How To Hang Clothes On A Drying Rack?

A drying rack, also called a clothes airer, is an easy way to dry clothes without using a dryer.

If it’s inside, the rack exposes the clothes to moving air that dries them. If the rack is outdoors, the combination of the sun’s heat and moving air dries clothes faster.

To get the best out of a drying rack, it’s important that you use it properly to speed up drying time.

Here are some tips on how to hang clothes on a drying rack.

Unfold and Check Stability

Unfold the drying rack and set it up. Make sure it is stable. The wings, racks and feet should feel secure to ensure they don’t buckle under the weight of wet clothes.

Unless your rack is wheeled, we recommend setting it up where you want the clothes to dry. Once you hang clothes on it, it’ll be very difficult to move.

Set up the rack near a window or door where there’s a good amount of air coming in and going out.

Not only will this dry the clothes faster, it’ll prevent humidity build up.

Focus on Air Circulation

When you hang clothes, make sure there is adequate air circulation among them. Hang a single item of clothing on each bar. Do not hang clothes on top of each other as that will drastically slow down drying time and can affect load distribution, causing the rack to topple.

If you are using the flat rack, do not lay any items on top of each other.

Open the Windows

Humidity can quickly build up if there isn’t sufficient air circulation in the house. This makes indoor air feel muggy and can introduce a musty smell.

Open a few windows to prevent moisture build-up. You can also deploy a dehumidifier to carry some of the moisture outside.

Additional Tips

• If you are using the drying rack indoors, you don’t need pegs. There’s also no need to turn the clothes inside out since it is not exposed to the sun.
• Turning on a fan can help dry clothes faster and prevent too much humidity.
• You can also turn on a heater (or use a heated airer). The warm air will absorb moisture from your clothes. But make sure to leave a couple windows open to allow the moist air to go out.
• For small items like baby clothes, socks and underwear, use the flat rack. Some drying racks also come with clips for socks.
• Do not hang fabrics that can stretch. Instead, lay them flat on the rack.
• If you are hanging long items like a towel or bedsheet, most drying racks have height-adjustable wings. Raise the wing higher to create more clearance.
• Make sure clothes are completely dry before folding and storing them. Even slight dampness can cause mildew and leave the clothes smelling musty.