Hanging your laundry out in the summer evening might seem convenient, but it’s actually a bad habit. Nighttime humidity and the lack of sunlight slow down the drying process, encouraging unpleasant odors and bacteria growth.
During long, hot summer days, it may seem like a good idea to hang your laundry in the evening — perhaps to avoid the hottest hours or take advantage of the cool night air.
However, this seemingly harmless habit can work against you when it comes to how well your laundry dries and how hygienic it stays. Here’s why you should reconsider.
1. Nighttime Humidity: A Silent Enemy
At night, especially during summer, humidity levels tend to rise. Even though the air is warm, humidity can reach 70–80%, slowing down the drying process. Clothes left out in the dark don’t dry properly and stay damp longer, creating an ideal environment for bacteria and mold to grow.
2. Risk of Bad Odors
When laundry takes too long to dry, especially in humid, poorly ventilated conditions, it’s common for it to develop a musty or stale smell — even if the clothes were freshly washed. The result? You often end up having to rewash them, wasting time, energy, and detergent.
3. Nighttime Insects and Pollen
Hanging clothes in the evening exposes them to nighttime insects like moths, mosquitoes, and other unwanted visitors that may land on the fabric. In addition, airborne particles like pollen can settle on the laundry during the evening, which can be especially problematic for those with respiratory or skin allergies.
4. No Real Benefit
Unlike the middle of the day, evenings don’t offer direct sunlight or enough heat to help evaporate moisture effectively. On the contrary, clothes often stay wet all night and either dry poorly or not completely by morning.
When to Hang Laundry in Summer
The best time to hang your laundry during the summer is:
- Early in the morning, between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM, to take advantage of natural light and gradually increasing warmth.
- Late morning, if you want faster drying.
- Avoid midday (12:00 PM–4:00 PM) only if the sun is too strong and may fade your clothes.
If evening is your only option, consider indoor drying in well-ventilated rooms, using a dehumidifier or placing a drying rack near an open window.
In Summary
Hanging laundry out at night during summer may seem like a smart shortcut, but it actually compromises the drying quality and hygiene of your clothes. For clean, fresh-smelling laundry that’s truly dry, it’s better to take advantage of daylight hours and natural airflow. Sometimes, simply shifting your routine by a few hours can make all the difference.
