, add an extra tension shower rod in the bathroom to create additional hanging space for wet laundry. Just remove it when you're done.

2. No Drying Rack Available?

   If you don't have a drying rack, you can still line dry clothes indoors. Use the shower rod or towel rack. Use clothes hangers to create additional hanging surfaces. Pants or skirt hangers have built-in clothes pins to grip wet items.

   Do not hang wet laundry on surfaces that can be damaged by water (uncoated metal, untreated wood, upholstered furniture).

3. Remove Excess Moisture

   Since you want the laundry to dry indoors as quickly as possible, it's ideal to remove as much moisture from the fabrics as possible. Check the spin cycle setting on your washer. The higher the setting, the faster the spin and the more moisture that is removed.

   For hand-washed items, after squeezing out as much rinse water as possible, place them on a thick towel and roll it up to absorb as much excess water as possible before hanging the garment and the towel to dry.

4. Prevent Wrinkles

   How you hang the laundry will reduce the amount of wrinkling. Give each piece of laundry a good shake before hanging to help relax the fibers.

   • Hang pants by matching up the inseams and hang them from the dryer rod with the waist down.
   • Clip the shoulders of shirts and tops to one of the dryer rods with clothespins.
   • Fold bedsheets and blankets in half or thirds and drape them smoothly over the widest dryer rod.
   • Use clothespins to hang towels and dishcloths from a dryer rod or fold them in half over the rod.
   • Reshape bra cups before hanging them over a rod to dry.

5. Improve Air Circulation

   Hang items individually and with as much space in between them as possible so they will dry more quickly. Thick layers of fabric take much longer to dry. Improve the air circulation by adding a fan or dehumidifier to the drying area, turning on a bathroom vent fan, or opening windows to increase airflow. In the winter months, place a portable drying rack near a heating vent.

   Tip

   Place a drying rack away from walls to prevent the moisture from being trapped. This helps reduce the chance of mold and mildew forming.