Automated Laundry Racks vs Dryers: What Works Better?
Should you get a dryer, or one of those automated laundry racks that are all the rage these days?
In this article, we break down the pros and cons of each option. Read on to find out more!
Using A Clothes Dryer
Clothes dryers are pretty straightforward – they use a combination of heat, air, and motion to remove moisture from your clothes.
There are two types of dryers to choose from – standalone dryers and dryers which are combined with washing machines (ie, you have one machine that can both wash and dry).
The main benefit of using a combination washing machine and dryer is that you have one less machine in your home, and this takes up less space. However, the drying function on a combination machine takes longer than that of a regular dryer, and you’ll need to load fewer items of clothing in (or they won’t dry properly).
Pros & cons of a standalone dryer:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dries clothes more quickly | Takes up additional space |
| You can dry more clothes in a single load | Uses a significant amount of electricity |
| May come as part of your unit’s fixtures, if you’re staying in a condominium | Clothes get wrinkled and are susceptible to wear and tear |
Pros & cons of a combined washing machine + dryer:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Doesn’t take up any additional space | Dries clothes slower |
| May come as part of your unit’s fixtures, if you’re staying in a condominium | You can dry fewer clothes in a single load |
| Uses a significant amount of electricity | |
| Clothes get wrinkled and are susceptible to wear and tear |
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Generally speaking, both standalone dryers and combination dryers use more electricity as compared to automated laundry racks.
As for the time needed to dry your clothes, it depends. If you’re using a standalone dryer, this might allow you to dry your clothes more quickly than if you were to use a laundry rack. For combination dryers, however, these run on smaller loads and also take longer to get each load dry. In this case, the time that you spend on drying your clothes might be similar to that of using an automated laundry rack.
Using An Automated Laundry Rack
With automated laundry racks, there are a ton of different options in the market, ranging from basic to premium.
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Most of these racks come with heater and/or cooling fans to facilitate drying. That aside, some racks also have disinfecting features which help to eliminate viruses and bacteria. If you (or anyone in your family) suffers from allergies, this might be up your alley.
Pros & cons of an automated laundry rack:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Utilises ceiling space instead of floor space | Dries clothes slower |
| Uses less electricity | You can dry fewer clothes in a single load |
| Can opt for special features, such as disinfecting feature | Takes longer to dry as compared to a washer |
| Gentler on clothes; less wear and tear |
The main draw of automated laundry racks are the fact that they are eco-friendly, and use significantly less energy as compared to dryers. They’re also gentler on your clothes, since there’s no rough tumbling involved.
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