Hanging clothes out to dry in winter temperatures
Dear Tom,
I'm old fashioned and I like to hang my wash outside to dry, but I only do this during
the summer. Would clothes still dry even in colder winter temperatures? Would it be
worth trying?
-Marlene Forst
Dear Marlene,
A sunny day is conducive to hanging your wash out anytime, but you will be
disappointed during the colder months.
Drying (evaporation) rates are a function of the air's ability to hold moisture, and this
is determined by temperature. Cold air has a very small capacity to hold moisture,
and a full day on the line on a cold day might still result in damp or frozen clothes.
Sunshine itself has a minor effect, raising the temperature of the clothes and adjacent
air molecules a few degrees.
Indirectly, though, sunny skies usually indicate a dry air mass and, hence, increased
evaporation.