I have recently noticed how many brightly colored plastic hangers are for sale. It must be the start of school and everyone is getting ready. Seeing those hot pink, tan, orange, white, blue, and lime green hangers got me thinking about which hangers are the most environmentally friendly option, as well as which ones I like best.
I see there are four basic hanger options:
- wire hangers, like the ones you get from the dry cleaner
- plastic hangers, like the brightly colored ones that caught my eye
- wooden hangers
- padded hangers (although they are padded versions of one of the styles above)
I suspect there are other types out there, but those are the three that immediately come to mind. What hangers do you like and use the most? I have all four types in my closets.
Mostly it seems that I use the metal hangers. They are plentiful and do the job they were designed to do, in most cases. But there are times when I absolutely don’t want to connect, so I fall back on one of the other three styles.
My coats, especially the heavy and long ones, have wooden hangers. My jackets and fleeces are hanging on plastic hangers. I like the durability of those hangers and the support my clothes receive as well.
My very pretty silk clothes are available on padded or plastic hangers. I want to prevent tears and heavy wrinkles, and I want to cushion some of my clothes so they look better for longer.
But what about the environmental aspects of my choices? Without even thinking about it, I know that plastic hangers are the worst for the environment, especially given my preference to avoid petroleum-based products. They sure do a good job hanging my clothes though. They are likely to discharge gasoline and also degrade indoor air quality.
What about wooden hangers? Did a tree lose its life to my wooden hangers, or are they made from remnants or “junk” wood? This is mostly a rhetorical question for me, designed to get us all to think and be more aware of our choices. The wood itself wouldn’t off-gas, but the finish sure would. That can affect hanging clothes as well as air quality. However, durability is present.
Wire hangers deplete the earth’s metal reserves. Since they can be recycled, they are used for so many things (opening cars, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs, and scratching between your cast and arm) and have wonderful flexibility (so to speak) that makes them a good choice for many pencil cases. clothing.
Padded hangers are a more mixed bag. The fabric and padding may contain synthetic fibers and may cover plastic hangers, but are decorative and comfortable for delicate garments.
I have not come to any conclusion here. Perhaps it is time to do an analysis of the carbon footprint of each style. But I want to conserve energy and not do that research. When I run out of hangers I’ll have to figure out what to do next. Pulling out my closet of old, unused clothes will be a first choice, but buying something may be fine.
What is your stance on hangers?