If dread prickles in your mind each time you enter the laundry room, size up the monstrous mountain of just-washed clothing, and have to determine how to dry it all—you’re not alone.

However, caring for your clothes should not be all-consuming. Here’s a simple guide to navigating your drying dilemmas and once-and-for-all choose between air-drying and machine-drying your clothing.

For many people, the biggest factor in the debate between machine and air-drying clothing is time. According to Stan Atansov, a Home Cleaning Expert at Australia, drying machines significantly reduce the amount of time that it takes for clothing to dry compared to using a clothing rack. Machine-drying can also speed up the laundry process by eliminating the need to iron your clothing, as the heat from the dryer often removes creases in the fabric, Atansov explains.

While the ease of machine-drying may seem attractive, there are some drawbacks to consider. First and foremost, drying machines can be expensive.